March 21, 1998

Indiana Pacers defeat New Jersey Nets, 99-92, Market Square Arena, Indianapolis (M)

University of Rhode Island defeats Valparaiso, 74-68, to advance to Midwest Regional final; Stanford defeats Purdue, 67-59 (M)

Drama schools across country are going through their annual admissions ritual for fall; this year, however, intensity of auditions is unusual, as acting is hot; for years now, increasing numbers of young people have been taking to the boards, assuring acting mecca of New York an inexhaustible supply of waiters and waitresses; this is crunch time for would-be thespians, particularly in New York, who usually learn their fate in April; a flood of applicants has been showing up, despite formidable odds against being admitted to drama school and almost inevitable prospect of low pay once they graduate; Juilliard School at Lincoln Center, perhaps most selective performing arts school in nation, is sorting through 1,100 acting applications for its 20 positions; photo of audition scene at Tisch School of the Arts at New York University (M)

An hour after President Clinton urged Senate approval of NATO's expansion, the majority leader, Trent Lott, put off action. Mr. Lott said he was frustrated by a filibuster on a bill to set up education savings accounts. Approval had been expected as early as next week for adding three nations to NATO. Article, page A5.

About New York column about Catholic-Jewish Relations Council of Northeast Queens, group that has promoted interfaith dialogue for nearly 30 years (S)