Community Play Readings Return to L.A. Libraries

The readings of these short plays will take place at the Benjamin Franklin Library, Malabar Library, and Robert Louis Stevenson Library.

Community Play Readings Return to L.A. Libraries

Through Center Theatre Group's Education and Community Partnerships' Community Play Readings, Boyle Heights libraries will be the first to experience new works from three local playwrights in March and May. The readings of these short plays will take place at the Benjamin Franklin Library, Malabar Library, and Robert Louis Stevenson Library.

The plays will include "Lola's Banig" written by Fran de Leon and directed by Giovanni Ortega, "The Exoneration of El Maestro" written by Anthony Aguilar and directed by Alejandra Cisneros, and "Sasha the Dragon Tamer" written and directed by Aja Houston.

"Making theatre a part of people's lives is why we go back to the libraries year after year, and the Boyle Heights libraries have been great partners in engaging the community," said Center Theatre Group's Community Partnerships Director Jesus Reyes. "Library patrons have been slow to return to their neighborhood library and I hope the Community Play Readings will attract them back - one play at a time."

Putting theatre at the center, Center Theatre Group works to connect community members and artists throughout L.A. by facilitating inclusive and thoughtful cultural conversations with free workshops, events, productions, discussions, and other activities that take place at traditional and nontraditional venues.

"We're so excited to welcome back Center Theatre Group's play reading series to the Malabar branch library," added Jessica Ko, Childrens Librarian at the Malabar Library. "These events are such a wonderful opportunity to gather our community together to enjoy an afternoon in the arts. The play readings are a great way to experience theatre performances in the neighborhood."

The readings include (in date order): 

"Lola's Banig" by Fran de Leon, directed by Giovanni Ortega

4 p.m., Tuesday, March 28 at Malabar Library
4 p.m. Wednesday, March 29 at Benjamin Franklin Library
4 p.m., Thursday, March 30, 2023 at Robert Louis Stevenson Library
When Gina, a single working mom, sits down to a Filipino breakfast with her daughter, Ligaya, flashbacks take them to a childhood in the Philippines when every Sunday was spent with relatives at her Lola's house. Recounting days of meriendas, chismis, and siestas on hand-woven banigs, Gina realizes there are painful moments of her life that have been cast away into the recesses of her mind. It takes Ligaya to unlock Gina's memory and pass down long-forgotten family traditions. A bilingual presentation, English and Tagalog.

"The Exoneration of El Maestro" by Anthony Aguilar, directed by Alejandra Cisneros

4 p.m., Tuesday, May 16 at Benjamin Franklin Library
4 p.m., Wednesday, May 17 at Robert Louis Stevenson Library
4 p.m., Thursday, May 18, 2023 at Malabar Library
El Maestro believes he is the greatest luchador of all time. But after 50 years in the ring, time has slipped away from him and so has his life! Now, he faces the Aztec gods in the afterlife and must convince them of a second chance on earth. It's the fight of the century as El Maestro faces his greatest opponent, his own ego. A bilingual presentation, English and Spanish.

"Sasha the Dragon Tamer" written and directed by Aja Houston

4 p.m., Tuesday, May 23 at Benjamin Franklin Library
4 p.m., Wednesday, May 24 at Robert Louis Stevenson Library
4 p.m., Thursday, May 25, 2023 at Malabar Library
Sasha, a quirky wordsmith, struggles to adjust to being the new girl at Kingdom Academy. When she bests the most popular kid in school in a Spelling Bee, their ensuing argument earns them detention. But on their way, they fall into a magical portal that brings them face-to-face with a fearsome dragon. Sasha must think on her feet to avoid being eaten during her first week of school. Presented in English. 

The Malabar Library is located at 2801 Wabash Ave., Los Angeles, 90033; the Benjamin Franklin Library is located at 2200 E. 1st St. Los Angeles, 90033; and the Robert Louis Stevenson Library is located at 803 Spence St., Los Angeles, 90023. For more information about the readings, email jreyes@ctgla.org. More information on Center Theatre Group's community programs can be found at CenterTheatreGroup.org/Community.




RELATED STORIES - Los Angeles

1
Review: A TRANSPARENT MUSICAL at Mark Taper Forum Photo
Review: A TRANSPARENT MUSICAL at Mark Taper Forum

Soloway and their cast and crew have created a new classic that should reverberate with people of all stripes

2
Towne Street Theatre Now Accepting Submissions For 10-Minute Play and Film Festival Photo
Towne Street Theatre Now Accepting Submissions For 10-Minute Play and Film Festival

Towne Street Theatre (TST), Los Angeles's premier African American Theatre Company, is now accepting submissions for its well-known 10-minute play festival. For the first time, Towne Street is including a short film festival to complement its theatre production. Submissions for both festivals are due by June 21 at 11:59 pm PST.

3
QUEEN MABS ALARMINGLY MANDATORY BRIDAL SHOWER to Premiere at The 2023 Hollywood Fringe Fes Photo
QUEEN MAB'S ALARMINGLY MANDATORY BRIDAL SHOWER to Premiere at The 2023 Hollywood Fringe Festival

This summer's Hollywood Fringe Festival will see the world premiere fundraiser event of a one-hour one-woman musical comedy featuring the Artistic Director of New Musicals Inc, Elise Dewsberry; with book and lyrics by New Musicals Inc. Executive Director Scott Guy and music by Jacques Offenbach. Additional music by Max Bruch, Michele Esposito, and Ken Neufeld.

4
Banda Las Angelinas and Los Rock Angels Will Perform At Levitt Pavilion Los Angeles Photo
Banda Las Angelinas and Los Rock Angels Will Perform At Levitt Pavilion Los Angeles

Levitt Pavilion Los Angeles will present Banda Las Angelinas and Los Rock Angels on June 25, 2023.

More Hot Stories For You

and regionstable.regionsid=9 and LOCATE(',', regionsfield) = 0;

Videos


#repshow# in #getregions.name[i]# For the Love of a Glove: An Unauthorized Musical Fable About Michael Jackson As Told By His Glove
Carl Sagan And Ann Druyan Theater (5/05-7/01)Tracker PHOTOS VIDEOS
#repshow# in #getregions.name[i]# Gunhild Carling Big Band
Catalina Jazz Supper Club (6/14-6/14)Tracker VIDEOS
#repshow# in #getregions.name[i]# Celebration Theatre presents A New Brain
Los Angeles LGBT Center’s Lily Tomlin/Jane Wagner Cultural Arts Center (4/29-6/24)Tracker
#repshow# in #getregions.name[i]# Witch Hazel: An Anxiety Play
Broadwater Second Stage (6/06-6/24)
#repshow# in #getregions.name[i]# The Year That Carrie Fisher Died
The Actors Company - Other Space Theatre (6/04-6/24)
#repshow# in #getregions.name[i]# The Tempest
Antaeus (6/16-7/17)
#repshow# in #getregions.name[i]# Get Great
The Little Theatre at the Actors Company (6/03-6/24)
#repshow# in #getregions.name[i]# Why Worry? Jews R 2 Much Fun!
Santa Monica Playhouse (4/15-6/25)
#repshow# in #getregions.name[i]# COMPLEXIONS CONTEMPORARY BALLET
The Music Center (6/16-6/18)
#repshow# in #getregions.name[i]# Mystery Theater Horror Show
Frida Kahlo Theater (6/25-7/01)
VIEW ALL SHOWS  ADD A SHOW  

Recommended For You