Boyle Heights, CA (April 11, 2024) – CASA 0101 Theater will present the Inaugural Production of En Mi Jardín (In My Garden) Healing With Our Stories, A 10-Minute New Works Play Festival, directed by Emmanuel Deleage and Lorena M. Ortega, written by 13 playwrights and starring 14 actors. The show has strong language; PG 13 is suggested.
The production will be presented on Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m., and on Sundays at 4:00 p.m. for a Four-Week run, April 19 – March 12, 2024 in the newly dedicated Gloria Molina Auditorium at CASA 0101 Theater, 2102 East First Street (at St. Louis Street), Boyle Heights, CA 90033. Opening Night is Friday, April 19, 2024 at 8:00 p.m. For further information, please visit www.casa0101.org Here is a Sneak Peak of the new show in rehearsals: https://youtu.be/0LZVEdQUiJc
Imagine having the ability to bring someone back from the past to have one final conversation, would you use that opportunity to heal old wounds, create a new conversation you weren’t able to have, or would you choose to relive the most joyful moments? En Mi Jardín (In My Garden) will feature 10 plays presented in English and three additional plays presented in Spanish with English subtitles.
Emmanuel Deleage, Executive Director of CASA 0101 Theater and a Director of En Mi Jardín (In My Garden) (of Silver Lake, CA) said:“En Mi Jardín is a foray into using the power of theatre to reflect about one’s ancestral past and resolve – if only for a few moments – old wounds by bringing someone back to life for one final conversation. Only in theater, is such a journey of community and healing possible.”
Lorena M. Ortega, Programming Director for CASA 0101 Theater and a Director of En Mi Jardín (In My Garden) (of Huntington Beach, CA) said:“In 2022 I was facilitating an online Parents and Caretakers Writing Class for children who were taking acting classes at CASA 0101 Theater with their teacher, Edward Padilla. At that time Emmanuel Deleage, the theater’s Executive Director and Edward Padilla, gave the writers the green light to present a two-day production of 10-minute plays on a weekend in 2023 that were birthed in the weekly writing workshops. The production, which was called, Previously Unsaid, sold out for both nights and helped me to see how effective writing could be as a healing agent.”
En Mi Jardín (In My Garden) will feature 10-minute plays written by Martin Barrera(of Pasadena, CA), Bernadette Bolaños (of Los Angeles, CA), Christian Gama (of Hollywood, CA), Michelle Lopez (of Boyle Heights, CA), Itzel Ocampo (of Alhambra, CA), Martin Olvera (Deceased), Lorena Ramirez (of Inglewood, CA), Kerri K. Ramos (Monrovia, CA), Doreen Sanchez (of Hollywood, CA), Arturo Urista (of Monterey Park, CA), Connie Valencia, PhD (of Boyle Heights, CA), Yvonne Garcia Zaher (of Fontana, CA) and Juanita Zavalita (of Highland Park, CA).
Fourteen actors will star in the in the 13 short plays; they are: Vanessa Arias-Herrera (of Los Angeles, CA), Martin Barrera (of Pasadena, CA), Michael Berckart (of Monrovia, CA), Bernadette Bolaños (of Los Angeles, CA), Chrissi Erickson (of Highland Park, CA), Christian Gama (of Hollywood, CA), Michelle Lopez (of Boyle Heights, CA), Steve Loya Hernandez (of Commerce, CA), Martin Morales (of Silver Lake, CA), Itzel Ocampo (of Alhambra, CA), Karla Ojeda (East Los Angeles, CA), Lorena Ramirez (of Inglewood, CA), Raquel Salinas (of (Pico Rivera, CA) and Juanita Zavaleta (of Highland Park, CA).
