Rose Portillo News

The invisible histories of Chicano veterans of the Vietnam War are being brought to center stage in the debut of "Ring of Red: A Barrio Story." The play will run from Sept. 20-30 at Bootleg Theater, 2220 Beverly Blvd. in Los Angeles.

Playwrights' Arena, the only theater created and dedicated to producing bold new works for the stage written exclusively by Los Angeles playwrights, will be celebrating its 26th Anniversary with their annual fundraising gala, HOT NIGHT IN THE CITY. The event will be held at Barnsdall Gallery Theater, 4800 Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles, starting at 7:30 PM (with a VIP reception beginning at 6 PM). For tickets go to www.playwrightsarena.org or call 800-838-3006.

The 28th Annual LA Stage Alliance Ovation Awards, celebrating theatrical excellence and achievement throughout Los Angeles, were presented on Monday, January 29, at the Theatre at Ace Hotel in downtown LA.

The 28th Annual LA STAGE Alliance Ovation Awards, celebrating theatrical excellence and achievement throughout Los Angeles, were presented on Monday, January 29, at the Theatre at Ace Hotel in downtown LA.

Presenters have been announced for the 28th Annual LA STAGE Alliance Ovation Awards on Monday, January 29, at the Theatre at Ace Hotel in downtown Los Angeles. Red carpet arrivals will begin at 6pm and the ceremony, hosted by Kirsten Vangsness, is set to begin at 7:30pm.

Center Theatre Group's world premiere production of 'Archduke,' written by Rajiv Joseph, began previews April 25 and will continue through June 4, 2017, at the Mark Taper Forum. Opening night is set for May 7, BroadwayWorld has photos from the festivities below!

Let's get one thing perfectly clear from the get.go. Luis Valdez's Zoot Suit which premiered at the Mark Taper Forum and on Broadway in 1978, is a milestone. Broadway had not seen anything quite like it up to that point. First of all, it put Mexicans into the mainstream ... and their Pachuco culture, including their music and dance. In form it's a serious play about the Zoot Suit murders of 1942 in Southern California, but it is laced with humor, song and dance, classifying it in both realms of fact and fantasy. Now, after 39 years, in the 50th anniversary year of Center Theatre Group, Zoot Suit returns in an all new revival, once again directed by the brilliant Valdez. It has a fantastic cast, is high on entertainment value...and its issues do indeed mirror those present in today's politically ruthless world.

Due to extraordinary ticket sales, Center Theatre Group's 'Zoot Suit' has announced a second one-week extension. Performances will now continue through March 26, 2017, at the Mark Taper Forum. Previews for 'Zoot Suit' began January 31; the show officially opened on Sunday, February 12. Written and directed by Luis Valdez, 'Zoot Suit' is presented in association with El Teatro Campesino. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Due to extraordinary ticket sales, Center Theatre Group's 'Zoot Suit' has announced a second one-week extension. Performances will now continue through March 26, 2017, at the Mark Taper Forum. Previews for 'Zoot Suit' began January 31. Written and directed by Luis Valdez, 'Zoot Suit' is presented in association with El Teatro Campesino. BroadwayWorld has photos from Sunday's opening festivities below!

Currently in previews, Center Theatre Group's 'Zoot Suit' opens February 12 at the Mark Taper Forum. This legendary play with music will continue through March 19, 2017, (extending one week from the originally announced closing date). Written and directed by Luis Valdez, 'Zoot Suit' is presented in association with El Teatro Campesino. 

The legendary play with music, 'Zoot Suit,' just kicked off rehearsals at Center Theatre Group. 'Zoot Suit' begins previews January 31, opens February 12 and continues through March 12, 2017, at the Mark Taper Forum. Written and directed by Luis Valdez, 'Zoot Suit' is presented in association with El Teatro Campesino. BroadwayWorld has a peek at the company in rehearsal below!

