The play choices are devoted to American writers and composers, and some focus on American themes, such as a presidential election and World War II.

"I think this year, with everything that happened in September, with a lot of things we're looking at as a country, it made sense," says artistic director Evans Haile. "And with the upcoming elections in November, we're focusing a lot on what's going on here."

The theater's season opener, "Mass Appeal," about a young seminarian clashing with a complacent parish priest, has become more topical than when the show was chosen, Haile notes, considering the sexual-abuse scandal in the Catholic church. But he calls the show - which will star author/raconteur Malachy McCourt ("A Monk Swimming") and Wiles, star of TV's "Third Watch" - a "positive, charming and sweet" play.

In August, Cape Playhouse will become the first theater outside of New York and Los Angeles to mount "The Tale of the Allergist's Wife," a Tony-nominated comedy by Charles Busch still running on Broadway. Marj Dusay (Vanessa on TV's "All My Children" and formerly Alexandra on "Guiding Light") will star.

Also new are "Thumbs," a mystery-thriller by Rupert Holmes, starring Gifford and Diana Canova (TV's "Soap"); and the premiere of "oldfriends.com," a play by Cape writer Marcia Monbleau that stars Carroll and goes on tour from here.

Other celebrities scheduled to appear this summer are Philip Bosco ("Moon Over Buffalo," "Lend Me a Tenor" on Broadway); Celia Weston ("In the Bedroom" on film, "The Last Night of Ballyhoo" on Broadway) and William R. Moses (from TV's "Perry Mason" mysteries and "Melrose Place").

Here's a look at the playhouse's full 2002 season. Tickets go on sale May 1. Box office: 508-385-3911.

 June 17-29: "Mass Appeal," by Bill C. Davis, about a young priest clashing over ideals with a beloved parish priest; starring McCourt and Wiles.

 July 2-13: "Thumbs," a mystery-thriller by Rupert Holmes about a TV icon played by Gifford, who has an altercation with her husband. Canova plays the local sheriff and there's a homicidal maniac on the loose.

 July 15-27: "The Best Man," by Gore Vidal, a politically charged play that takes place during a presidential nominating convention; starring Bosco, Gillette, Weston and Moses. "If you love 'West Wing,' you'll love this play," Haile says.

 July 29-Aug. 10: "My One and Only," by George and Ira Gershwin, a "star-spangled" romantic musical comedy featuring Olympic swimmers, aquacade girls and an aviator; starring John Sherer and Jeanna Schweppe, who led last summer's "42nd Street" at the playhouse.

 Aug. 12-24: "The Tale of the Allergist's Wife," by Charles Busch, a comedy about a bored, suicidal housewife whose glamorous old friend proves to be a little too sexually liberated; starring Dusay.

 Aug. 26-Sept. 7: "Swingtime Canteen," a small musical about an all-girl USO band on tour during World War II.

 Sept. 10-15: "oldfriends.com," a new play about two friends who stay in touch via e-mail; starring Carroll.

 The playhouse's one-night Sunday events will include: Aug. 4, Klea Blackhurst (featured in "Oil City Symphony" and "Radio Gals" in recent playhouse seasons) performing "All the Traffic Will Allow," her one-woman tribute to Ethel Merman that ran eight months in New York; and Aug. 18, Haile leading a National Public Radio broadcast from the playhouse, which will include his "Dueling Baldwins" feature, Mark Shields from CNN's "The Capital Gang" and other guests.