The Inaugural Production of En Mi Jardín (In My Garden) will include the following 10-minute plays: Act I:
Keeping Up with the Maid, written by Lorena Ramirez, directed by Lorena M. Ortega. The story is based on a real life experience Lorena Ramirez had as a Housekeeper/Nanny with one of her clients in which she was under constant attack of very pejorative words towards minorities. The cast includes: Lorena Ramirez as Maid, Vanessa Arias-Herrera as Mrs. Henderson and Steve Loya Hernandez as The Husband.
Seasick, Yet Still Docked, written by Kerri K. Ramos, directed by Lorena M. Ortega. Kerri is at a crossroads. Her estranged dad is dying. Should she tell him all the things she wants to say to make peace with the past, or should she just let it go. The story is inspired by Kerri K. Ramos’ real life relationship with her dad. The cast includes: Michelle Lopez as Kerri, Chrissi Erickson as Bridget and Michael Berckart as Red.
Se Queman Los Sopes (The Patties Are Burning) written by Christian Gama, directed by Emmanuel Deleage. In this story Christian is visited by the ghost of his grandmother as she wants to know how his life if going. Over their love of making sopes (Mexican dish), he decides to be open and honest with her. Gama was inspired to write the piece because he was missing his grandmother and wondering is she would approve of his life now. The cast includes: Christian Gama as Christian and Raquel Salinas as Abuelita.
When Love Isn’t Enough, written by Bernadette Bolaños, directed by Emmanuel Deleage. What happens when love isn’t enough? For Bernadette that means deciding on how to heal their deepest traumas – with or without their family by their side. The play is inspired by Bernadette Bolaños’ experiences as a survivor of sexual and domestic violence. This play exists to confront and heal the ancestral and parental trauma that Bernadette, along with other many queer people of color, have faced in their families. The cast includes: Bernadette Bolaños as Bernadette, Lorena Ramirez as Bernadette’s Mami, Steve Loya Hernandez as Bernadette’s Dad, Karla Ojeda as Woman with Baby, Michelle Lopez as Lucy and Juanita Zavaleta as Kat.
El Secreto de la Abuela, (Grandmother’s Secret) written by Itzel Ocampo, directed by Lorena M. Ortega. The short play celebrates the timeless connection between generations and the invaluable treasures passed down through family recipes. Ocampo wrote the play to help her cope with her grief of losing her grandmother, while at the same time honoring and celebrating the moments they spent together in the kitchen during her childhood, and how she wished she had asked her grandmother for her Chile Verde recipe. The cast includes: Itzel Ocampo as Isel and Raquel Salinas as Abuelita.
She Believed She Could, written by Connie Valencia, PhD, directed by Lorena M. Ortega. The story is about when Connie entered UCLA with the hopes of becoming a medical doctor. Valencia wrote the play to underscore the importance of representation. Slowly she realized that her success was due to access to mentors that cared about her and identified with her. The cast includes: Chrissi Erickson as Connie, Bernadette Bolaños as Pilar and Vanessa Arias-Herrera as Counselor.
ACT II:
Charity and Penance, written by Arturo Urista, directed by Emmanuel Deleage. The story begins on the first day of Arturo Urista’s retirement, when he visits the building that was once the home of Self Help Graphics & Art, 40 years ago, only to find Sister Karen Boccalero, a Franciscan nun, waiting for a visit and answering his question: “What if I never left?” Besides being a writer, Arturo Urista is an artist who used to volunteer at Self Help Graphics & Art; his play is about his 11-year friendship with Sr. Karen Boccalero. The cast includes: Martin Morales as Arturo and Vanessa Arias-Herrera as Sister Karen Boccalero.
Chillona or Chingona (Screeching or Bad Ass Woman), written by Yvonne Garcia Zaher, directed by Emmanuel Deleage. The story is about chronic pain. It centers around protagonist Bianca, who needs to make a decision on whether to accept the recommendation of the doctors and go on morphine for some relief of her debilitating pain, or not. In the midst of a severe pain episode Frida Kahlo comes to help her make her decision. The cast includes: Itzel Ocampo as Young Blanca, Vanessa Arias-Herrera as Older Blanca, Karla Ojeda as Frida Kahlo and Christian Gama as Doctor.
