Rose Portillo News

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.

Poetry, science and history meld as famed 17th century poet Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz crosses paths with a contemporary realtor and her pool contractor husband in a multi-layered dreamscape. Now commemorating its 25th anniversary, About...Productions celebrates by pairing a revival of its critically acclaimed original drama, Properties of Silence, with a 'Post-Silence' Salon Series of poetry readings, special performances, panels and discussions. Written by Theresa Chavez, Rose Portillo and Alan Pulner and directed by Chavez, Properties of Silence opens Feb. 28 at The Carrie Hamilton Theatre at The Pasadena Playhouse. Each performance will be followed by a 'Post-Silence' event in tribute to Sor Juana's legacy as the first feminist writer.

The Center Theatre Group engagement of 'Dame Edna's Glorious Goodbye -- The Farewell Tour' opened last night, January 28 at the Ahmanson Theatre. The production continues through March 15, 2015. BroadwayWorld has photos from the opening night festivities below!

Poetry, science and history meld as famed 17th century poet Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz crosses paths with a contemporary realtor and her pool contractor husband in a multi-layered dreamscape. Now commemorating its 25th anniversary, About...Productions celebrates by pairing a revival of its critically acclaimed original drama, Properties of Silence, with a 'Post-Silence' Salon Series of poetry readings, special performances, panels and discussions. Written by Theresa Chavez, Rose Portillo and Alan Pulner and directed by Chavez, Properties of Silence opens Feb. 28 at The Carrie Hamilton Theatre at The Pasadena Playhouse. Each performance will be followed by a 'Post-Silence' event in tribute to Sor Juana's legacy as the first feminist writer.

About...Productions presents a concert reading of the critically-acclaimed drama 'Properties of Silence', about Mexican poet Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz as part of AxS Festival 2014. Admission is FREE.

About...Productions presents a concert reading of the critically-acclaimed drama 'Properties of Silence', about Mexican poet Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz as part of AxS Festival 2014. Admission is FREE.

Evangeline, the Queen of Make-Believe - The songbook of Grammy Award winners David Hidalgo and Louie Perez of Los Lobos drives Evangeline, the Queen of Make-Believe, a multimedia play with music that takes its title from the group's 1985 rocker "Evangeline." Evangeline, a devoted daughter by day, a Hollywood go-go dancer by night. A journey of self discovery by a young Chicana, whose neighborhood roots and make-believe world collide when she experiences the West Side art scene and the music of the Sunset Strip, is set against the 1968 student walkouts in East L.A. and the fight for equal education and civil rights. Two performances have been added to Bootleg and About Productions' show, Friday, June 1 and Saturday, June 2, both at 7 pm.

Few artists are as truly homegrown as Los Lobos, the Grammy Award-winning East L.A. band whose eclectic musical style and distinctive voice are much loved by Angelenos of all ages and cultures. This is the first time their music will appear in a theatrical production and that reason alone is sure to drive audiences to see Evangeline, the Queen of Make-Believe.

The songbook of Grammy Award winners David Hidalgo sand Louie Perez of Los Lobos drives Evangeline, the Queen of Make-Believe, a multimedia play with music by Theresa Chavez, Louie Perez and Rose Portillo that takes its title from the group's 1985 rocker "Evangeline." Chavez and Portillo co-direct the world premiere production for About Productions, opening at the Bootleg Theater tonight, May 12 for a limited, three-week engagement through May 27. Low-priced previews take place May 3-11.

About Productions and Bootleg Theater present a world premiere multimedia theatrical event “Evangeline, the Queen of Make-Believe,' featuring the songbook of David Hidalgo and Louie Pérez of Los Lobos. The show began previews May 3, with an official opening of tonight, May 12, and runs through May 27.

Playwrights' Arena with Artistic Director Jon Lawrence Rivera, the only theatre dedicated to discovering, nurturing and producing original works written exclusively by Los Angeles playwrights, is celebrating its 20th Anniversary with their annual fund-raiser presenting HOT NIGHT IN THE CITY: an evening of songs by local composers and lyricists tonight, May 8, 2012, at the Los Angeles Theatre Center -- our home in historic downtown Los Angeles. The special performance, which benefits the programs of Playwrights' Arena, celebrates the works of Los Angeles' most adventurous resident composers and lyricists writing for the theater today and honors Theresa Chavez & Rose Portillo (Artistic Director and Associate Director of About Productions) and Velina Hasu Houston (Playwright) with the *Lee Melville Award for their outstanding contribution to the Los Angeles theater community.

About Productions and Bootleg Theater present a world premiere multimedia theatrical event “Evangeline, the Queen of Make-Believe,' featuring the songbook of David Hidalgo and Louie Pérez of Los Lobos. The show begins previews May 3, with an official opening of May 12, and runs through May 27.

Playwrights' Arena with Artistic Director Jon Lawrence Rivera, the only theatre dedicated to discovering, nurturing and producing original works written exclusively by Los Angeles playwrights, is celebrating its 20th Anniversary with their annual fund-raiser presenting HOT NIGHT IN THE CITY: an evening of songs by local composers and lyricists on Tuesday, May 8, 2012, at the Los Angeles Theatre Center -- our home in historic downtown Los Angeles. The special performance, which benefits the programs of Playwrights' Arena, celebrates the works of Los Angeles' most adventurous resident composers and lyricists writing for the theater today and honors Theresa Chavez & Rose Portillo (Artistic Director and Associate Director of About Productions) and Velina Hasu Houston (Playwright) with the *Lee Melville Award for their outstanding contribution to the Los Angeles theater community.

The songbook of Grammy Award winners David Hidalgo sand Louie Perez of Los Lobos drives Evangeline, the Queen of Make-Believe, a multimedia play with music by Theresa Chavez, Louie Perez and Rose Portillo that takes its title from the group's 1985 rocker "Evangeline." Chavez and Portillo co-direct the world premiere production for About Productions, opening at the Bootleg Theater on May 12 for a limited, three-week engagement through May 27. Low-priced previews take place May 3-11.

Bleeding Through Extends until Sunday, December 6- A theatrical layering of live music, video, and interactive setting, Bleeding Through uncovers the narrative ghosts of L.A.'s Historic Angelino Heights District and the adjacent Downtown area-a neighborhood where more cinematic 'murders' have occurred than anywhere else in the world.

Bleeding Through Extends until Sunday, December 6- A theatrical layering of live music, video, and interactive setting, Bleeding Through uncovers the narrative ghosts of L.A.'s Historic Angelino Heights District and the adjacent Downtown area-a neighborhood where more cinematic 'murders' have occurred than anywhere else in the world.