Less than a year after their formation, Son of Semele Ensemble is staging two experimental works from two acknowledged masters of the form, Samuel Beckett and Richard Foreman. Lava/Breath, playing Aug. 23-Sept. 9 at Los Angeles' Theater/Theatre, combines a short work from the creator of Bad Boy Nietzsche and Communism is Dead... and the shortest work from Waiting for Godot's Beckett.

In Lava, an omnipresent voice leads six lost souls on a search for inner peace. Breath is merely that - a curtain rises; a breath is heard; the curtain lowers, making breathing a work of theatre. Al Sgro directs Lava; Michael Nehring, Breath.

Lava/Breath features Kristen Brennan, David Edwards, Julie Gawkowski, Edgar Landa, Anthony Powell, Peter Westenhofer and Lauren Ziemski.

Designing the show are Edwards (sets), Jeremy Little (lighting), Jennifer Laux (costumes) and Sgro (sound).

Tickets are $20. Theater/Theatre is located on the 4th floor of the Pacific Theater Building at 6426 Hollywood Boulevard. For reservations, call (323) 860-9970. Son of Semele Ensemble is on the web at http://www.sonofsemele.org. — By Christine Ehren