My Brothers’ Dad, written by Martin Barrera, directed by Emmanuel Deleage. The story is based on a real therapy exercise Martin Barrera did to address trauma he experienced as a young boy. Barrera says he wrote the play to directly address the toxicity of men, especially of our fathers, and how exposure to violence, whether directly or indirectly, leaves us with pain that can metastasize within our families and greater communities. Barrera continues that he doesn’t offer answers to this issue but rather that he hopes to inspire other men to dig deep into their bodies and release the pain they’ve held on to. before it infects the next generation. The cast includes: Martin Berrera as Martin, Juanita Zavaleta as Therapist and Martin Morales as Dad.
The One Where Chula Grows Up, written by Juanita Zavaleta, directed by Lorena M. Ortega. Sometimes it takes an all too familiar voice from the past to remind one of just how far one has come in life. Zavaleta was inspired to write this play as a love letter to the teenaged version of herself. The cast includes: Juanita Zavaleta as Chula, Itzel Ocampo as Chulita and Karla Ojeda as Chulita’s Mom.
Two Sisters on the Red Road, written by Doreen Sanchez, directed by Lorena M. Ortega. In this play Doreen Sanchez has a conversation with her dearly departed friend who she misses very much, Elena Dominguez Chavez, whom she followed in the Native ways (Red Road) and participated in ceremonies for many years with, before writing together in CASA 0101 Theater’s Chicanas, Cholas y Chisme Short Plays Festival for Women. Sanchez says writer Josefina López attributes Elena Dominguez Chavez for starting Chicanas, Cholas y Chisme. The cast includes: Bernadette Bolaños as Elena Dominguez Chavez, Raquel Salinas as Sister and Martin Barrera as An Interpersonal Assistant.
Shattered Bonds, written by Michelle Lopez, directed by Emmanuel Deleage. The narrative stems from Michelle Lopez’s own childhood experiences with her emotionally abusive father and the fact that they never really shared a father-daughter relationship. The cast includes: Michelle Lopez as Michi and Chrissi Erickson as Little Michi.
Black Sheep, Rainbow Sheep, written by Martín Olvera, directed by Emmanuel Deleage. The story is about ghosts, family secrets and the people we choose to share them with, with a splash of Magic-Mexican realism. This short play originally premiered as part of CASA 0101 Theater’s Brown & Out V Play Festival, presented in June 2019. Earlier this year on February 14, 2024, Martin Olvera, who was also once a CASA 0101 Theater Board Member, passed away. This performance of his play is to honor his memory. The cast includes: Michael Berckart as Martin, Karla Ojeda as Leonor, Chrissi Erickson as Sylvia and Martin Morales as Arturo.
The production team for En Mi Jardín (In My Garden) includes: Josefina López (of Boyle Heights, CA), Founding Artistic Director, CASA 0101 Theater; Emmanuel Deleage (of Silver Lake, CA), Director and Executive Director, CASA 0101 Theater; Lorena M. Ortega (of Huntington Beach, CA) Director and Co-Creator of En Mi Jardín; Connie Valencia, PhD (of Boyle Heights, CA) Co-Creator of En Mi Jardín; Kerri K. Ramos (of Monrovia, CA) Co-Creator of En Mi Jardín; Lorena Ramirez (of Inglewood, CA) Co-Creator of En Mi Jardín; Itzel Ocampo (of Alhambra, CA) Show Producer, Show Key Artwork Design, Projection Designer, CASA 0101 Theater Office Administrator and Social Media; Edward Padilla (of Boyle Heights, CA) Casting Director; César Retana-Holguín (of Northridge, CA) Set Designer; Mari Mercado (of East Los Angeles, CA) Costume Designer and Prop Master; Alejandro Parra (of Los Angeles, CA) Lighting Designer; Matthew Sanchez (of East Los Angeles, CA) Sound Designer and Qlab Programmer; Angelica Ornelas (of North Hollywood, CA) Stage Manager; Doreen Sanchez (of Hollywood, CA) Assistant Stage Manager and Wardrobe Assistant; Miguel Delgado (of Huntington Park, CA) CASA 0101 Theater Technical Director; Gabriela López de Dennis, Soap Studio Inc. (of Los Angeles, CA) Playbill; Jorge Villanueva (of Boyle Heights, CA) Maintenance; Mark Kraus (of Los Angeles, CA), CASA 0101 Theater Development Director and Webmaster; Oscar Basulto (of Boyle Heights, CA) Box Office Manager; Al Aguilar (of Los Angeles, CA) Production Assistant; Rudy Torres (of Los Angeles, CA) Production Photographer andSteve Moyer Public Relations (of Los Angeles, CA), Press Representative.
