CTG Continues Free Library Play Readings in Boyle Heights Tonight

Center Theatre Group continues its free play reading series with the reading of six plays at three public libraries in Boyle Heights.

Continuing for the fourth year in a row, the series has expanded to twelve readings (the other six will be announced later this year) and will take place at Benjamin Franklin Library, Malabar Library and Robert Louis Stevenson Library from today, July 19 through December 15. Readings will be done in English and Spanish as noted below.

The first six plays to be presented are "Tsunami" by Jesús Castaños-Chima; "El Amante" by Tony Dúran; "A Mexican Trilogy: Faith, Hope, and Charity" by Evelina Fernandez; "The Last Firefly (A Kabuki Fable)" by Naomi Iizuka in both English and Spanish (as "La Última Luciérnaga"); "The jalapeño, heavy metal, baseball, Frosted Flake adventures of Mr. Henry Carrillo" by Juan E. Carrillo; and "Barrionetas" by Juan Jimenez Gutierrez, Epitacio Hernández, Héctor Dávalos and Mauro Mendoza with the music of Chava Flores.

As a new component this year, all readings will include elements of music made possible by The Doris Duke Charitable Foundation grant that Center Theatre Group received in February. The musical component promises a more multifaceted, immersive experience for those who attend. All readings will begin at 6 p.m.

Readings of "Tsunami" and "El Amante," presented in Spanish by Grupo Apolo, will take place Tuesday, July 19 at the Benjamin Franklin Library; Wednesday, July 20 at the Malabar Library; and Thursday, July 21 at the Robert Louis Stevenson Library.

"Tsunami" is an account of the tragedy that devastated Japan in 2011 and shows that, despite the magnitude of the events, the country has managed to be reborn from the rubble. The second reading of "El Amante" follows the title character (translated as "The Lover") as he plays out the adventures that befall him in his search for love through music, song and magic.

Readings of select scenes from The Latino Theater Company's "A Mexican Trilogy: Faith, Hope, and Charity" will take place on Tuesday, August 16 at the Benjamin Franklin Library; Wednesday, August 17 at the Malabar Library; and Thursday, August 18 at the Robert Louis Stevenson Library.

"A Mexican Trilogy: Faith, Hope, and Charity" is an American story that follows the Morales family over the span of 100 years, highlighting the Latina/o experience in the U.S. Music evokes era and mood as the three parts of this play-Faith, Hope and Charity-paint a canvas of universal family struggle that depicts the eternal sense of belonging we all crave: to family, to culture, to country.

The Spanish readings of "The Last Firefly (A Kabuki Fable)," or "La U?ltima Lucie?rnaga (Una Fa?bula Kabuki)," will be presented by Off The Tracks Theater Company on Tuesday, September 13 at the Benjamin Franklin Library; Wednesday, September 14 at the Malabar Library; and Thursday, September 15 at the Robert Louis Stevenson Library. The English readings of "The Last Firefly" will be presented by Artists at Play on Tuesday, December 13 at the Benjamin Franklin Library; Wednesday, December 14 at the Malabar Library; and Thursday, December 15 at the Robert Louis Stevenson Library.

Inspired by Japanese folktales, "The Last Firefly" follows the journey of a young boy named Boom who is trying to find his missing father-who may or may not be Thunder. Boom's quest takes him through a fantastical world where trees talk, spiders weave clouds and boys punch holes through the sky. It is a story about parents, children and what is found when they discover where they came from and who they really are.

Presented by SuperCity, readings of "The jalapen?o, heavy metal, baseball, Frosted Flake adventures of Mr. Henry Carrillo" will take place Tuesday, October 11 at the Benjamin Franklin Library; Wednesday, October 12 at the Malabar Library; and Thursday, October 13 at the Robert Louis Stevenson Library.

"The jalapen?o, heavy metal, baseball, Frosted Flake adventures of Mr. Henry Carrillo" is a solo performance piece featuring guitar that follows first grade teacher Mr. Carrillo as he navigates through the sometimes contradictory realms of heavy metal, Mexico and the classroom in East L.A., where he was born and raised.

Readings of "Barrionetas" will be presented in Spanish by Teatro y Cuento and will take place Tuesday, November 15 at the Benjamin Franklin Library; Wednesday, November 16 at the Malabar Library; and Thursday, November 17 at the Robert Louis Stevenson Library.

"Barrionetas" explores the problems and circumstances of one neighborhood in Mexico City-as well as the resilience and passion for life of the people who live there-with the music of Chava Flores woven through.

The Benjamin Franklin Library is located at 2200 East 1st Street, Los Angeles, CA 90033; the Malabar Library is at 2801 Wabash Ave., Los Angeles, 90033; and the Robert Louis Stevenson Library is at 803 Spence St., Los Angeles, 90023.

For reservations to the readings, contact Jesus A. Reyes at jreyes@ctgla.org or call 213- 972-8028. More information on CTG's community programs can be found at www.centertheatregroup.org/community.

The play readings are presented by CTG's Education and Community Partnerships department, led by Leslie K. Johnson. CTG frequently partners 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 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, Center Theatre Group is working to connect with community members and artists throughout L.A. and to facilitate inclusive and thoughtful cultural conversations.

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