Artists at Play presents Artists at Play Readings
LOS ANGELES, CA ‹ As part of Artists at
Play's mission to present stories of underrepresented communities, they
will develop and showcase two new works to the L.A. theatre community.
This upcoming event features readings of Marabella by local playwright Boni B. Alvarez, whose Dallas Non-Stop
was recently Ovation Recommended; and Qui Nguyen's She Kills Monsters, named one of the Best 10 Plays of 2013 (TimeOut Chicago, Edge Boston).
"Artists at Play takes seriously our mission
to present work that has not been seen locally," said founder Stefanie
Wong Lau. "Boni and Qui are groundbreaking voices in American theatre,
and we are excited to showcase their work to the Los Angeles theatre
community."
"Not only are we able to support these
uniquely talented Asian American playwrights," said founder Julia Cho,
"but both of the plays also feature diverse casts and an eclectic array
of female characters."
"We have all been long time fans of Boni
Alvarez," said founder Peter J.Kuo. "He is one of Los Angeles' emerging
playwrights and brings his own specific voice to the national landscape
of Asian American playwrights. He is unafraid to tackle difficult
subject matters while infusing a strong vision of theatricality into
his writing. We are very excited to be showcasing Marabella to our
audiences."
"She Kills Monsters
simply jumps off the page," said founder Marie-Reine Velez. "Throughout
this journey of a grieving sister, we find a lot of humor, epic
battles, sardonic monsters and, ultimately, a celebration of life.
Role-playing games like Dungeons & Dragons thrive because they rely
so much on the player's imagination--you get to create new worlds and
fight monsters! And not only that, but cleverness and character are
just as valued as strength, even in battle. And to see these elements
in play form...it's refreshing to come across a play that tickles the
geek sensibilities in such a delightful and heartfelt way."
The readings will be presented on Sunday, April 6, at the Woman's Club of South Pasadena. Marabella is at 2 p.m., and She Kills Monsters at 5 p.m.
Each reading will be followed by a talkback.
Pre-sale tickets are $15 and includes dinner, hosted bar and dessert.
Readings are complimentary. Tickets purchased at the door will be $20.
Free parking is available on the street.
Marabella by Boni B. Alvarez
Directed by Peter J. Kuo
Dramaturgy by Tiffany Moon
Marabella has been struggling to care for her newborn in her
Pacoima apartment. When the baby's father, Jason Ellis, suddenly loses
his wife, Marabella sees an opportunity to return back to the affair
she was forced to leave behind. She expects a warm welcome. Instead she
encounters a home filled with rage and resentment. Before she can
return to Jason's arms, she must deal with their attractive young tutor
and Jason's two sons whom she once nannied. Playwright Boni Alvarez
offers a contemporary adaptation of Medea that leads a multi-ethnic
cast in a thrilling and highly provocative journey.
She Kills Monsters
by Qui Nguyen
Directed by Andy Lowe
A comedic romp into the world of fantasy role-playing games, She Kills Monsters
tells the story of teenage Agnes Evans, who is dealing with the death
of her younger sister, Tilly. When Agnes finds Tillyıs Dungeons &
Dragons notebook, however, she stumbles into a journey of discovery and
action-packed adventure in the imaginary world that was Tillyıs refuge.
In this high-octane dramatic comedy laden with homicidal fairies, nasty
ogres, and 90s pop culture, acclaimed playwright Qui Nguyen offers a
heart-pounding homage to the geek and warrior within us all.
Where:
Women's Club of South Pasadena
1424 Fremont Ave., South Pasadena, CA 91030
To purchase: http://bit.ly/AAPReadings14
For more information, please visit ArtistsatPlayLA.blogspot.com or email ArtistsatPlayLA@gmail.com.