This production is sponsored in part by California Arts Council and USC. CASA 0101 Theater sponsors include: Department of Cultural Affairs City of Los Angeles, Los Angeles County Arts & Culture, The Herb Alpert Foundation, Perenchio Foundation, the Eastside Arts Initiative and the National Latinx Theater Initiative.
Tickets for the Four-Week Run En Mi Jardín (In My Garden), from April 19 – May 12, 2024 are $25.00 per person for General Admission; $22.00 per person for Students and Seniors 60+ and $20.00 per person for Boyle Heights residents and Groups of 20 or more. The show is presented in two acts with a total running time of 140 minutes, not including intermission.
Advance reservations are highly recommended. For tickets, please call the CASA 0101 Theater Box Office at 323-263-7684, E-mail [email protected], or buy online at www.casa0101.org
Free Parking is available on several streets surrounding the theatre. Limited Free Parking is also available at the Boyle Heights City Hall Parking Lot located at 2130 East First Street (at Chicago Street) by entering the lot from Chicago Street.
Join the conversation on Facebook @CASA0101Theater; on Twitter @CASA0101 and on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/
#EnMiJardin @SomosEnMiJardin (We Are In My Garden)
About The Directors:
Emmanuel Deleage (of Silver Lake, CA) Show Director of En Mi Jardín and Executive Director of CASA 0101 Theater) is a graduate of UCLA in World Arts and Cultures. While in college he joined the skid row theater troupe, Los Angeles Poverty Dept., founded by performance artist John Malpede. He later became the company’s administrator. In 2001 he formed his own company, Courage Productions, and produced Armand Gatti’s Public Song Before Two Electric Chairs at the Los Angeles Theater Center. He also met Josefina López that same year, and merged Courage with the newly formed CASA 0101 Theater. He is currently the Executive Director of CASA 0101. He has overseen the growth of CASA 0101 from an all-volunteer organization running out of a storefront venue, to becoming a leading arts organization in Boyle Heights offering a full season of theater productions, arts education classes and art exhibitions. He also has had the privilege of working with theater directors, Peter Sellars, Gino Zampieri, Pascal Rambert and Armand Gatti. At CASA 0101, he has directed The Imaginary Life of the Street Sweeper August G by Armand Gatti, Locked Up and You Don’t Know Me by Patricia Zamorano, Nat Turner by Randolph Edmonds and Food for the Dead, by Josefina López. He recently co-produced, along with Brown Fist Productions, a critically acclaimed production of Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman and he solely produced the World Premiere production of the Josefina López’s latest critically acclaimed play, Queen of the Rumba, both at CASA 0101 Theater. As a writer, his first play was Selma Worth, about homelessness and finding self worth. His second play, which he directed and co-wrote with Lorenzo Alfredo, was An L.A. Journey.
