The Storyteller of East L.A. at Latino Theater Company

The Storyteller of East L.A., a world premiere written by Evelina Fernández and directed by Jose Luis Valenzuela, is set in East L.A. and blends family drama with magical realism to explore memory loss, family dynamics, and the challenges of caring for aging loved ones. Lucy Rodriguez and Sal López star as Mercedes, a 90-year-old woman with dementia, and Serafina, a guardian angel who interacts with her in a liminal space between memory and reality. As Mercedes' health declines, her daughters Grace and Mary (Zilah Mendoza and Brenda Banda) and granddaughter Lulu (Blanca Isabella) must confront unresolved tensions and make difficult decisions about her care. The caregiving arrangement is further complicated when fear of ICE immigration raids prevents her nighttime caregiver from coming, leaving daytime caregiver Josefa (Ruth Livier) to navigate both her own fears and the continuity of Mercedes' care.