The sacrifices men have made in the U.S. armed forces have been well documented in such plays as A Few Good Men, Tracers, Mr. Roberts and Streamers. But the trials and tribulations of the army wife have been considered much less often.

The new comedy-drama Trooperettes, or Little Flock of Songbirds Bucking a Mean Texas Wind looks at the ladies behind the men at arms in its world premiere production Aug. 4-Sept. 9 at Los Angeles' Bitter Truth Playhouse. Donna Forman and Joen Nielsen Lewis co-direct.

Stuck on an army base in desolate West Texas, the women at the center of Trooperettes try to cope with life in the military and issues of violence and sacrifice. Most of the women are Texans with one transplanted Bostonian, who struggles hardest to adapt to her new environment.

Playwright John Lisbon Wood won the 2000 Gold Medal of the National Veterans Creative Artists Festival for Seeking the Blue Whale. Other credits include Eyes of the Owl and the Garland Award winner Yohudi's Harmonica.

The Trooperettes are Forman, Tracey Keilly, Nielsen Lewis and Lynddi Scott. Tickets are $15. The Bitter Truth Playhouse is located at 11050 Magnolia Boulevard. For reservations, call (818) 766-9702.

— By Christine Ehren