American Hwangap, a world premiere comedy written by Lloyd Suh and directed by Trip Cullman, is currently showing at Magic Theatre. The play tells the story of a Korean immigrant returning home to his family in the United States on his 60th birthday (hwangap), whom he had abandoned fifteen years ago.

Described by one of the actors in American Hwangap as "Sam Shepard for Asian people," the play "makes fresh the homecoming structure with a heartbreaking Korean American experience set against a canvas of highway 80, desert, and mythic cowboy lore." American Hwangap is a recipient of the Lark Play Development Center's "Launching New Plays into the Repertoire Initiative," supported by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

Saturday night is the official opening night, which is sold out, and tonight through Friday night's shows are previews. The ticket price for tonight and every Wednesday night is based on a $5-25 sliding scale, available one hour before curtain call. Each Friday night show, starting next Friday, April 17, will have an after-performance discussion with the artists and Magic Theatre staff.

American Hwangap, showing through May 3 | Magic Theatre, Fort Mason Center, SF | Evening shows at 8 p.m., Sunday matinee at 2:30 p.m., Wednesday, April 29 matinee at 1 p.m. | Ticket prices: Wednesday nights: $5-25 sliding scale; Preview nights (this Thursday and Friday, April 9-10): $25; Friday and Saturday evenings, Sunday matinee: $45; Thursday and Sunday nights: $40