L.A. theater company hopes its play is the Asian-American version of 'A Beautiful Mind'

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Janice Pak plays the girl in 99 Histories, a play produced by Julia Cho and directed by Leslie Ishii that tells a story of a Korean-American family. The Artists at Play production opens Sept. 13.

Mental illness has fascinated screenwriters and playwrights for years. In "99 Histories," we see how cultural bias can warp a family's ability to talk about it.

Mental illness has fascinated screenwriters and playwrights for years. In "99 Histories," we see how cultural bias can warp a family’s ability to talk about it. The play examines how a Korean immigrant mother and her American-born daughter alternatively confront – and deny – the daughter's emergent mental illness.

"99 Histories" is making its L.A. debut with the Asian-American theater troupe known as Artists at Play. The troupe hopes its production (which runs through October 5th at the Lounge Theater 2 in Hollywood) will, in the words of psychologist Michi Fu who is consulting on the show, be "the Asian American live version of 'A Beautiful Mind.'"

KPCC's health reporter Rebecca Plevin on how well art imitates life in "99 Histories."