Jon Lawrence Rivera directs the work — which began previews Jan. 14 — based on Hagedorn's best-selling novel. The Center Theatre Group presents the Playwrights' Arena and TDRZ Productions, Inc., production in association with Search to Involve Filipino Americans (SIPA). The run is slated through Feb. 11.

Set in Manila in 1982, Dogeaters "follows, in particular, the fates of Rio, a young, movie-obsessed girl from an upper-middle-class family, and Joey, the poor, young Afro-Filipino hustler," according to a show description. "Their coming of age stories are intertwined with the tales of generals, waiters, a soft-porn 'bomba' star, the richest man in Manila, journalists, politicians, a revolutionary fugitive, a middle-aged drag queen, and even Imelda Marcos, the extravagant First Lady of the Philippines."

Rivera's staging — which earned the director an Ovation Award nomination — was originally presented by SIPA and TDRZ Productions, Inc., in association with Playwrights' Arena in 2004.

Many original cast members have returned for the production including Robert Almodovar, Gino Aquino, Christine Avila, Esperanza Catubig, Fran de Leon, Liza Del Mundo, Antoine Reynaldo Diel, Golda Inquito, Kennedy Kabasares, Dom Magwili, Ivan Davila, Natsuko Ohama, Giovanni Ortega, Elizabeth Pan, Ed Ramolete, Nick Salamone and Minerva Vier. Ramón de Ocampo, Alberto Issac and Orlando Pabotoy join the ensemble for the new run.

Dogeaters originally debuted at the La Jolla Playhouse in 1998 with Michael Greif directing a cast that featured Sandra Oh. The work then played Off-Broadway at the Public Theater in 2001 with Kate Rigg. Tickets to Dogeaters at The Kirk Douglas Theatre, 9820 Washington Blvd. in Culver City, CA, can be purchased by calling CTG Audience Services at (213) 628 2772 or online at CenterTheatreGroup.org.