L.A.'s Reprise! Series to Feature I Love My Wife, Chess and More

Jason Alexander, artistic director of L.A.'s Reprise! Theatre Company, has announced the lineup for its 2008-2009 season. The Tony-winning Seinfeld star will headline the second production, a rare presentation of I Love My Wife, Cy Coleman and Michael Stewart's 1977 musical about wife-swapping. I Love My Wife will play at the Brentwood Theatre; the other three musicals will be presented at the Freud Playhouse.

The season will begin with Once On This Island, Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty's 1990 retelling of The Little Mermaid set on a Caribbean island. The production will run from September 2 to September 14 and will be directed by Billy Porter and choreographed by Bradley Rapier. The cast includes Yvette Cason, Vanita Harbour, Patina Miller, Jesse Nager, Leslie Odom Jr., Nita Witaker and recording artist Ledisi.

Alexander, Vicki Lewis and Steven Weber will star in I Love My Wife, directed by Larry Moss. The musical comedy about the sexual revolution in the 1970s will play December 2 through December 14.

Classic favorite Man of La Mancha will run from February 17 through March 1, 2009. Cast and creative team for the Tony-winning musical by Dale Wasserman, Mitch Leigh and Joe Darion will be announced at a later date. Reprise! announced that a grant from the Sheri and Les Biller Family Foundation will allow more than 3,300 underserved youth to attend an additional week of free student performances.

Rock-opera Chess first introduced via a concept album in 1984 will close the season May 5 through May 17, 2009. The production, featuring a score by Abba's Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus and lyrics by Time Rice, will include a new book by Richard Maltby Jr. The cast and creative team will be announced at a later date.

The L.A. answer to New York's Encores!, the non-profit Reprise! company stages concert productions of Broadway classics and rarities for new audiences. Alexander replaced founding director Marcia Seligson as artistic director in May 2007.