Coyote on a Fence, Bruce Graham's prize-winning play about justice and the death penalty, extends in its West Coast premiere through March 24 in the Los Angeles' Alliance Repertory Company's production. Peter Fox directs the drama, the first for the company's 2002 season.

John and Bobby are both convicts on Death Row in a Southern prison. John is an anti-death penalty advocate, not solely because he's in line to die for killing a drug dealer, a murder he doesn't remember. Bobby is a simple man whose hatred of blacks drove him to burn 37 African-Americans to death in their own church. John wants to save Bobby's life, despite the latter's horrific crime, so he enlists Sam, a New York Times journalist for the cause. Sam, however, has plans of his own.

Alliance Repertory successfully produced Graham's Minor Demons previously. Coyote on a Fence was the 1998 Rosenthal Prize winner.

Coyote on a Fence features Jesse Levy, Joe Mellis, James Morrison and Livia Trevino alternating with Lamar Aguilar, David Keats, John Mese and Joel Stoffer.

Performances of Coyote on a Fench began Jan. 18. Tickets are $15. The Alliance Theatre is located at 3204 West Magnolia Boulevard in Burbank. For reservations, call (323) 655-8587. — By Christine Ehren