Fundraising Campaign Launched To Save CASA 0101 Theater

Josefina López, Founding Artistic Director of CASA 0101 Theater in Boyle Heights, CA announced today that CASA 0101 Theater is in danger of closing its doors. López said, "I opened CASA over 15 years ago. I started CASA to create opportunities for actors and writers and artists. This is the kind of place that I wanted when I was a little girl. I thought this would be my way of giving back to my community in Boyle Heights. But, unfortunately we are on the brink of closing down because we can't pay our rent, so we need your financial support. If you believe in what were are doing, please support us now."

Emmanuel Deleage, Executive Director of CASA 0101 Theater, said: "In an effort to save CASA 0101 Theater, and keep our doors open, we have launched a Fundraising Campaign. We are looking for 350 people to become $25 monthly donors. It's very easy to sign up on our website, http://www.casa0101.org/support-us. This will insure our financial stability. Presently we have 77 of the 350 donors. It's very possible to do it, but without it, unfortunately we may have to close our doors. Over the years we have produced well over 100 plays, offered countless classes and presented many art exhibits. We invest heavily in our productions. Like many arts organizations, our theater is no longer able to sustain itself alone with our ticket sales and limited grants. We ask for your support so we can continue providing inspiring plays, so that we can continue making a difference in the lives of not only the community of Boyle Heights, but in the community of Los Angeles." Learn more by visiting https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_QA9mFetaKo and sharing the hashtag, #casa350.

Edward Padilla, President of CASA 0101 Theater's Board of Directors, said: "I joined CASA 0101 because I believed in Josefina López's vision, and because I saw an opportunity to inspire our local residents, our youth and parents, and to nurture self-confidence and emotional development in those outside our CASA walls. I think it's a void we have helped to fill over the years. Josefina and I have been volunteering as teachers of various classes offered at CASA 0101 for free. We want to continue these important programs for the betterment of our community."

Josefina López continued, "Moving forward over the next several months, as we make every effort to resolve the financial dilemma we are in presently, here is what to expect. CASA 0101 Theater will present 'Brown & Out IV,' A Play Festival of 10 World Premiere Short Plays Celebrating the LGBTQ+ Latinxperience, February 9 - March 4, 2018, along with a photo exhibition by Rolando Rodriguez, entitled "ropa sucia." (dirty laundry) curated by Jimmy Ceneno, and a Ten Year 2008 - 2018 Retrospective Celebrating CASA 0101 Theater's commitment to presenting and supporting Latinx LGBTQ+ themed plays and playwrights, curated by Corky Dominguez; Chicanas, Cholas y Chisme VI, March 16 - April 15, 2018; a hopeful remount of our critically acclaimed and extremely popular production, rights permitting, of Disney's Beauty and The Beast, The Broadway Musical, produced with TNH Productions, May 4 - 27, 2018; and a World Premiere of a new play I am writing, called Remembering Boyle Heights, opening on June 8, 2018."

López added, "In addition, to the productions, I will be offering a Five-Day Latino Screenwriting Class at CASA 0101 Theater from 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m., February 19 - 23, 2018 solely for students who identify as Latino and who wish to write Latino protagonists. This class is made possible by a grant from the Eastside Arts Initiative. To learn more and register, please visit: http://www.casa0101.org/shows/latin-screenwriting-academy. On March 4, 2018, the Boyle Heights Museum will open a new exhibit in the Jean Deleage Gallery at CASA 0101 Theater commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the East Los Angeles Student Walkouts. The exhibit will be presented by the USC Center for Diversity & Democracy in partnership with CASA 0101 Theater. As part of the California Endowment's Building Healthy Communities Initiative, teachers Edward Padilla and Corky Dominguez will also lead their FREE Youth Acting Program for Boyle Heights residents ages 16 - 21 from 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. from February 10 - April 21, 2018."

