The world premiere of Lee Wochner's latest play Monster Stories continues through Aug. 22 at Moving Arts Theatre in Silverlake, CA, directed by Julie Briggs and Mark Kinsey Stephenson. The play is a psychological investigation into the "horrors of humankind," said the playwright.

The characters are Jack, everybody's worst best friend; Ed, a man who torments his mother every visiting day; and Social Realist, who shares his ugly truths with the audience.

Wochner, the co-founder and artistic director of Moving Arts, has written more than two dozen plays. His comedy Happy Fun Family won a Drama-Logue Award for writing.

This is Briggs' eighth collaboration with Wochner, having directed and acted in many of his earlier works. Stephenson recently directed the critically acclaimed Distracted by the Landscape at Moving Arts.

The cast features Rachel Brindamour, Tony DeCarlo, Richard Hamner, Sharon Kahn, Gary Nichols Marschall, James Smith, Stephenson and Lisa Temple.Moving Arts is located at 1822 Hyperion Ave. For tickets and information call (323) 665-8961.

-- By Willard Manus
Southern California Correspondent