CASA 0101 Theater Presents AN L.A. JOURNEY, Now thru 6/7

CASA 0101 Theater, Josefina López, Artistic Director, continues the theater's 15th "Quiceañera" Anniversary celebration by presenting the World Premiere production of AN L.A. JOURNEY - The Story of Lorenzo Alfredo, co-written by Emmanuel Deleage and Lorenzo Alfredo and directed by Emmanuel Deleage. The production will be presented on the theater's Main Stage located at 2102 East First Street (at St. Louis Street), Boyle Heights, CA 90033 on Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m. and on Sundays at 5:00 p.m., tonight, May 8 (Press Opening Night) - June 7, 2015. Pay-What-You-Can Preview performances will be given on Friday and Saturday, May 1 and 2, 2015 at 8:00 p.m. and Sunday, May 3, 2015 at 5:00 p.m.

Emmanuel Deleage, Co-Writer and Director of the play said: "It has been an honor and privilege for me to bring to life the story of Lorenzo Alfredo to the stage. The story of Lorenzo's life is truly inspirational and a testament that with perseverance and strength of purpose, one can overcome and conquer what seem to be the most insurmountable circumstances and obstacles, and flourish."

AN L.A. JOURNEY, The Story of Lorenzo Alfredo chronicles the true life journey of Lorenzo, an 11 year K'iche Mayan homeless orphan, from Guatemala City to Los Angeles. With the help of Olivia, a tortilla maker escaping an abusive relationship, the lively duo braves many dangers in a 13-month epic trek while attempting to cross two borders. Will their optimism and strong work ethic be enough to forge a better destiny?

Tickets during the five-week run on Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m. and Sundays at 5:00 p.m., May 8 (Press Opening Night) - June 7, 2015, are $20 per person for General Admission; $17 per person for Students and Seniors; and $15 per person for Boyle Heights residents. Discounts for Groups of 10 or more will be available at $15 per person. This show is recommended for all audiences. Advance reservations are highly recommended. Pay-What-You-Can Previews will be presented on Friday and Saturday, May 1 and 2, 2015 at 8:00 p.m., and Sunday, May 3, 2015 at 5:00 p.m.

Free Parking is available on several streets surrounding the theatre. Free Parking is also available on Fridays and Saturdays only at the Boyle Heights City Hall Parking Lot located at 2130 East First Street (at Chicago Street) by entering the lot from Chicago Street; the lot is closed on Sundays. For tickets, please call the CASA 0101 Theater Box Office at 323-263-7684, E-mail tickets@casa0101.org, or buy online at www.casa0101.org. Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/casa0101theater and follow us on Twitter @CASA0101

A cast of 15 actors will portray multiple roles in the play. The cast includes: Lorenzo Alfredo (of Pico Union) as Singer; Carmelo Alvarez (of South Pasadena) as Hector; Money Changer); Yolanda Gonzalez (of El Monte) as Ensemble - Pascuala, Doña Mare, Elderly Neighbor, Old Lady at Border House; Feliz Hernandez (of La Puente) as Ensemble - Jacinto, Migrant 1 and Los Angeles Driver; Angel Lizarraga (of Boyle Heights) as Radio DJ; Aurelio Medina (of Boyle Heights) as Spicy; Blanca Melchor (of South Pasadena) as Olivia; Esturado Munoz (of Boyle Heights) as Ensemble - Taxi Driver in Guatemala, Bus Drivers, Migrant 2, Taxi Drive in Los Angeles; Kathy Pedraza (of Boyle Heights) as Ensemble - Rosa, Children; Sharon Robles (of Northridge) as Ensemble - Police Woman, Comalapian Lady, Mesillan Mom, Orange Buyer, Lady in Isolated House, Lady in Restaurant; Katie Ventura (of Boyle Heights) as Ensemble - Gladys, Lucia, Lady on the Bus, Female Bus Driver, 2nd in Command, Woman Driver; Olin Tonatiuh (of Boyle Heights) as Lorenzo; Yocani Tonatiuh (of Boyle Heights) as Ensemble - Boys. Understudies include: Erick Chajon (of Boyle Heights) as Lorenzo, Ensemble, and Noemi Pedraza (of Boyle Heights) as Rosa, Children, Ensemble.

CASA 0101 Theater's sponsors include: The California Endowment, the Los Angeles County Arts Commission and The Herb Alpert Foundation.

