Photo Flash: Almonacid's ASSIGNMENT Opens Tonight At Luna Stage

Antu Yacob and Rafael Poueriet headline Luna Stage's second play of its 2018-19 MainStage Season, The Assignment by Camilo Almonacid. The play came out of real conversations between perpetrators of gun violence and victims, and explores friendship, loss, and forgiveness. David Winitsky directs The Assignment for a limited two-week engagement, starting Thursday, November 29.

Meet Julian J. Torres, played by Poueriet, an ebullient 37-year old scholarship student who is trying to reframe his life after a troubled youth and time in prison. Helen Payne, played by Antu Yacob, is a brilliant and reserved English professor recovering from tragedy. Wary at first, Dr. Payne is won over the by Julian's intelligence and charisma. The two unlikely friends connect through the power of great literature.

The production is accompanied by pre- and post-show events exploring gun control, prison reentry, community activism and how to have constructive conversations about polarizing issues:

- Nov 29: Post-show conversation with playwright Camilo Almonacid and City of Orange activist Dawan Alford

- Nov 30: 7PM | Pre-show screening of documentary film The One That Got Away
Post-show conversation with reentry mentor Boris Franklin

- Dec 1: OPENING NIGHT--$59 Premium Tickets (includes after-party!)

- Dec 2: Post-show conversation with Elaine Lane, whose story inspired the play

- Dec 7: Post-show conversation with Emmy-nominated activist Riaz Patel and Elaine Lane

- Dec 8: 7PM | Pre-show screening of documentary film The One That Got Away
Post-show conversation with Social Studies teacher Daniel Gill and New York Times journalist Kyle Spencer

Photo by Jody Christopherson