In the 1980s, author-director John DiFusco, along with a group of other veterans of the Vietnam War, conceived and executed the play Tracers, channeling their military experiences into what would become one of the most important dramas written about the war. Thirty years on, war is still hell — and DiFusco and a new ensemble, all veterans of more recent wars and military actions, have reprised the work in a powerful new production that's every bit as harrowing as the original. In part that's because the original show's therapeutic underpinnings are downplayed in favor of a more dynamic depiction of what war is actually like on a human level. Tracers centers on the experiences of a group of archetypal soldiers who progress from enlistment to cannon fodder. The actor-veteran cast's military experiences flavor the production in often subtle ways, from the articulated terror of mustering in boot camp, to the crisp and chillingly authentic sequences in which plodding patrols erupt into blood-soaked violence. Particularly compelling turns in DiFusco's vital production are offered by Trevor Scott's likable Everyman soldier Dinky Dau, Jaimyon Parker's world-weary army medic, and Christopher DeVinny's nicely conflicted Professor.

Fridays, Saturdays, 8 p.m.; Sun., Oct. 13, 3 p.m. Starts: Sept. 28. Continues through Nov. 9, 2013

Advertising disclosure: We may receive compensation for some of the links in our stories. Thank you for supporting LA Weekly and our advertisers.