CASA 0101 Theater will present "Brown & Out IV," A Play Festival of 10 World Premiere Short Plays Celebrating The LGBTQ+ Latinxperience on the Main Stage of CASA 0101 Theater, 2102 East First Street (at St. Louis Street), Boyle Heights, CA 90033, on Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m. and Sundays at 5:00 p.m., February 9 - March 4, 2018. On Friday, February 9, 2018 (Press Opening Night), Award-winning Producer, Actor, Writer and LGBTQ+ Activist, Dan Guerrero will be honored with the first CASA 0101 Theater Brown & Out Award for his long, distinguished and prolific career.

The "Brown & Out" Play Festival's mission is to present plays written by Latinx LGBTQ+ storytellers representing the diverse, ever-evolving culture, community and queer experiences. This year's Play Festival tackles themes of friendship, family, lovers, gender identity, HIV, suicide, religion, LGBTQ+ culture and old school vs. millennial differences. This production is not recommended for children. The production features strong adult language and mature themes.

The "Brown & Out IV" Play Festival is helmed by three critically acclaimed CASA 0101 Theater directors: Rigo Tejeda, Director of CASA 0101 Theater's and THH Productions' presentations of Disney's Beauty and the Beast, The Broadway Musical, Disney's Aladdin Dual Language Edition and In the Heights; Claudia Duran, Co-Founder/Director of the flourishing productions of the Annual Chicana, Cholas y Chisme, now entering is sixth installment this year, and Corky Dominguez, Director of Josefina López's World Premiere Productions of An Enemy of the Pueblo, Hungry Woman, Piñata Dreams and the 20-year anniversary of Real Women Have Curves.

Corky Dominguez, "Brown & Out IV" Director, Writer and Producer said, "What's different about this 'Brown & Out IV' Play Festival is all the plays were created in a writing class led by Josefina López, the creator and award-winning playwright of the play, Real Women Have Curves. After the class, the writers continued to develop their 10-minute plays on their own last summer. In the past, 'Brown & Out' plays were submitted by writers and selected for production." The first Brown & Out Play Festival took place in September 2011 and was presented at Little CASA in Los Angeles, CA.

Actors starring in "Brown & Out IV" include: César Carmona (of Boyle Heights), Moises Castro (of West Hollywood), Victoria Dunn (of Park La Brea), Belissa Escobedo (of Boyle Heights), Mikki Hernandez (of Los Feliz), Karlo S. Ishibashi (of East Los Angeles), Giovanni Navarro (of Boyle Heights), Matthew Benjamin Ramos (of Pasadena), Rufino Romero (of Hollywood), Devan Torres (Long Beach) and Maia Villa (of Monterray Park).

Writers include: Abel Alvarado, Corky Dominguez, Claudia Duran, Josefina López, Jaime Mayorquin, Raymond Arturo Perez, Matthew Benjamin Ramos, Gilbert Salazar, Richard Billegas, Jr. and Patricia Zamorano.

Producers include: Abel Alvarado, Emmanuel Deleage, Corky Dominguez, Claudia Duran, Jaime Mayorquin, Raymond Arturo Perez, Matthew Benjamin Ramos, Gilbert Salazar, Richard Villegas, Jr. and Patricia Zamorano.

Production Staff includes: Felipe Agredano (Associate Producer), Edward Padilla (Casting Director and Board President, CASA 0101 Theater), César Ratana-Holquin (Set Designer), Kevin Eduardo Vazquez (Lighting Designer), Vincent A. Sanchez (Sound Designer), Sohail e. Najafi (Technical Director), Jerry Blackburn (Production Stage Manager), Miguel "Michael" Carachure (Stage Manager), Lupe Arrelanes (CASA 0101 Communication and Outreach Coordinator), Mark Kraus (CASA 0101 Theater (Webmaster), Gabriela López de Dennis, Soap Studio Inc. (Key Artwork Design and Program), Ed Krieger (Production Photographer) and Steve Moyer Public Relations (Press Representative).

