October 2 [12:00 EDT] -- The Doors, Janis Joplin and the Rolling Stones are set for interpretation on stage, in the movies and in classical dance.

Three rock veterans of the sixties will be brought to life next year in distinctly different formats. Words and music composed by The Doors will be featured in a stage play built around the late Jim Morrison's "The Celebration of the Lizard" writings in conjunction with the San Diego Repertory Theatre. Doors keyboardist Ray Manzarek told the L.A. Times that the premise involved "the classic journey of the hero," set among warring factions battling for supremacy in a post-apocalyptic future. Manzarek added the play is "loaded with Doors songs" including a female gospel style rendition of "The End," a female quartet version of "Waiting for the Sun" and show-closing "When the Music's Over" sung by the entire cast.

At the movies, a version of the late Janis Joplin's story starring Melissa Etheridge looks like it will be the first

one to out of the starting gate in a race between two bio-pic projects. Variety reports that "Piece of My Heart," by director Stephen Gyllenhaal ("Waterland," "A Dangerous Woman" and the forthcoming "Homegrown,") will start shooting just after Christmas. The "Piece of My Heart" producers are working without the permission required to use Joplin recordings and certain songs, but given Etheridge's eerily Joplin-like rendition of the song "Piece Of My Heart" at Janis's 1995 induction into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame, it seems that Etheridge will be more than able to provide an original performance.

A second movie, under the wing of "True Love" director Nancy Savoca, is sanctioned by Joplin's family and based on the book, "Love, Janis," written by the singer's sister. It's scheduled to star Lili Taylor ("Who Shot Andy Warhol), lip-synching to Joplin's voice. Variety reports that film is still looking for a distributor.

And on the dance scene, in one of the odder marriages

of performing arts and contemporary music, a ballet based on the very-much alive Rolling Stones is coming to America. Great Britain's Rambert Dance Company will be presenting "Rooster," Christopher Bruce's ballet set to songs by the Stones, at San Francisco's Zellerbach Hall February 27 and 28, 1998. The production has already played to full houses in Europe.