The Purple Rose Theatre Company in Chelsea, MI, presents its production of Lanford Wilson's The Hot L Baltimore, March 27- May 18, marking the directing debut of film and stage star and PRTC executive director Jeff Daniels. The playwright will be in residence at PRTC for the last few previews and opening night (April 4).

Hot L is the 25th show produced by the five-year-old company. It replaces the previously scheduled PRTC-commissioned world premiere by Wilson. That show is still being scripted by Mr. Wilson specifically for PRTC actors. Although not much information about the story has been released, Guy Sanville, PRTC Artistic Director, told Playbill On-Line that "it's a comedy that takes place in the midwest, and has some interesting off-beat characters. . . I think there's a family."

A first draft of the new script is expected around July, and PRTC hopes to mount it in the spring slot of its 1997-98 season. Meanwhile, Wilson is very involved in the opening of his current off-Broadway play, Sympathetic Magic at Second Stage in NY.

Originally produced by Circle Rep, Hot L received the 1973 Obie Award for Best New Play. It reveals a Memorial Day weekend with the reminiscences of employees, transients, and other seedy characters of a once beautiful hotel scheduled for demolition.

The relationship between Daniels and Wilson began when Daniels was an apprentice actor at Circle Rep in the 1970s, where he appeared in Wilson's Brontosaurus, Minnesota Moon and My Life. He later starred in Redwood Curtain on Broadway and TV. For tickets or more information about Hot L Baltimore, at the Purple Rose Theatre Company, please call (313) 475-7902, or refer to the regional listing on Playbill On-Line.

--By Blair Glaser