Photo Flash: First Look at THIS LAND at Company of Angels

A deep, painful, joyful story about one extended California family with roots in different parts of the world, who make their home on the same plot of Southern California land over 150 years. Los Angeles native and Mexican-American playwright, Evangeline Ordaz, crafts a rich and complex web of diverse characters from Los Angeles' Latino, African-American, Anglo, and Native American communities who co-exist as if time were a wheel that constantly doubles back on itself. Through triumph and despair these families discover how deeply they are rooted in the dreams of their ancestors and the land on which they stand.

Directed by Company of Angels artistic director, Armando Molina, This Land debuted on October 20, at Company of Angels, Los Angeles' oldest professional theater. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

A host of old curses and blessings, traditions and recipes, loves and betrayals, conspire to threaten successive displacements. As the story unfolds, each successive generation grapples with their claim to the land on which they live. This Land takes place through the years; 1843, 1848, 1949, 1965, 1992, on what is now a residential street in Watts.

Richard Azurdia (My Mañana Comes at Fountain Theatre, Backyard at Echo Theater Company, Bill & Joan at Sacred Fools, one of 54 "fascinating Angelenos" profiled by LA Weekly's 2015 People issue) stars as Tomas and Fidel Avila. Niketa Calame (voice of Young Nala in Disney's Animated Feature The Lion King, The Color Purple at Celebration Theater, Ain't Misbehavin at ICT) portrays Leslie Parker/Mel Miller/Pepe, Ian Alda (Lieutenant of Inishmore at Mark Taper Forum, Broadway Bound at La Mirada and Odyssey Theater) takes on the role of Patrick Dalton/James and Dalton Hill, LeShay Tomlinson Boyce (Hellcab and Seven Red Neck Cheerleaders at Elephant Theater Company, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom at Mark Taper Forum, Nominated for a NAACP Theater Award for Insurrection Holding History) plays Leola Parker/Sharon Curtis. Jeff Torres (Theatre: Henry IV, Love's Labour's Lost, TV: Criminal Minds, Telenovela) plays Enrique Avila/Ricardo Reyes, Cheryl Umana (Latino Theatre Company, Artists at Play at LATC, Kaiser Educational Theatre) plays Toya/Della, and Johanna McKay (performed in several productions at Circle X, and The Rubicon Theatre) plays Maeve Hilman. Scenic and Lighting Design by Justine Huen, Costume design by Manee Leija, Sound Design by Becca Kessin, and Video Design by Benjamin Durham. Heather McClane is the Assistant Stage Manager/Props and the Production Stage Manager is Daniel Munoz.

Performances of This Land take place Fridays, Saturdays, Mondays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 7 p.m., through Nov. 13. Tickets are $25; seniors $15; and students $12; Monday performances are Pay-What-You-Can. Company of Angels is located at 1350 San Pablo Street, Los Angeles, 90033. For reservations and information, (323) 475-8814 or go to www.companyofangels.org.

Johanna McKay, LeShay Tomlinson, Richard Azurdia, Niketa Calame, Cheryl Umana and Jeff Torres

Jeff Torres and Cheryl Umana

LeShay Tomlinson, Johanna McKay, Niketa Calame and Ian Alda

Richard Azurdia and Cheryl Umana