The world premiere of Sung J. Rno's Gravity Falls from Trees, presented by the Asian American Theatre Company, runs at San Francisco's Magic Theatre through June 22.

The tragicomedy explores cultural identity and alienation through a young Korean-American woman, obsessed with an unfinished novel; a guilty Korean pilot posing as a doctor; and a singing Isaac Newton. All are in some way responsible for the crash of a Korean Airline flight.

Rno's other works include Konishiki, Mon Amour and New World. Rno's first play, Cleveland Raining, was developed in a workshop taught by Paula Vogel, author of How I Learned to Drive and The Baltimore Waltz.

Rno recieved the the Van Lier Playwriting Fellowship at New Dramatists, first prize at the 1992 Seattle Multicultural Playwrights Festival and commisions from the New York Shakespeare Festival and Dance Theatre Workshop.

Steve Park, known for his role in the Academy-Award winning film Fargo, his role in Spike Lee's Do the Right Thing and his work on the Fox-TV show In Living Color, will star as Francis Park, the Korean pilot. Park has also worked at Pan-Asian Rep, East West Players, Riverside Shakespeare and at Apple Corp Theatre. The other two parts will be played by Michael Lopez (Isaac Newton) and Rania Ho (Isabella, the Korean American Woman), both members of the Asian American Theatre Company.

For tickets or more information, call (415) 441-8822, or refer to the Theatre Magic Theatre regional listing on Playbill On-Line.

-- By Honey Freilich