They've seen the film, now Los Angeles can catch the play. Stephen Belber's Tape, the tense three-hander which garnered much attention as a Richard Linklater film, makes a second Hollywood debut April 5-May 11, this time in a legitimate theatre — the Coast Playhouse.

Billed as an edgy drama that delves into the ideas of social and personal responsibility, Tape concerns a reunion of pals at a regional film festival. On-the-rise filmmaker Jon attends the Lansing Film Festival and meets up with hometown pal Vince, who never let go of an incident involving Jon and a high school girlfriend, Amy, now a district attorney.

Tape was praised as one of the best presentations of the 2000 Louisville festival. But it was the recently released and highly praised low-budget film, starring Robert Sean Leonard, Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman, that really made the work's name.

Dominic Fumusa (Wait Until Dark), Josh Stamberg and Alison West star as Vince, Jon and Amy, respectively. Stamberg and Fumusa created their roles in Tape's original production. Actor-director Geoffrey Nauffts, set to play Malcolm in The Full Monty national tour, directs.

Tickets are $15-$25. The Coast Playhouse is located at 8325 Santa Monica Boulevard. For reservations, call (323) 856-4200. —By Christine Ehren
and Robert Simonson