LOS ANGELES -- Howard Teichman and Steven Simon's new play, Fugumetunachai (Blowfish: Gift of Life), will receive a staged reading Dec. 12 at 2 PM. Produced by Alexandra More for West Coast Jewish Theatre, the reading will take place at the Wilshire Blvd. Temple, 11661 W. Olympic Blvd. in West L.A. This is the Audrey & Sydney Imas Campus in the Marcia Israel Chapel Auditorium.Jim Ishida and Kipp Shiotani star in this fact-based story of two Japanese heroes, one a military officer and the other a diplomat, who act decisively during WW II to rescue 6,000 Jews in Kobe from the clutches of a vicious Nazi killer. Also at the heart of the play is an unusual and touching love story.

The cast also numbers Amy Betty Cohn, Arlene Golonka, Kayo, Barbara Keegan, Manny Kleinmuntz, Milt Kogan and David Hunt Stafford. Admission is $18. For tickets and information call (310) 445-1280.

-- By Willard Manus
Southern California Correspondent