Latino Theater Company to Stage 'Mexican Trilogy' as One, Epic Event

An epic, theatrical event! For the first time, Evelina Fernández's award-winning trilogy, 'Faith,' 'Hope' and 'Charity,' will be presented in its entirety as one unforgettable tour de force. The first production in the Latino Theater Company's fall programming celebrating the company's 30th anniversary and its 10th year operating the Los Angeles Theatre Center, audiences can choose to enjoy this adventure over the course of two evenings - or as one thrilling, all-day immersive experience (box dinners available for purchase). Directed by Latino Theater Company Artistic Director José Luis Valenzuela and featuring musical direction by Rosino Serrano and choreography by Urbanie Lucero, A Mexican Trilogy: An American Story opens at the Los Angeles Theatre Center on Thursday, Sept. 15 and continues through Oct. 9. Preview performances begin Sept. 8.

Travel with the Morales family through decades of the Mexican-American experience, from a remote mining town in Arizona during World War II, to the Phoenix family home during the Cuban Missile Crisis, and, finally to Los Angeles following the death of Pope John Paul II in 2005. A Mexican Trilogy is the winner of the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle's Ted Schmitt Award and was published by Samuel French in 2015.

"We subtitled it 'An American Story' because the immigration experience is so integral to the fabric of our country," explains Valenzuela. "We first presented the plays individually in 2011 and 2012. Our intention was to create a history, in response to growing anti-immigration rhetoric, of contributions made to this country by Mexican-Americans. How we have assimilated. How we have participated in the democratic process. How we have contributed culturally. Now, with immigration a hot-button topic in the current election process, these plays are more important and more timely than ever."

Compelling, funny, peppered with song and flavored with a splash of magical realism, A Mexican Trilogy: An American Story touches on aspects of tradition, religion, labor issues, war and the clash between immigrants and their first and second generation American offspring. In just five hours, the twelve-actor ensemble portrays members of the Morales family over the course of 90 years and four generations. As the years fly by, we recognize the music of each era in classic songs ranging from the Andrews Sisters and Glenn Miller, to the Isley Brothers and Elvis, to Jimi Hendrix, all sung live by the cast.

Anchoring the narrative is centenarian family matriarch Esperanza, played by Latino Theater Company member Lucy Rodriguez (LTC'sPremeditation, Faith, Solitude, Melancholia, La Victima and more). Olivia Cristina Delgado (El Grande Circo de Coca Cola at the Skylight) takes on the role of Esperanza in her youth as well as her daughter, Elena, and granddaughter Betty; Esperanza America (world premieres of Faith andHope at LATC) plays daughter Faith, granddaughter Gina and great-granddaughter Valentina; and Ella Saldaña North (Ovation nomination for her performance in Chalk Rep's Family Planning) is daughter Charity and an older Elena. Also in the cast are Sal Lopez (founding member of the Latino Theatre Company: Luminarias, Faith, Hope, Charity, etc.) as Esperanza's husband, Silvestre; Kenneth Miles Ellington Lopez (The Christians at the Mark Taper Forum) and Julio Macias (Sony Pictures Television miniseries La vida es como elcine) as grandsons Johnny and Bobby; Sam Golzari (Hope, Charity, Melancholia, La Olla for LTC) as great-grandson Emiliano; the playwright, Evelina Fernández (roles in LTC'sLuminarias, Dementia, Solitude, Faith, Charity and more), as Esperanza's comadre, Lupe; Robert Beltran (Eating Raoul, Bugsy, Nixon, Big Love) as Rudy; Xavi Moreno (Melancholia, Faith, La Olla at LATC, multiple roles with Independent Shakespeare Co.) as Charlie; and Geoffrey Rivas(member of Latino Theater Company, Detective Sam Vega on CSI: Crime Scene Investigation) as radio personality Ricardo Flores aka "Ricky Flowers."