CASA 0101 Theater's sponsors include: The California Endowment, the Los Angeles County Arts Commission, The Herb Alpert Foundation, The City of Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Department and The Parsons Foundation.

More About The Plays:
Act I:
He Said, She Said, They Said written by Jaime Mayorquin directed by Claudia Duran. When old-school Chicana Leslie discovers that her organization's fundraising booth at the East Los Angeles Pride Fair is located right next to her more progressive rival's booth, she must attempt to remain civil towards the competing bake sale, or risk ruining the queer Latinx festivities. The cast includes: Victoria Dunn as Leslie, Giovanni Navarro as Gabriel, Belissa Escobedo as Sam, Devan Torres as Dani, Matthew Benjamin Ramos as Jesse and Karlo S. Ishibashi as Kel.

Twinks & Boobs MC written by Raymond Arturo Perez directed by Corky Dominguez.

Jay, a gay Latino twink, will do anything to get into the Big Fat Dick Motorcycle Club. Will he give away his dignity to get into the most selective LGBT motorcycle club in America? The cast includes: Matthew Benjamin Ramos as Jay Perez, Mikki Hernandez as Leah Cisneros and César Carmona as James Fogle.

Angelito written by Gilbert Salazar directed by Rigo Tejeda.

New in town, Pedro, without friends or a partner, is trying to find the one person in his life that he does need right now, a barber. Will this new barber give Pedro the cut that he needs before Valentine's Day, or will the barber give him something more? The cast includes: Moises Castro as Pedro, Karlo S. Ishibashi as Mateo, Giovanni Navarro as Angel, César Carmona as Rudy, Rufino Romero as Ernie, Matthew Benjamin Ramos as Customer 1 and Devan Torres as Customer 2.

Baby Mama written by Matthew Benjamin Ramos directed by Claudia Duran.

The play was written to be reflective of the real conversations and relationships gay men have with their straight female friends as they both transition to adulthood and start thinking about family. The cast includes: Moises Castro as Christian and Maia Villa as Laura.

Girl Misinterpreted written by Josefina López directed by Rigo Tejeda.

A sensitive 17-year-old Latina named Cassandra, has been institutionalized for cutting herself to cope with her parents not believing her sexual molestation story, and now she must decide whether to lie to be released and come out of the closet. This story takes place in the past, the present and in the realm of memory. The cast includes:
Belissa Escobedo as Cassandra Robles, Maia Villa as Nurse Mary, Rufino Romero as Cassandra's Father, Victoria Dunn as Cassandra's Mother, Mikki Hernandez as Cassandra's Sister, Devan Torres as Teenage Girl #1, Mikki Hernandez as Teenage Girl #2, Devan Torres as Veronica and César Carmona as Dr. Bradley.

Act II:
Young Dudes written and directed by Corky Dominguez.

Two friends, one white, and one brown, spend one night together in a true test of friendship on this full moon evening in May 1990. Coming to terms with what happened, Chico has a flashback about this fateful evening. The Cast includes: César Carmona as Older Chico, Victoria Dunn as Flor, Moises Castro as Young Chico and Matthew Benjamin Ramos as Barry.

L.U.G. written by Claudia Duran directed by Corky Dominguez.

Carmen and Amalia have been best friends since first grade. An unexpected wild night threatens to break up their lifelong friendship, that is, unless the two friends can be honest about their love for one another. The cast includes: Mikki Hernandez as Carmen, Maia Villa as Amalia, Victoria Dunn as Raquel, Karlo S. Ishibashi as Bryce and Rufino Romero as Tommy.

When Boyz Cry written by Abel Alvarado directed by Claudia Duran.

A short play about a group of longtime friends who are living life in the new Millennium. Many changes have happened since they all first met and their friendship has stood the test of time, but are they prepared to keep moving into the future with a life they never thought could be? The cast includes: Ruffino Romero as Frank, Moises Castro as Gabriel, Giovanni Navarro as Carlos, César Carmona as Jerry and Matthew Benjamin Ramos as Ryan.

