Playhouse in the Park will bring a world view to the Rosenthal Next Generation Theatre Series as well as to its main stage in 2002-03.

        Work from cultures as disparate as Cuba and South Africa dominates the season schedule. Next Gen will include stories from China, Majorca and Brazil, music from Moscow and Vietnam and dance from Africa.

        The 2002-03 Next Gen schedule:

        Oct. 12 — Moscow Nights, Russian folk music.

        Oct. 19 — Amazing Adventures of the Marvelous Monkey King, the Playhouse Skilken/Brown Touring Company in a new work by Elizabeth Wong brings together elements of Peking Opera, kung fu and hip-hop.

        Oct. 26 — The Fairy Circus,by Tanglewood Marionettes, has 20 marionettes playing jugglers, contortionists, snake charmers and more.

        Nov. 2 — Lessons from the Animal People, American Indian stories performed by Dovie Thomason-Sickles.

        Nov. 9 — The Gizmo Guys, comic jugglers.

        Nov. 16 — Bloom with Zak Morgan, 2000 winner of the Just Plain Folks Music Award.

        Jan. 11 — Tales from the Brazilian Rainforest,performed by Antonio Rocha.

        Jan. 18 — Spell in the Well (and Other Tales) features the Shoestring Players in stories of native America, Siberia, Majorca and Ireland.

        Feb. 1 — Animalia, featuring Hobey Ford's Golden Rod Puppets.

        Feb. 8 — The Courage to Dream, tales from around the world by award-winning children's performer LuAnn Adams, back for her 11th straight year in Next Gen.

        Feb. 22 — Medasi African Dance Theatre

        March 8 — Mufaro's Beautiful Daughter, by Lexington Children's Theatre.

        March 15 — Khac Chi Ensemble: Sounds of Vietnam.

        March 22 — Fiddlin' with Stories, by award-winning storyteller Charlotte Blake Alston and jazz violinist John Blake Jr., explores African and African-American folk traditions.

        March 29 — Paradise, winner of the Lazarus New Play Prize for Young Audiences. Glyn O'Malley wrote the drama of Jewish and Palestinian teenage girls caught up in a contemporary war. For ages 12 and up.

        April 5 — Piccolo's Trunk, with mime Mark Jaster.

        Shows will be at 10:30 a.m., 12:30 and 2 p.m. in the Playhouse Rosenthal Plaza. (Paradise will be performed at 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. only.) All 12:30 p.m. performances will be signed for the hearing-impaired.

        Tickets cost $4 for 18 and under and $5 for adults. They are on sale now: 421-3888 or (800) 582-3208.

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