Chay Yew (Durango) directs the production, which is scheduled to officially open Feb. 2 at the company's Zeum Theater for a run through Feb. 16.

Billed as a "sinister, deeply sensuous allegory," the work "exposes the desperation of three women as they cope with isolation and violence in an apocalyptic future."

The cast of features three accomplished actresses, including A.C.T. core acting company member René Augesen (The Beard of Avon, The Voysey Inheritance, Luminescence Dating, The Rainmaker), Lucia Brawley (A.C.T.'s August 2007 First Look reading of Brainpeople, Life Is a Dream, Private Fittings, The Notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci) and Sona Tatoyan (previous Brainpeople workshops, Massacre (Sing to Your Children), Lunatic in the Traproom, Gleise 581D).

"Brainpeople is a play that tries to examine mental states and a society in dysfunction," describes playwright Rivera. "Ultimately, it is about love, death, and poverty, and how they contribute to madness. At the same time, I wanted to explore the needs of these women and the world that they create."

The design team includes Daniel Ostling (scenic), Lydia Tanji (costume), Paul Whitaker (lighting) and Cliff Caruthers (sound). Puerto-Rican born Rivera is known for his Obie Award-winning plays Marisol and References to Salvador Dali Make Me Hot. Other works include Cloud Tectonics, Each Day Dies with Sleep, Sonnets for an Old Century, Sueno, Giants Have Us in Their Books, Marciela de la Luz Lights the World, Adoration of the Old Woman, Massacre (Sing to Your Children) and School of the Americas. His screenplays include the Academy Award-nominated "The Motorcycle Diaries" and the recent "Trade."

Tickets to Brainpeople at the Zeum Theater, in Yerba Buena Gardens (Fourth and Howard St.) are available by calling A.C.T. ticket services at (415) 749-2228 or at act-sf.org.