The creative team for A Mexican Trilogy: An American Story includes scenic designer François-Pierre Couture; lighting designer Pablo Santiago; Sound Designer John Zalewski; costume designer Carlos Brown; and props designer Michael Navarro. The production stage manager is Henry"Heno" Fernández, the technical director is Wayne Nakasone; and the production manager is Gabe Figueroa.

Evelina Fernández is the resident playwright for the Latino Theater Company. In 2013, she won the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award for 'Outstanding Writing of a World Premiere Play' for A Mexican Trilogy, now published by Samuel French, and she received an Ovation 'Best Playwright' Award nomination for Part II of the trilogy, Hope. Her holiday pageant play, La Virgen de Guadalupe, Dios Inantzin, which is produced annually by LTC at Our Lady of the Angels Cathedral, was featured in The New York Times. Her play Dementia received the 2003 GLAAD Media Award for 'Outstanding Theater Production in Los Angeles.' Her play Premeditation was nominated for three 2014 Ovation Awards including 'Best Theater Production.' LA Olla, which she adapted from Plautus's The Pot of Gold, was staged at the Getty Villa Lab in March, 2015 and produced at the LATC last spring. Evelina was part of the CTG Writers Workshop, was a staff writer for the Emmy-nominated original Hulu series East Los High,and is currently commissioned by South Coast Repertory.

José Luis Valenzuela is the Artistic Director of the Latino Theater Company and the Los Angeles Theatre Center. He is also a Distinguished Professor and head of the MFA Directing program at UCLA's School of Theater, Film and Television. In 2010, under Valenzuela's leadership, the LATC was nominated for an LA Stage Alliance Ovation Award for 'Best Theatre Season.' His recent directing credits include La Olla at the LATC and Premeditation at Arts Emerson, Boston, both written by Evelina Fernández; Destiny of Desire by Karen Zacarias at Arena Stage in Washington D.C.; Melancholia by the Latino Theater Lab; Faith, Hope and Charity (Parts I, II, III of A Mexican Trilogy); Habitat by Judith Thompson; and La Victima by El Teatro de La Esperanza. He directed the world premiere of Evelina Fernández's Dementia, which won the 2003 GLAAD Award for 'Outstanding Theater Production in Los Angeles.' He directed Henrik Ibsen's Peer Gynt at the Ibsen Theater of Norway as well as Manuel Puig'sKiss of the Spider Woman at the National Theatre of Norway, and he has assisted his mentor, Norwegian director Stein Winge, with Hamlet, The Glass Menagerie, Barrabas, Pantagleize, Die Walkurie, The Inspector General and The Wild Duck. Valenzuela also serves on the national steering committee of the Latina/o Theatre Commons and produced the historic Encuentro Festival in the fall of 2014.

The Latino Theater Company is dedicated to providing a world-class arts center for those pursuing artistic excellence; a laboratory where both tradition and innovation are honored and honed; and a place where the convergence of people, cultures and ideas contribute to the future. Each production in its 2016 season was selected to explore a unique story about who we are and where we come from to reflect the diversity of a global Los Angeles. LTC is currently celebrating its 30th anniversary and its 10th year operating the Los Angeles Theatre Center, a facility of the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs and a landmark building in Downtown's Historic Core.

Performances of A Mexican Trilogy: An American Story take place Sept. 15 through Oct. 9. The first half of the trilogy (Part A: Mexican Revolution to the Cuban Missile Crisis) can be seen on Thursdays at 8 p.m.; Saturdays at 5 p.m.; and Sundays at 3 p.m. The second half (Part B: assassination of JFK to the death of Pope John Paul II) runs on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 6 p.m. For those wishing to experience the entire trilogy in one day, box dinners are available for $20 between performances on Saturdays and Sundays (must be ordered 48 hours in advance). Preview performances take place Sept. 8 through Sept. 11 on the same schedule. Ticket prices are $50 for a single part, or $90for the entire experience. The Los Angeles Theatre Center is located at 514 S. Spring St., Los Angeles, CA 90013. For more information and to purchase tickets, call (866) 811-4111 or go to www.thelatc.org.