Launching the fourth season for the California company at the venue, the work is slated to officially open Sept. 19. Eric Rosen directs the production, which is scheduled to run through Oct. 14. Sax and Rosen developed the About Face Theatre and Lookingglass Theatre Company production of Clay, which features additional music by Jon Schmidt and Johnny Williams.

In the work, Sax "shifts between sharply-etched characters" to tell the "story of Clifford (aka Clay), a teenager who wants to escape the effects of his parents' divorce, his cold, manipulative father and his despondent mother," as show notes reveal. "He falls under the spell of a spoken-word guru who teaches him that 'when words speak truth, hip-hop will prevail.' He finds expression and release through the poetry, sly humor and raw energy of hip-hop. But on the night of his big concert, the past threatens to eclipse his promising future as a hip-hop star."

The design includes Walt Spangler (set), Howell Binkley (lighting) and Joshua Horvath (sound) — the latter also provides orchestrations. Elizabeth Atkinson serves as production stage manager.

The line-up for the 2007-2008 season at the Kirk Douglas Theatre also includes En Un Sol Amarillo – Memorias De Un Temblor (Oct. 26-Nov. 25), Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson (Jan. 13-Feb. 17, 2008), No Child... (March 6-April 13, 2008), A Waitress in Yellowstone (May 11-June 8, 2008) and Of Equal Measure (June 29-July 27, 2008).

Tickets to shows at The Kirk Douglas Theatre, 9820 Washington Blvd. in Culver City, CA, can be purchased by calling CTG Audience Services at (213) 628-2772 or online at CenterTheatreGroup.org.