Tickets have gone on sale at the Mark Taper Forum for the West Coast premiere of August Wilson's latest play King Hedley II, which opens Sept. 14 for a five-week run. Marion McClinton is the director.

King Hedley II extends the scope of Wilson's cycle of plays chronicling the black American experience through each decade of the 20th century. The play is set in 1985 in the backyards of two tenements in the Hill District of Pittsburgh and deals with the trials and triumphs of a community facing issues of family, unemployment and crime.

Performance times are different from traditional performance times at the Taper: Tuesday-Sunday at 7:30 PM; Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2 PM. Regular prices are $30/$44. Seniors half price with Medicare card on day of performance only; one ticket per ID. No discount on Saturday evenings. Cash only. Public rush: $12 discount tickets purchased two hours prior to curtain (at the box office with cash only). Limit of two tickets per person, subject to availability. Not available Sat. or Sun. eves or final week.

Mark Taper Forum is located at 135 N. Grand Ave. For tickets and information call (213) 628-2772 or visit www.TaperAhmanson.com. Deaf community information and charge, TDD (213) 680-4017.

-- By Willard Manus
Southern California Correspondent