If you are

a theater lover, there are a lot of new plays starting in Atlanta this

week, ranging from the zany to the touching.

Theatrical

Outfit will present "The Moviegoer" at the Rialto Center for

the Performing Arts from Jan. 24-28. The performance is a world premier

adaptation of Walker Percy's novel of the same name. It is set in New

Orleans during the week prior to Mardi Gras, 1961. The story revolves

around an introspective stockbroker and a war veteran, Binx Bolling, who

describes himself as a seeker. In his words, "The search is what

anyone would undertake if he were not sunk in the everydayness of his

own life."

Tom Key, the

adaptor and director, describes the play this way: "The Moviegoer's

journey, the adventure into the meaingless and the chaotic to find a treasure

in a hero's journey, deserves our particular attention in 2001."

Evening shows

are at 7:30 and the Sunday matinee is at 2:30 p.m. Tickets range from

$12-$50. Call the Rialto Box Office for tickets at 404-651-4727.

Also starting

this week is the Alliance Theatre's production of "Hearts."

The play focuses on Donald Waldman, a tough talker who is haunted by memories

of World War II. Spanning 50 years, "Hearts" moves back and

forth in time, from the liberation of the camps in World War II to the

baby boom generation of the 1950s to Waldman's autumn years in the 1990s.

The play is directed by Kenny Leon and this will be Leon's last production

with the Alliance Theatre.

Waldman will

be played by Allan Miller, who has been in moer than 60 plays. He will

be recognized for his roles on television from "Maude" and "Barney

Miller" to "NYPD Blue" and "Judging Amy." Other

members of the cast include Audrie Neenan as Waldman's wife, Don Mayo,

back in Atlanta after his appearance in Elaborate Lives: The Legend of

Aida, John Seidman and Traber Burns.

"Hearts"

will be presented on the Hertz Stage from Jan. 27 to March 18. Performances

are Tuesdays-Saturdays at 8 p.m., selected Saturday matinees at 2:30 and

Sundays at 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. The play will be audio described Saturday,

Feb. 17 at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $21-$27. Call 404-733-5000 to order tickets

or visit www.alliancetheatre.org .

The final play

opening in Atlanta this weekend is "The Bible: The Complete Word

of God (Abridged)." Written by Adam Long, Reed Martin and Austin

Tichenor the zany trio also known as the Reduced Shakespeare Company,

"The Bible" is a roller coaster ride from Genesis to Revelation.

The play combines shtick, wordplay, sight gags, audience participation,

music and physical humor.

"The Bible"

has tickled funny bones at the White House, the Kennedy Center, Lincoln

Center's Serious Fun Festival and in countless theaters abroad. It is

a fast and furious production that tackles questions like, "Did Adam

and Eve have navels and did Moses really look like Charlton Heston?"

The play will

run at the Horizon Theatre from Jan. 26 to March 11. Performance times

are at 8 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, 8:30 p.m. saturdays,

and 5 p.m. Sundays. Tickets are $16 Wednesdays and Thursdays, $20 Fridays

and Sundays and $25 Saturdays. Call 404-584-7450 for tickets or visit

www.horizontheatre.com .

There are obviously

more than just these three plays being performed in Atlanta, but these

plays are varied enough that whatever your tastes are, they will be satisfied.

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