Scratching The Surface written by Patricia Zamorano directed by Claudia Duran.

Jay Palos, a masculine muxer is sexually frustrated when she can't satisfy her partner/lover Aura Rivas. When Jay decides to go to the Pleasure Chest with her best friend, Pilar Espinoza to buy a dildo and bumps into Aura. It becomes an awkward moment leaving them with questions that will soon be uncovered with blundering and vulnerable truths on both their parts. The cast includes: Devan Torres as Jay Palos, Mikki Hernandez as Aura Rivas and Belissa Escobedo as Pilar Espinoza.

Cochino written by Richard Villegas, Jr. directed by Rigo Tejeda.

Lucien Chang just left his religion and family to move in with his boyfriend, Alvaro Garcia. Alvaro buys him his first birthday cake and offers him a Mexican bite. The cast includes: Rufino Romero as Alvaro Garcia and Karlo S. Ishibashi as Lucien Chang.

Tickets during the Four-Week Run, February 9 - March 4, 2018, Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 pm., and Sundays at 5:00 p.m., are $20 per person for General Admission; $17 per person for Students and Seniors; and $15 per person for Boyle Heights residents. This show is not recommended for children. The show contains strong adult language and mature themes. Advance reservations are highly encouraged.

Dinner and Theater Packages are available as well at CASA Fina Restaurant and Cantina, located at 1842 E. First Street, Boyle Heights, CA 90033, just a few block away from CASA 0101 Theater. Premium Dinners are an additional $25 to your ticket price; Regular Dinners are an additional $15 to your ticket price; and Deserts are an additional $5 to your ticket price. Please visit www.casa0101.org for menu options and choices.

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. Metro Gold Line train stations are located on First Street in Boyle Heights at both Soto Street, and at Boyle Street (Mariachi Plaza), within a short walking distance to the theater. 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.

Concurrently with the run of "Brown & Out IV," the Jean Deleage Art Gallery, located in the lobby of CASA 0101 Theater will present "ropa sucia." (dirty laundry), a Photo Exhibition by Rolando Rodriguez, curated by Jimmy Centeno, from February 8 - March 1, 2018. There will be an Opening Night Reception on Thursday, February 8, 2018 from 6:00 - 9:00 p.m., and a Closing Night Reception on Thursday, March 1, 2018 from 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. The exhibit can be viewed Mondays through Thursdays, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Fridays from 10:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m., Saturdays from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. and Sundays from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. All other times are by appointment only.

Rolando Rodriguez is a Los Angeles-based artist who has written stories about the immigrant community of his native South Central Los Angeles. As a designer, he has worked on several stage, feature film and television show productions. His directorial short film work has screened at Outfest Los Angeles and his theatrical written work has been performed at Columbia University in New York City, where he studied Architecture. "ropa sucia." (dirty laundry) is set against the gritty backgrounds of Los Angeles. It is a collection of self-portraits is an intimate and imaginative look into the inner selves. Spanning several mediums and personas, colorful outfits activate characters that defy reality, creating a parallel universe that is magical; that is external and internal, that blurs the line between visibility and invisibility.

Additionally on view in the Jean Deleage Art Gallery during the run of "Brown & Out IV," is a Ten-Year 2008 - 2018 Retrospective curated by Corky Dominguez celebrating CASA 0101 Theater's commitment to presenting and supporting Latinx LGBTQ+ themed plays and playwrights which have graced the Little CASA stage and CASA 0101 Theater's Main Stage. "In a year 10-year span there are about (70) Latinx LGBTQ+ short plays, one-acts plays, and full-length plays that have appeared either in festivals or as part of a fully mounted production. We are ALL very proud of this accomplishment," said Corky Dominguez.

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