By Jackie Demaline

` Don't miss it

One, two, three! Talk to Cincinnati playwright Joe McDonough and he'll tell you life is good. Very good. You'll be able to see his work on three stages between now and the end of the year starting with One, which opens the Shelterhouse season at Playhouse in the Park later this month.

That makes McDonough the Great Write Hope - One is the first local script produced in the Playhouse's subscription series in 16 years.

McDonough and composer David Kisor have a 40-minute musical Tom Sawyer that will play on an outdoor stage during the run of Tall Stacks (produced by The Children's Theatre) and their Alice in Wonderland will be revived for the holiday slot at Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati.

Casting news

Davies returns: Fans (and there are plenty of them) can welcome Giles Davies back to Cincinnati Shakespeare Festival. The festival fave left the ensemble a year ago but he'll return for the title role in what promises to be a plenty sexy Dracula opening in October.

Davies continues in the neighborhood, teaching and staying on Ohio Arts Council's artist residency roster, so there's a chance we'll see more of him.

Designer's back: Another welcome returnee for the show will be set designer Will Turbyne, who created evocative environments before he departed the company at the end of 2002.

No mystery that these comings and goings were all connected to the festival's backstage dramas last year. All that matters is that they're back and the festival starts celebrating its 10th anniversary on solid footing. The season opens Sept. 18 with Taming of the Shrew.

Willis in 'Fences': In other casting good news, Enquirer Theatre Award winner Reggie Willis will star in August Wilson's Fences at Xavier University in October.

People to watch

CCM students: The Class Most Likely to Succeed - on Broadway is University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music's musical theater seniors.

For everyone who found musical theater heaven with last year's The Boys from Syracuse, I have just three words: On the Town, that glorious valentine to New York. It plays just one weekend in November.

If you're a CCM musicals regular, you know what the fuss is about. If you're not, call the box office now so you can say you saw them when.

Best deals

Rush tickets: If you're feeling lucky, $15 rush tickets. Playhouse offers them to seniors two hours before the curtain in person or by phone (421-3888) and to students in person at the box office 15 minutes before curtain. Ensemble has a $15-15-minute rush policy for everybody. All of the above based on availability, of course.

Half-price: Another great deal - half-price day of performance tickets at Playhouse, which are available beginning at 11 a.m. (noon on Sundays) at the box office, Tickets.com outlets and the Visitor Center on Fountain Square.

Join the Playhouse e-mail list at www.cincyplay.com for news and updates, including last-minute deals.

Pay what you can: Many of the emerging theaters have pay-what-you-can previews. Pick up a League of Cincinnati Theatres' 2003-04 brochure (with a swell poster on back) for information on all member theaters.

E-mail jdemaline@enquirer.com