Singularity is not about “getting on board”! It’s a perilous (albeit arguably inevitable barring global energy shortages) event that requires leadership and nuance and a gigantic dose of broader humanity’s input/awareness if it is not to be the continued murderous madness that our runaway train civilization is today. So while yes it is very nice to see Gartner pushing the envelope of us routine oriented change averse humans and jarring us into the reality of the pace of change and it’s cumulative realities, I hardly think such acceptance and awareness promotion should be cheered like a victory with a good ol’ American BOOYAH! Necessary perhaps, but it should also be sold recognizing that singularity is as ominous as it is exciting, and although the notion of meeting our needs virtually is certainly a stimulating tool, our physical deterioration on an epidemic scale should be more than enough evidence that it is hardly so clear our continuing symbiosis will benefit our species at least as much as it harms it. Have enough perspective to differentiate between a a Wall Street-esque speed race towards singularity and an arrival in a world with something remotely close to the power and leadership it would require to ensure it is not a fool’s errand we can no longer rethink.

So we may wind up having NetNavis before intelligent robots, huh? Cool.

LODESTONE THEATER ENSEMBLE PRESENTS:
Trapezoid
Trapezoid tells the story of a lovestruck Korean American poet hired to put the “art” in a robot’s artificial intelligence. When the technological creation falls in love with its human creator, it’s man-made versus mankind with comic and tragic results.

Trapezoid runs from April 19th - May 25th (Friday, Saturday - 8pm / Sunday - 2pm)
**Low price $8.00 previews on April 17-18 at 8pm
General Admission: $16.00 / Students & Seniors: $14.00 / Groups of 10+: $12.00

**April 19th - $25/Opening Night Gala **All Sunday shows (except May 25) are pay-what-you can ($1.00 min)

RSVP: 323-993-7245

Website: http://www.myspace.com/trapezoid2008

LOS ANGELES, CA – Lodestone Theatre Ensemble presents the world premiere of Trapezoid, running April 19 - May 25, 2008 at the GTC Burbank (1111-B West Olive Ave., Burbank, CA 91506) located inside George Izay Park. Following on the heels of one of its most critically-acclaimed and commercially successful seasons, the award-winning theatre company kicks off its ninth season with a new play by Lodestone Resident Producer Nic Cha Kim and directed by Scott Horstein.

Lodestone’s first presentation of a play in the science-fiction genre, Trapezoid tells the story of a Korean American poet in love hired by a technology think tank to put the “art” in artificial intelligence. When the robot creation falls in love with the human creator, it’s man-made versus mankind with sometimes comic and sometimes tragic results.

The cast includes Julia Cho, Antonia Grace Glenn, Alberto Isaac, Lanny Joon, Elaine Kao, Charles Kim, Ryan Mercado , Leonard Wu, Elpidio Ebuen, John Fukuda, Grace Kim, Stephanie Lincoln, Brian P. Nichols and Enoch Wu.

“Trapezoid is a loose adaptation of Pygmalion and Galatea but instead of sculpture, we use poetry,” explains playwright Nic Cha Kim. “From Collodi’s Pinocchio, Shelley’s Frankenstein and Philip K. Dick’s Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, artificial intelligence has been a fixture of science-fiction for centuries despite only being a science for the last 65 years. Trapezoid is my homage to scientists and science fiction writers alike.”

Trapezoid playwright Nic Cha Kim is a Korean American writer, video artist and community activist. The recipient of numerous distinctions from the City of Los Angeles, Kim is best known for founding Gallery Row and leading the effort to create a gallery district in Downtown Los Angeles. As owner of Niche Video Art, his work curating cutting-edge digital and video art has been recognized in Art Forum, LA Times and the Downtown News. Kim was voted top 10 most influential Angeleno by LA Alternative Press and profiled on LA18 in the segment Our Role Models. This is Kim’s first mainstage production at Lodestone.

Scott Horstein has directed workshops, readings and/or served as dramaturg at the Black Dahlia Theater, East West Players, the West Coast Ensemble, the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Berkeley Rep, San Diego Rep and the Old Globe, where he dramaturged for Arthur Miller on his penultimate play Resurrection Blues.

Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm, Sundays at 2 pm., April 19 – May 25, with low-priced previews on April 17 and 18. Tickets are $16 for general admission, $14 for students/seniors. Group rates of $12 each are available for reservations of ten or more. Tickets for the April 19th Opening Night Gala with a post-show reception are $25. All Sunday matinees (except May 25) will be pay-what-you-can admission with a $1 minimum.

For more information, call the Lodestone Theatre Ensemble hotline at (323) 993-7245 or visit www.lodestonetheatre.org or www.myspace.com/lodestonetheatre or www.myspace.com/trapezoid2008

Founded in 1999 by Philip W. Chung, Alexandra Chun, Chil Kong and Tim Lounibos, Lodestone is committed to providing a forum for Asian Pacific American artists in all aspects of the theatre arts. Lodestone seeks to challenge limited perceptions of Asian Pacific Americans through the creation of original theatrical productions as well as a fresh retelling of established works.

Lodestone Theatre Ensemble is a Company-in-Residence at GTC Burbank.