LODESTONE THEATRE ENSEMBLE PRESENTS THE WORLD PREMIERE OF SOLVE FOR X

Judy Soo Hoo Weaves A Compelling Story of Love, Passion, Betrayal, and Tea.

LOS ANGELES, CA – Lodestone Theatre Ensemble proudly presents the world premiere of Solve For X, running March 19-April 24, 2005 at the Grove Theater Center Burbank (1111-B West Olive Ave., Burbank, CA 91506).  Written by Judy Soo Hoo, directed by Jeff Liu, and produced by Vic Chao and Nic Cha Kim, Solve for X stars Roger Fan (upcoming Annapolis, Better Luck Tomorrow), Elaine Kao, Emily Liu (Port Charles), Kipp Shiotani (upcoming Only the Brave), and Kelvin Han Yee.

Solve for X is a powerful story about Hannah, a savvy, young math teacher who marries an older tea mogul with a college-aged son, Henry.  A relationship between Hannah and Henry develops, further complicating the family dynamics.  Solve for X is a sensual, poetic tale of loneliness, betrayal, and searching…

“How does one solve for love, if X is the indeterminable factor in the equation of two people?” asks Playwright Judy Soo Hoo.  “For me this is not a ‘logical’ play, but one that asks what is hidden in the human heart?”  Solve for X was commissioned by the Mark Taper Forum and developed in the Asian Theater Workshop, New Work Festivals, and further developed at the Cleveland Playhouse in the Next Stage Festival of new plays.

Judy’s plays include 29 ½ Dreams: Women Walking Through Walls (Co-Collaborator), Twice-Told Christmas Tales, Refrigerators, Texas, Beastly Beauties of American Monsters, and Solve for X.  She is a recipient of the EWP/AT&T New Voices Play Awards, Yukon Pacific New Play Award, and PEN/WEST Emerging Voices Fellowship.  Excerpts of her plays have been published in The Best Male Stage Monologues, The Best Stage Scenes (Smith and Kraus), and Bold Words:  A Century of Asian American Writing (University of Rutgers Press).  Her play, Refrigerators was read at the New Eyes Festival at Theatre Mu in Minneapolis in Summer 2004.  She is the literary manager at East West Players and a resident playwright at Lodestone Theatre Ensemble.

Solve For X is about the nature of love, about how the laws of the human heart haven’t really changed from mythological to modern times.  We search for the perfect combination, and if we are lucky enough to find it, we must do everything possible to keep the spark alive,” says Director Jeff Liu.  “Even then, it may not be enough.  Tragic, yet deeply romantic, this is a wonderful piece of new writing, which I’m very proud to be premiering for Lodestone.”

Jeff Liu received his MFA from UCLA and is the Resident Director at Lodestone Theatre Ensemble.  He is director of 3 previous Lodestone productions, including the inaugural production of Texas, Murderobilia (from American Monsters), and Terminus Americana (Ovation Award nominee for Best World Premiere).  Jeff’s credits also include Paper Angels, FOB, the Noh play Matsukaze, The Art of Waiting, and Exit The Dragon.  The feature film he co-wrote, Charlotte Sometimes, was nominated for two IFP Spirit Awards.

Tickets prices are $15 for general admission and $13 for students and seniors.  Group rates of $11 each are available for reservations of ten or more.  Tickets for the March 19th Opening Night Gala with a post-show reception are $25.  For more information, call the Lodestone Theatre Ensemble hotline at (323) 993-7245 or visit www.lodestonetheatre.org.

Lodestone Theatre Ensemble is an Asian American theatre company with a mission to develop, create, promote, and present edgy, compelling, and impassioned works that bridge communities through truthful and entertaining artistry.