To what degree can parents be held responsible when a child turns to violence? That is the question probed in Jane Martin's Good Boys, which receives its world-premiere production this summer at the Guthrie Theater.

Part of the Guthrie's Lab 2002-2003 season, Good Boys begins previews on Aug. 23 with an official opening set for Aug. 28; it will run through Sept. 22. Featuring direction by Jon Jory, Good Boys concerns a casual conversation between two men in a park that touches upon a dark chapter in their past. The five-member company comprises Casey Greig, Marlon Morrison, Glynn Turman, Adam Wester and Steve Yoakam.

The creative team includes Neil Patel (set designer), Marcia Dixcy (costume designer), Matt Reinert (lighting designer), Michael J. Anderson (violence choreographer), Michael Bigelow Dixon and Trisha Sheridan (dramaturgy), West Hyler (assistant director) and Martha Kulig (stage manager).

A Kentucky native, Jane Martin has written Talking With, Vital Signs, What Mama Don't Know, Cementville, Criminal Hearts, Middle Aged White Guys and the Pulitzer Prize-nominated Keely and Du. Her works are available in two volumes from Smith and Kraus, "Jane Martin, Collected Plays 1980-1995" and "Collected Plays Volume II 1996-2001." Director Jon Jory is the former producing director of the Actors Theatre of Louisville, where he presented new works by Lanford Wilson, Beth Henley, Marsha Norman, Craig Lucas, Tina Howe and David Ives. He helped create the Humana Festival of New American Plays and has been honored with several awards for his contribution to theatre and development of new plays.

Tickets for Good Boys are priced between $26 and $30 and are available by calling the Guthrie Theater box office at (612) 377-2224. The Guthrie Lab is located on North First Street in Minneapolis, MN; go to www.guthrietheater.org for more information. —By Andrew Gans