Emmanuel Deleage (Co-Writer and Director) is a graduate of UCLA in World Arts and Cultures. While in college he joined the skid row theater troupe, Los Angeles Poverty Department, founded by performance artist John Malpede. He later became the company's administrator. In 2001 he formed his own company Courage Productions, and produced Armand Gatti's Public Song Before Two Electric Chairs at the Los Angeles Theater Center. He also met Josefina López that same year, and merged Courage with the newly formed Casa 0101 Theater. He is currently the Executive Director of Casa 0101. He has overseen the growth of Casa 0101 from an all-volunteer organization running out of a store front venue, to becoming an organization with four employees and running two venues. He also has had the privilege of working with theater directors, Peter Sellars, Gino Zampieri, Pascal Rambert and Armand Gatti. At Casa 0101, he has directed The Imaginary Life of the Street Sweeper August G by Armand Gatti, Locked Up and You Don't Know Me by Patricia Zamorano, Nat Turner by Randolph Edmonds, and Food for the Dead, by Josefina López. AN L.A. Journey - The Story of Lorenzo Alfredo is his second play. His first play was Selma Worth, about homelessness and finding self worth.

Lorenzo Alfredo (Story Originator; Co-Writer; Singer) was born December 24, 1992, in the K'iche village of Xojola, Guatemala. By the age of six he had stopped going to school and like many Indian children he began working, selling fruits, working in the sugar cane fields and doing odd jobs. By the time he turned eight he had lost all his family. Necessity and grief forced him to leave his village in search of work and he moved to the bigger city of Nahuala. After living and working for a family for a couple years, he felt forced to move on again because of conflicts within the family. He arrived in Guatemala City at age 10 knowing only a spattering of Spanish, as his native tongue is K'iche. He was homeless for over a year in Guatemala City, living on the streets before he met a tortilla maker. She took him in, and he helped her sell tortillas, at which time he went back to school for the first time in five years. After a year of stability, he left with her to travel to the United States, as she was escaping an abusive relationship. He arrived in Los Angeles by himself on the eve of his 14th birthday. He was homeless for two years before finding Jovenes, Inc., a shelter for young men. Since then, he has learned both English and Spanish. He is studying to receive his GED from Belmont Continuation School, where he is currently the student body president. He was one of the lead student organizers preventing LAUSD's closure of the adult continuation schools. He also acts and sings in theaters and local venues such as Casa 0101 Theater, Olvera Street, local nightclubs and the LA Taco Festival. He is hosts "El show del escobazo" on the Internet station Radio Caliente, on Friday and Sunday mornings.

The play's Production Team includes: Josefina López (of Boyle Heights) Artistic Director, CASA 0101 Theater; Emmanuel Deleage (of Boyle Heights) Co-Writer, Director, Executive Director, CASA 0101 Theater; Lorenzo Alfredo (of Pico Union) Story Originator, Co-Writer, Singer; Edward Padilla (of Boyle Heights) Producer, Casting Director, Board President, CASA 0101 Theater; Rafael Calderon (of Highland Park) Producer; Cesar Holguin (of San Fernando Valley) Set Designer; Maura McGuinness (of Los Angeles) Lighting Designer; Abel Alvardo (of Los Angeles) Costume Designer; Vincent Sanchez (of Commerce) Sound Designer; Jorge Villanueva (of Los Angeles) Light Board Operator; Eddie Magaña (of Boyle Heights) Projection Designer; JJ Paredes (of Boyle Heights) Projection Designer; Paulina Bouyer-Magaña (of Boyle Heights) Projection Designer; Juanita Medina (of East Los Angeles) Stage Manager; Cristina "Crispy" Carillo-Dono (of East Los Angeles) Assistant Stage Manager; Jules Bronola (of East Hollywood) Assistant Stage Manager; Sylvia Cortes (of Monterey Park) Social Media; Jimmy Centeno (of Los Angeles) Art Exhibit Curator; Mark Kraus (of Los Angeles) Webmaster; Gabriela López de Dennis, Soap Studio Inc. (of Los Angeles) Graphic Artist and Program; Ed Krieger (of La Crescenta) Production Photographer and Steve Moyer Public Relations (of Los Angeles) Press Representative.

During the course of the run of the play an Art Exhibit will be on display in the Jean Deleage Art Gallery located in the lobby of CASA 0101 Theater. The Art Exhibit, Points of Contention: Wrath, Conflict and Resistance (Puntos de tension: ira, conflicto y resistencia) will feature the works of artists Beatriz Mejia-Krumbein (of Riverside) and Jimmy Centeno (of Los Angeles), who, through their artwork address the dismembering practices that come with direct and indirect violence towards the marginalized and the challenges faced by those in resistance. The Exhibit will run from April 24 - June 13, 2015. An Opening Reception will be held on Friday, April 24, 2015 from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. On the Closing Night of the Exhibit, on Saturday, June 13, 2015 from 6:00 - 9:00 p.m., performance artist, Beatriz Mejia-Krumbein will present the performance "Of The Same Fabric," creating interaction with the audience in an effort to build bridges between individuals and disciplines. Jimmy Centeno serves as the Curator of the Art Exhibit.

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