Photo Flash: The Playwrights' Arena Presents BLOODLETTING

The Playwrights' Arena production of "Bloodletting," which Center Theatre Group is remounting at the Kirk Douglas Theatre as part of the second annual Block Party: Celebrating Los Angeles Theatre, will open this Saturday, March 31 at 8 p.m. Written by Boni B. Alvarez and directed by Playwrights' Arena Artistic Director Jon Lawrence Rivera, "Bloodletting" is currently in previews and will close April 8.

The cast for "Bloodletting" includes, in alphabetical order, Boni B. Alvarez, Alberto Isaac, Myra Cris Ocenar and Anne Yatco. The design team includes scenic designer Christopher Scott Murillo, costume designer Mylette Nora, lighting designer Lily Bartenstein and sound designer Howard Ho. Brooke Baldwin is the production stage manager.

"Bloodletting" takes place on an island called Palawan. Farrah (Ocenar) and Bosley (Alvarez), two Filipino American siblings who recently lost their father, arrive on the island to scatter his ashes when a typhoon hits and they are forced to seek shelter at a tiny café. The peculiar café owner (Isaac) and his granddaughter (Yatco) share tales of aswangs (witches) with the siblings-that is until Farrah discovers she has a few peculiarities of her own.

Block Party 2018 will also remount Critical Mass Performance Group's production of "Ameryka" from April 19 through 29 and Celebration Theatre's production of "Die, Mommie, Die!" from May 10 through 20. The three visiting companies will receive the full support of Center Theatre Group and its staff in order to fund, stage and market each production.

Photos by Lawrence K. Ho.