Center Theatre Group, in a co-production with Berkeley Repertory Theatre, presents the new work by the author of Broadway's Well. Performances play to April 18. The Berkeley, CA, run will be May 14-June 27. The play will surface at The Public Theater in New York City in 2010-11, under the title In the Wake.

The L.A. cast includes Emily Donahoe, Carson Elrod, Andrea Frankle, Miriam F. Glover, Deirdre O'Connell, Heidi Schreck and Danielle Skraastad.

Leigh Silverman, who staged Well both on Broadway and off, directs The Wake, which, according to CTG, "centers on Ellen, a smart, politically engaged, freelance writer who has created a warm circle of friends — a 'puppy pile of people' — including her longtime partner, his sister and her partner. She gathers them together for a Thanksgiving dinner in 2000 but has trouble joining the festivities with her mind on the contested presidential election. She is adamant that her friends don't understand how bad the situation really is. It turns out that Ellen, in the midst of the political turmoil of the 21st century, is also unable to see the facts at the center of her own political and emotional life. Kron's searing new play unearths the assumptions of privilege and comfort that lie deep in the American character, and confronts the inescapable truth that no matter how intelligent, open or self-reflective you think you are, you'll never be able to see your own blind spot."

Actress-writer Kron, who was a 2006 Best Actress Tony Award nominee for Well, also wrote The 2.5 Minute Ride, among other works.

The Wake's creative team includes set designer David Korins, costume designer Meg Neville, lighting and projection designer Alexander V. Nichols and sound designer Cricket S. Myers. The production stage manager is Elizabeth Atkinson. Tickets for The Wake are available by calling (213) 628-2772, online at www.CenterTheatreGroup.org.

The Kirk Douglas Theatre is located at 9820 Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA.