FIGHTING SHADOWS with Emmy Nominee Richard Cabral to Play Rosenthal Theater

Jami Gertz in Association with Homeboy Industries and The Rosenthal Theater at Inner-City Arts are thrilled to present the world premiere of a new play with music, FIGHTING SHADOWS, co-written and performed by 2015 Emmy nominee Richard Cabral ("American Crime"), with musical collaboration by Rocio Mendoza and directed and co-written by Robert Egan. FIGHTING SHADOWS will preview on Friday, April 15 at 8pm and will open on Saturday, April 16 at 7pm and run through Sunday, May 8 at the Rosenthal Theater at Inner City Arts, 720 Kohler Street in Los Angeles, 90021.

FIGHTING SHADOWS is a one-man show co-written and performed by Richard Cabral, who was recently nominated for an Emmy for his work on the ABC series "American Crime." Richard grew up in East Los Angeles, where he was first incarcerated at the age of 13. Cabral spent the next twelve years involved in gang life and in and out prison. When he was released from prison at age 25, Cabral was introduced to Father Greg Boyle the Founder of Homeboy Industries - the largest gang rehabilitation program in the world. Through his time at Homeboy, where he developed the strength and skills to transform his life through Homeboy's job-training and comprehensive therapy programs, Richard was able to break the intergenerational cycle of gang violence, transform his life, and pursue his passion for the arts.

This truthful, uncompromising and highly theatrical play uses storytelling, poetry and music to communicate the ability of marginalized lives to reclaim life, love and possibility through art.

ABOUT THE CREATIVE TEAM

RICHARD CABRAL (Playwright and Performer) was nominated for a 2015 Emmy Award for his riveting portrayal of Hector Tonz in ABC's critically acclaimed series "American Crime," (created by Oscar-winner John Ridley), Richard Cabral was discovered by the producers of NBC's "Southland" while working as a Baker at Homeboy Industries.

With memorable roles in Ridley Scott's "The Counselor" (starring opposite Javier Bardem, Penelope Cruz and Michael Fassbender), the Chris Weitz film "A Better Life" (with Demian Bichir), "End of Watch" (opposite Jake Gyllenhaal), "Rampart" (with Woody Harrelson), "Devil's Ink" (opposite Zoe Bell and RJ Mitte) and "Snitch" (opposite Dwayne Johnson), Richard has also made guest starring turns on ABC's "Body of Proof," and HBO's "Luck." Recently completing a second season on ABC's "American Crime", Richard went against type in his role as Sebastian, a computer hacking vigilante. He will next appear in "Blood Father," a Taken-style action thriller directed by Jean-Francois Richet (Mesrine) and starring Mel Gibson.

Richard was awarded the Lo Maximo Homeboy Industries "Hero Award" given to the former gang member and "graduate" from the Homeboy program, who has most profoundly transformed his or her life. A former gang-member, he fought a life-sentence and has since dedicated himself to helping others born into similar circumstances. He is an official Ambassador for Homeboy Industries. A constant poetic force, Richard always finds a way to stitch his art together with the healing of his community and beyond. Creating AllHeART Acting Class, Richard teaches the art of acting to homeboys and homegirls. He also established an Open Mic Poetry Night in his hometown of Montebello. Richard recently co-wrote, "East Los," a feature film that he developed with his producing team, Lineage Entertainment Group.

ROBERT EGAN (Director/Co-Author) is Artistic Director/Producer of the prestigious Ojai Playwrights Conference, and President and CEO of RHEgan Productions and EYE Street Media. Formerly Producing Artistic Director of the Mark Taper Forum, he founded the Taper's internationally acclaimed New Work Festival. As Associate Artistic Director of Seattle Rep, he created its new play development program, "The Other Season". He recently returned from Zimbabwe where he created the first African New Play Festival in that country. Throughout his career Robert has directed and developed hundreds of new plays for the international theatre working with writers such as Jon Robin Baitz, Sandra Tsing Loh, Stephen Adly Guirgis, Charlayne Woodard, Tony Kushner, Sussan Deyhim, David Hare, Bathsheba Doran, Tom Stoppard, Meow Meow, Anthony Minghella, Patrick Marber, Luis Alfaro and Christopher Hampton.

For TV: "Frasier" and "Stark Raving Mad," among others. For Theatre: Mark Taper Forum: Arcadia, Aristocrats, Closer, Dealer's Choice, Death and the Maiden, Hedda Gabler (CTG/Doolittle Theatre), Made in Bangkok, Measure for Measure, Mystery of Love and Sex, Other Desert Cities, The Poison Tree, Richard II, Sansei, Skylight, Ten Unknowns, Widows; Kirk Douglas Theatre: Flight, Distant Shores, Uncle Ho to Uncle Sam, St. Jude; Taper, Too: Aunt Dan and Lemon, The Dream Coast, The Thrill, Weights; Dorothy Chandler Pavilion: Every Good Boy Deserves Favour; Public Theater: The Word Begins, The Ballad of Soapy Smith; Playwrights Horizons: Chinese Friends; Seattle Rep: Savages, Translations, The Ballad of Soapy Smith, Buying Time, Salvation Now, The Grass Widow, Between East and West; Berkeley Rep: The Guys; La Jolla Playhouse: The Night Watcher; Actors' Gang: The Guys, Julian Fleisher and Martha Plimpton Live!; ACT Seattle: Night and Day, Uncle Ho to Uncle Sam; Oxford Playhouse: St. Joan and Idomineo; Oxford University Drama Society: They Shoot Horses Don't They (direction and adaptation).

ROCIO LIBERTAD MENDOZA (Musical Collaborator and Performer) is a Mexican balladeer performance artist and purveyor of the cultural experiences of a Mexican-American immigrant.

Born in Colima, Mexico, Rocio grew up in Mendocino County where she was first exposed to Mexican folk melodies. She has appeared in numerous music videos as a dancer/performer including Black Eyed Peas, Carlos Santana and N'Sync. She is a featured vocalist on Raphael Saadiq's Grammy Nominated album "The Way I See It." Rocio played a lead role, in the original play by Josefina Lopez titled "Trio Los Machos," at Casa 0101 theater. Currently, Rocio is a member of Trio Alma Y Alma and does guest appearances with Trio Tres Souls of Los Angeles

JAMI GERTZ (Producer) has crafted a distinguished reputation in film, television and theater. In addition to her most recent role in the ABC series "The Neighbors," she was seen in Jeff Garlan's feature "Dealin' with Idiots." Gertz appeared on ABC's Emmy Award-winning comedy "Modern Family" and the hit cable series "Entourage," opposite Jeremy Piven. She starred with Piven again in Scott Marshall's "Keeping Up With the Steins," as well as Gary Marshall, Darryl Hannah and Doris Roberts. Last season Gertz filmed the ABC, Dan Fogelman created pilot "Untitled NBA Project" opposite Skylar Astin and Ving Rhames. For four seasons, Gertz starred on the hit comedy "Still Standing," opposite Mark Addy. In addition, she portrayed title role on ABC's "Gilda Radner: It's Always Something," based on Radner's autobiography. In 2002, Gertz received an Emmy nomination for her role on the critically acclaimed television series "Ally McBeal," where she guest starred in a four-episode arc. She is also widely recognized for her role as a sex therapist in "Twister" opposite Bill Paxton, and for her roles with Dylan McDermott in the romantic comedy "Jersey Girl," in "Less Than Zero" (based on the best selling novel by Bret Easton Ellis) with James Spader and Robert Downey, Jr., and in "The Lost Boys" with Kiefer Sutherland and Jason Patric. Gertz was discovered at age 16 in a nationwide talent search for the sitcom "Square Pegs" with Sarah Jessica Parker. Since then, she has appeared on a number of hit television shows, including "Seinfeld," "ER" and "Dream On." On stage she appeared in the Off-Broadway production of Garry Marshall's "Wrong Turn at Lung Fish" with the late George C. Scott and Tony Danza. She also starred in "Come Back Little Sheba" with Tyne Daly and "Out of Gas on Lover's Leap" with Jason Patric. In 2007, Gertz formed Lime Orchard Productions, a television and film production company. The company produced "A Better Life" in 2011, directed by Chris Weitz and starring Demian Bichir, which earned him a Best Actor Academy Award nomination.

ABOUT THE SCHEDULE AND PRICING

FIGHTING SHADOWS will preview on Friday, April 15 at 8pm and will open on Saturday, April 16 at 7pm (Opening night post-show cocktail reception sponsored by Hennessy VSOP Privilege) and run through Sunday, May 8 at Inner City Arts, Ave., 720 Kohler Street in Los Angeles, 90021.

Performances are Thursdays & Fridays at 8pm; Saturdays at 5pm & 8pm & Sundays at 3pm & 6pm. (There will be no performances Thursday, May 5 & Friday, May 6 at 8pm and Saturday, May 7 at 5pm).

For tickets or more information, please visit http://fightingshadows.brownpapertickets.com/ or www.fightingshadowstheplay.com. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Homeboy Industries.

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