Lodestone premieres American Monsters

TO OPEN FOR HALLOWEEN AND EDGEFEST
Three one-acts exploring the dark side of Americana

Lodestone Theatre Ensemble presents the world premiere of American Monsters featuring three one-act plays written by Philip W. Chung (laughter joy & loneliness & sex & sex & sex & sex, Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman), Judy Soo Hoo (Texas, Refrigerators) and Matt Pelfrey (Cockroach Nation, Drive Angry). This is Lodestone's follow-up to their highly successful run of laughter joy & loneliness & sex & sex & sex & sex. The production is a presentation of the East L.A. College Theatre Artists-in-Residence Program and will be a part of Edgefest 2000, a citywide celebration of the vibrant and diverse L.A. theatre community. The show will run at The Edison Center for the Performing Arts, East L.A. College, 1301 Ave. Cesar Chavez in Monterey Park from Oct. 28-Nov. 19, 2000. The plays will be directed by three acclaimed directors Frances Hearn (Judith), Jeff Liu (Lodestone's inaugural production Texas) and Elizabeth Sung (The Water Ghost).

American Monsters consists of three one-acts:

• Dead of Night (written by Philip W. Chung, directed by Elizabeth Sung): a grown woman, haunted by dreams of an evil clown, explores the gruesome layers of a horrifying family secret with the help of her psychiatrist.
• Beastly Beauties (written by by Judy Soo Hoo, directed by Frances Hearn) three women encounter a dead man who springs to life to prey upon their sexual fears until only one person is left standing.
• Murderobilia (written by Matt Pelfrey, directed by Jeff Liu): two murder encyclopedia salesmen, a woman obsessed with serial killers and a man tortured by a hideous crime from his past, find themselves on a path toward
  murder and mayhem.

"American Monsters was first conceived as our Halloween production, but we didn't want to do anything we've seen before," says Lodestone cofounder and co-artistic leader Bokyun Chun. "We wanted to do a show for the Halloween season where we weren't just building on traditional icons and myths. We wanted to really explore the dark and perverse nature of suburban life, and show that what's beneath the surface of our idealized and sanitary image of America is, in fact, quite disturbing. And with an Asian cast, we're shattering all the stereotypes that often confine our society."

The show stars: Heidi Ahn, Jennifer Aquino, Radmar Jao, Elaine Kao, Yuria Kim, Tony Lee, Pierre Lim, Emil Lin, Emily Liu, Tim Lounibos, Kipp Shiotani, Sun St. Pierre, Esperanza Catubig, Ray Chang, Lynn Delgado-Chang, Eddie Mui, Ryun Yu.

Produced by Anita S. Chang and Merrily Sadlovsky. Lighting designer: Gerry Linsangan, Set designer: Second Chan, Sound designers: Nathan Wang (an Ovation Award nominee this year) and Dennis Yen, Costume designer: Grace Yim, and Production stage managers: Jason Ip, Marcella Pabros-Clark and Alicia
Pelfrey.

Performances for American Monsters are Oct. 28-Nov. 19, Friday and Saturday evenings at 8:30 pm and Sundays at 7:30 pm. There will be a special Halloween performance, Oct. 31 at 8:30 pm and no performance on Nov. 3. General ticket prices are $12. Student and senior prices are $11. Groups (10 or more) are $10. At the Edison Center for Performing Arts, East L.A. City College, 1301 Ave. Cesar Chavez, Monterey Park.

From downtown L.A.: take the 60 freeway east, exit Atlantic Bl. and turn left onto Atlantic, left on Cesar Chavez/Riggin, right on Collegian, and left immediately into the FREE parking lot.

For tickets and general information call the Lodestone Theatre hotline at 323-993-7245, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Lodestone Theatre Ensemble is an Asian American company with a mission to develop, create, promote and present edgy, compelling and impassioned works that bridge communities through truthful and entertaining artistry.

Bokyun Chun, Philip W. Chung, Chil Kong and Tim Lounibos are co-artistic directors. Soon-Tek Oh is the founding artistic director.