Anything goes when a self-absorbed television actress, an off-off-Broadway thespian and a naive theater novice come together in a doomed run of a Chekhov play in Texas. Or so the storyline goes in the opening play of the Sacramento State theater season – Anton in Show Business – directed by Sac State graduate student Nick Avdienko and performed by an all-female cast. The play's run starts at 8 p.m., Oct. 14 in the Playwrights' Theatre in Shasta Hall and continues through Oct. 23, with a special-priced performance on Oct. 19.

The play, written by the enigmatic Jane Martin, won the 2001 American Theatre Critics/Steinberg New Play Award. Martin has written works such as the Pulitzer-prize nominated Keely and Du , which addresses abortion rights, and Mr. Bundy, about a family that learns their neighbor is a convicted child molester.

Seven actresses play 14 different characters in Anton, which satirizes notorious characters in the world of theater, such as incompetent directors, surgically-enhanced actors and egotistical critics.

"It's a giant love/hate letter to the theater, if you will," says Avdienko. "The play is swift, audacious, and packed with insane energy."

The special showing will be at 6:30 p.m., Oct. 19 with tickets $8 general and $5 for students and seniors. Tickets for all other performances are $15 general, $12 for students and Sacramento State staff, and $10 for seniors and high school students. They are available through the Sacramento State Ticket Office at (916) 278-4323 or Tickets.com.

For more information, contact the Department of Theatre and Dance at (916) 278-6368. For media assistance, contact the Sacramento State Public Affairs office at (916) 278-6156. An image of the play is available at www.csus.edu/news/imagedownload.