A lot of people who live south of the Ohio River think Northern Kentucky University's theater department is one of Greater Cincinnati's best-kept secrets.

The summer theater season is a sell-out every year, as was the winter musical Jesus Christ Superstar. The guy behind both projects is playwright-in-residence and incoming theater department chairman Ken Jones, who will add the world premiere of BurgerTown to this summer's season. That will be No. 25 for Jones, who already has had more than 300 productions of his 24 produced plays.

Get a sneak peek at BurgerTown - Jones says "our shy hero encounters bad guys, big business and burgers as he chases his dreams for success, romance and a fast food fortune" - in Singcinnati!, a celebration of local songwriters. It's the latest in The Cincinnati Enquirer's Footlights series, which invites readers downtown for one-of-a-kind behind-the-scenes experiences with the region's best theater artists.

Singcinnati! performances will be at 5 and 7 p.m. April 18 at the Aronoff's Fifth Third Bank Theater.

Book writer Jones and his collaborators - composer Jamey Strawn and lyricist Christine Jones - will share the cabaret evening with some other terrific talent, including David Kisor, Scot Woolley and the songwriting team of Janet Vogt and Mark Friedman. Along with a song-filled evening, the songwriters will chat about their lives and art.

Tickets are $20 and benefit the League of Cincinnati Theatres, which co-presents the cabaret. (Tickets are tax deductible.) For reservations cal the Aronoff box office at 977-4157.

Jackie Demaline