Casting is complete for Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman's Hollywood spoof, Once in a Lifetime, which opens Aug. 26 at West Coast Ensemble, under the direction of Hart's son, Christopher Hart. It is the fifth production in WCE's 1999-2000 season.

Kaufman and Hart Tinseltown satire deals with three down-and-out vaudevillians who decide to head for Hollywood and try their luck with the newly invented talkies. A series of blunders brings the most dimwitted of the three to fame and fortune until he is literally made an industry god.

Originally produced in 1930, Lifetime was the first in a string of successful collaborations between Kaufman and Hart, including the Pulitzer Prize-winning You Can't Take it With You.

The ensemble cast of 20 actors playing more than 40 roles includes Eydie Alyson, Rob Boltin, Kristina Hayes, Susan Haynes, Tiffany Henshaw, Victoria Hoffman, David Kaufman, Paul Kouri, Heather Lake, Michael Laskin, Sharline Liu, Monica Martin, Greg Monaghan, Kyle Moore, Jessica Pennington, Kathleen Quinn, Michael Ross, Emily Somers, Todd Truly and David Youse.

West Coast Ensemble is located at 522 N. La Brea. For tickets and information call (323) 525-0022 or visit www.wcensemble.org. -- By Willard Manus
Southern California Correspondent