David H. Vowell's romantic comedy about beauty, age, sex and suicide will have its West Coast premiere at the Two Roads Theatre in Studio City, Los Angeles, May 20-July 8.

[Editor's Note (7/00) the play closed July 1 rather than July 8].

Another work by Vowell, Acts of Passion, which concluded its run May 8 at Two Roads, was a Los Angeles Times Critic's Choice and also made the L.A. Weekly's recommended list.

An earlier version of The Ascension of Lili was first produced by the University of Mississippi in 1993 as part of the Festival of Southern Theatre. The two-character play is set in New Orleans in 1959 and deals with a flamboyant, fading beauty and her young lover, an aspiring poet who fell in love with her portrait many years ago. Sandra Tucker plays Emily, Adam Conger the 21-year-old poet. Susan Morganstern directs.

Vowell has been nominated for an Oscar ("Say Goodbye"), an Emmy ("The American West of John Ford"), and an Edgar for his novel "The Assassinator." Two Roads will present another play of his, At the End of the Line, in July, directed by Norman Cohen.Two Roads Theatre is located at 4348 Tujunga Ave. For tickets and information call (818) 762-7488. -- By Willard Manus
Southern California Correspondent