Straight Jacket and Tie describes the costumes of three young guys at the heart of the new Aaron Ginsburg and Wade McIntyre comedy, making its West Coast premiere Aug. 16-Sept. 23 at the Lex in Los Angeles. Although they have good-paying jobs (that they often hate) and good educations, they are lost souls, living on pizza and beer while hunting — unsuccessfully — for the dream babe.

James wants a better job — and the better life that comes with it. Scott's up for a promotion at a company he finds soulless. Russell never leaves his easy chair. All three want to meet women, though, and maybe even form a meaningful relationship. Straight Jacket and Tie won the Dallas Critic Forum Award for best new play when it premiered there three years ago.

Ginsburg is a member of Dallas' avant-garde Kitchen Dog Theater with whom he received another Critic Forum Award for directing Nobody Here But Us Chickens. McIntyre's plays include According to What and Hors D'Oeuvres.

Straight Jacket and Tie stars Scott Blackburn, Jennifer Bledsoe, Elijah Mahar, Matt Saunders and Ira Steck.

Tickets are $15. The Lex Theater is located at 6760 Lexington Theater in Hollywood. For reservations, call (323) 850-8606. — By Christine Ehren