LOS ANGELES -- The Lee Strasberg Creative Center/ Anna Strasberg, and the Fountain Theatre are co-producing the West Coast premiere of Israel Horovitz's Unexpected Tenderness May 1-31. Directed by Hope Alexander-Willis, the play tells the story of a 1950s New England Jewish family being torn apart by increasing paranoia.

The production reunites Horovitz and Alexander- Willis, the creative team responsible for two of the biggest hits in the history of the Fountain Theatre: Fighting Over Beverly and Park Your Car in Harvard Yard.

had its world premiere in Gloucester, MA (1994) and was subsequently staged Off Broadway at the WPA Theatre. The New York Post called it "a play of real power and dimension."

The cast includes Stefan Gierasch, Marya Kaakova, Sarah Sankowich, Ben Savage, Barry Thompson, Tom Woodward and Erica Yuhn. Executive producer is Anna Starsberg, producer is Philip R. Gordon.

Performances are Thurs.-Sat. at 8 PM; Sun. at 3 PM. Tickets are $15-$18. Call (213) 650-7777. At the Marilyn Monroe Theatre in the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute, 7936 Santa Monica Blvd.

-- By Willard Manus
Southern California Correspondent