Community Play Readings Festival & Celebration
East Los Angeles College
Community Play Readings Festival & Celebration
2 days. 7 short plays. 10 Years of Community Partnerships in Boyle Heights.
10 years ago, we began commissioning Boyle Heights playwrights and hosting readings of their plays at local libraries. This June, we’re hosting readings of 7 short plays to celebrate the community members and partners who’ve made this work possible. Join us and discover stories that move you, make you laugh, and expand your world.
About the Readings
Friday’s reading spotlights women characters, writers, and directors and celebrates the incredible playwrights we’ve commissioned in the past 10 years.
- LINDA by Diana Burbano, directed by Alejandra Cisneros
Director: Alejandra Cisneros
Assistant Director Apprentice: Paul Galaviz
Cast: Karla Ojeda
Produced by special arrangement with YouthPLAYS (www.YouthPLAYS.com)
With her Wonder Woman costume and guitar, a young Chicana battles racist boys on the playground and mean girls at the talent show. But her superpowers are tested as she confronts a new challenger: her self doubt.
- AIN’T I A BEAUTY QUEEN? written and directed by Aja Houston
Directing Apprentice: Lauren Grace Parra
Costume Design Apprentice: Ivette Tello
Costume Design Mentor: Jessica Hansen
Cast: Hailey Brunson, Erika Degraff, Mariah Goolsby, Tiffany Oglesby, Ashley Denise Robinson, and Ingar Tudor
*Premiere public reading
As part-time beauty queens, part-time superheroes, the Jones sisters appear to have a leg-up on their competition when it’s announced this year’s pageant theme is superwomen. But tensions run high after the unexpected arrival of a beauty pageant legend...their mother. Will the sisters be able to complete their mission? After all, superheroes and beauty queens both want world peace.
Experience two powerful plays in Spanish that explore border stories in completely different ways. We’ll then cheers to our community members and library partners.
- LOS VAMPIROS DEL NORTE by Juan E. Carrillo, directed by Alejandra Cisneros
Director: Alejandra Cisneros
Hawking everything from trinkets to corridos to travelers crossing back into the United States, Vampiro has made the border his home. Except he has some unwelcome houseguests. Now guarding his home against vampires and evil spirits, Vampiro gives “border patrol” a whole new meaning.
- PAPÁ ESTÁ EN LA ATLÁNTIDAD by Javier Malpica, directed by Juan Parada
Cast: Kevyn De Leon and Felipe Iglecias
Presented by Off The Tracks Theatre Company
After the death of their mother, two young children desperate to reestablish their family, cross the northern border into the United States in search of their father. Will they find the belonging they seek?
Dive into family dynamics and explore friendships, religion, and tradition with our final three plays and we’ll close the festival by honoring our arts partners.
- SCRUPULOSITY written and directed by Allison Lopez
Cast: Richard Azurdia, Cristina Frias, and Angela Rosado
Struggling with OCD and her wavering faith, a teenage girl clashes with her religious father. The intensity of their altercation practically shakes heaven and earth, calling for divine intervention.
- LOLA’S BANIG written and directed by Fran de Leon
Directing Apprentice: Lorenzo Bacalso
Cast: Elaine Ackles, Josette Canilao, Joy Regullano, Zedrick Restauro, and Jason Rogel
Presented by Will & Co.
Gina and her daughter, Ligaya, have their magical visit to her childhood in the Philippines cut short when Gina’s memory goes blank just as her younger self is about to migrate to the U.S.
- EMMA & THE SUZIES by Anthony Aguilar, directed by Alejandra Cisneros
Director: Alejandra Cisneros
Directing Apprentice: Paul Galaviz
Cast: Julia Cho, Amira Colis, Donato Cortez, Lynette Ma, Alex Mora, Rose Portillo, and Aneleh Rodriguez
After her grandson is caught tagging a building, Emma attempts to alter his course by revisiting her rebellious youth and the gang she tried to start with her friends in 1960s Boyle Heights.
Questions? Email Jesus Reyes, Director of Learning and Community Partnerships, at jreyes@ctgla.org.
Location
East Los Angeles College Proscenium Theater, Building P2
1301 Avenida Cesar Chavez, Monterey Park, CA 91754
Parking is available in Parking Structure #4 (located on the corner of Floral Dr. And Collegian Ave.)
This is a free event presented by Center Theatre Group and ELAC Theater.
East Los Angeles College (ELAC) is one of our key community partnerships and is the official educational partner of Center Theatre Group. We encourage you to purchase snacks and beverages in the lobby prior to the readings to support their student-led non-profit organization Performance East Theatre Club.
Learn More
Since 2013, Center Theatre Group has partnered with local artists, organizations, schools, libraries, and other groups to enrich cultural conversations in L.A. neighborhoods and to encourage Angelenos to bring the art of theatre deeper into their lives, and to use it to share and explore their own stories.
Through free workshops, events, productions, discussions, and other activities that take place at traditional and nontraditional venues, we connect with community members and artists throughout our city, and join in and facilitate inclusive and thoughtful cultural conversations. Join us as we celebrate our 10-year anniversary of Community Partnerships in Boyle Heights!