Jeanine Mason, Rose Portillo, Daniel Valdez and Jeremy Ray Valdez will join the previously announced Demian Bichir in the cast of Center Theatre Group's production of 'Zoot Suit' at the Mark Taper Forum, which begins previews January 31, opens February 12 and continues through March 12, 2017. Written and directed by Luis Valdez, 'Zoot Suit' is presented in association with El Teatro Campesino.

"Zoot Suit" begins previews this Tuesday, January 31, 2017, at Center Theatre Group/Mark Taper Forum. The legendary play with music opens February 12 and will continue through March 19, 2017, (extending one week from the originally announced closing date). Written and directed by Luis Valdez, "Zoot Suit" is presented in association with El Teatro Campesino.

Rehearsals have barely begun and Center Theatre Group is already announcing a one-week extension for 'Zoot Suit,' due to strong ticket sales.

KPCC In Person will present a special event with The Frame at the Mark Taper Forum on Monday, February 13, 2017, at 7:30 p.m. The return of "Zoot Suit": downSTAGE with The Frame will include host John Horn, "Zoot Suit" writer-director Luis Valdez, Center Theatre Group Artistic Director Michael Ritchie, original and revival cast memberRose Portillo and others as they take the "Zoot Suit" stage to revisit this crucial part of L.A. history and examine social conditions for Mexican-Americans in current-day Los Angeles.

The legendary play with music, 'Zoot Suit,' just kicked off rehearsals at Center Theatre Group. 'Zoot Suit' begins previews January 31, opens February 12 and continues through March 12, 2017, at the Mark Taper Forum. Written and directed by Luis Valdez, 'Zoot Suit' is presented in association with El Teatro Campesino. BroadwayWorld has a peek at the company in rehearsal below!

Center Theatre Group's production of 'Amelie, A New Musical' at the Ahmanson Theatre opened December 16 and continues through January 15, 2017. Based on the motion picture written by Jean-Pierre Jeunet and Guillaume Laurant, 'Amelie, A New Musical' will have its Broadway premiere at the Walter Kerr Theatre, beginning performances on March 9, 2017 and opening April 3, 2017. Check out photos from the starry opening night below!

Jeanine Mason, Rose Portillo, Daniel Valdez and Jeremy Ray Valdez will join the previously announced Demian Bichir in the cast of Center Theatre Group's production of 'Zoot Suit' at the Mark Taper Forum, which begins previews January 31, opens February 12 and continues through March 12, 2017. Written and directed by Luis Valdez, 'Zoot Suit' is presented in association with El Teatro Campesino.

Members of the 'Pro99' movement of Actors' Equity Association have issued an open letter to AEA's newly elected president, Kate Shindle, in response to her victory and to her inaugural address as president of the national union for actors and stage managers. The open letter is signed by over 400 Equity members (listed below), including such notable names as Ed Asner, Francis Fisher, Sally Kirkland and Alfred Molina. The 'Pro99' movement formed in late 2014 in opposition to AEA's rollout of a new plan that will effectively force 'intimate theaters' in Los Angeles to pay Equity actors minimum wage, go 'non-union' or even close - despite an overwhelming vote against the plan by 66% of the Los Angeles membership on an advisory referendum. 'Pro99' members around the nation, who take their name from the current AEA '99 Seat Plan' that allows members to volunteer in smaller venues, oppose AEA's new promulgated plan. They are requesting that Equity leadership put a moratorium on the plan until local members' voices can be heard, and that the union work with its members to develop an alternative plan that will more realistically address the needs of the Los Angeles theater community.

No reality exists in which an historical figure from the 17th century would end up in the present day kitchen of a realtor in Phoenix, Arizona but in the dreamtime of PROPERTIES OF SILENCE all things are possible. Here, authors Theresa Chavez, Rose Portillo, and Alan Pulner explore the imagination of necessity by transcending time to merge the stories of two women led by the calling of their own inner voice.