CTG Community Play Readings Festival and Celebration!
Center Theatre Group (CTG) and ELAC Theater have come together to present this wonderful event. Four amazing visiting directors work with ELAC students to bring these plays to life!
Friday, June 7, 7:00 pm: Stories are our superpower
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
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
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.
Saturday, June 8, 2:00 pm: Stories are transformative
Sabado, 8 de Junio, 2:00 pm - En Espanol
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
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.
Vendiendo de todo, desde baratijas hasta corridos a viajeros que cruzan de regreso a Estados Unidos, Vampiro ha hecho de la frontera su hogar. Excepto que tiene algunos invitados no deseados. Ahora, protegiendo su hogar contra vampiros y espíritus malignos, Vampiro le da a “patrulla fronteriza” un significado completamente nuevo. - PAPA ESTA EN LA ATLANTIDA by Javier Malpica, directed by Juan Parada
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?
Tras la muerte de su madre, dos niños pequeños desesperados por restablecer su familia, cruzan la frontera norte hacia los Estados Unidos en busca de su padre. ¿Encontrarán la pertenencia que buscan?
Sautrday June 8, 7:00 pm: Stories are our connection
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
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 (play in English, Tagalog and Spanish)
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
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.