Lorena M. Ortega (Show Director and Co-Creator of En Mi Jardín) is a writer, director, producer, pinch-hitting actor, mother, wife, and bruja who lives, works, and creates on unceded Tongva and Acjachemen land. She made her debut as a playwright and director in CASA 0101 Theater’s 2019 Chicanas, Cholas, y Chisme, a 10-minute New Works Festival. In 2023 she made her producing debut with the 10-minute short play titled, The Beat of Her Own Drum, which was part of CASA 0101 Theater’s Chicanas, Cholas, y Chisme. Ortega’s plays, La Llorona: A Suburban Twist on a Mexican Folklore; Eve’s Deliverance: On F*#%ing up the Theory of Original Sin; #LANDBACK and Ahtiziri’s Journey, have been staged at CASA 0101 Theater, Claremont College, and El Teatro Campesino. In 2023, Ortega created the 10-minute play production, Previously Unsaid, with writers from the Parents and Caretakers Writing Program at CASA 0101 Theater. She then went on to co-create the En Mi Jardín, a 10-Minute Play New Works Festival, to provide emerging playwrights an outlet to heal from past traumas through writing workshops. Ortega enjoys writing about family, community, healing, and social justice, oftentimes bridging each of these subjects in her plays. Ortega holds a B.A. degree in Chicano/Latino Studies with a minor in English Education and an M.A. degree in Education: Social and Cultural Analysis of Education from California State University of Long Beach.
How En Mi Jardín (In My Garden) Evolved:
En Mi Jardín was a 20-week writing program created in 2023 by Lorena M. Ortega, Lorena Ramirez, Kerri K. Ramos and Connie Valencia, PhD at Casa 0101 to provide a space for experienced and emerging playwrights to address intersectional and past traumas. In using writing as a healing modality, the En Mi Jardín participants were guided in crafting a 10-minute play that allows them to have a final conversation with someone no longer in their life, whether by choice or not.
En Mi Jardín was created as a program for Parents and Caretakers of children who were taking Acting Classes at CASA 0101 Theater taught by Edward Padilla. Initially the Parents and Caretakers writing classes were led by Maria G. Martinez. During the global pandemic, which started in 2020 the writing classes were held via Zoom, instead of in person at CASA 0101 Theater.
In 2022 Maria G. Martinez announced she wanted to move on toe pursue several other theatrical endeavors. At that point, Lorena M. Ortega took over running the writing classes, which led to taking the stories written on the page to the stage. In 2023, Ortega created the 10-minute play production, Previously Unsaid, with writers from the Parents and Caretakers writing program at CASA 0101 Theater, which was presented for two consecutive days on a weekend on April 14th and 15th. And now in 2024, plays from the En Mi Jardín Writing Workshops are being presented in this Inaugural Production of En Mi Jardín (In My Garden) for a Four-Week run in the Gloria Molina Auditorium at CASA 0101 Theater from April 19 – May 12, 2024.
About CASA 0101 Theater:
CASA 0101 Theater, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, was founded 23 years ago by Founding Artistic Director, Josefina López, author of “Real Women Have Curves,” in 2000 to fulfill her vision of bringing art and live theater programs to Boyle Heights. From its humble beginnings in a former bridal shop, CASA 0101 has established itself as a leading arts venue for Los Angeles’ East Side, currently offering year round theatrical productions and classes in dramatic writing and acting for youth and adults. CASA 0101 is dedicated to providing vital arts, cultural, and educations programs in theatre, digital filmmaking, art and dance – to Boyle Heights, thereby nurturing the future storytellers of Los Angeles. CASA 0101 is named such, as casa means house of home in Spanish. 0’s and 1’s are the binary language computers use to operate. CASA 0101 was founded at the dawn of the digital age, when digital cameras started appearing and moviemaking became accessible to more people. Early on Josefina López taught digital video classes. Though the organization subsequently focused its energies on theatre and not digital filmmaking, the name stuck. To learn more, please visit www.casa0101.org
Concurrently in the Jean Deleage Art Gallery, located in the lobby of CASA 0101 Theater, an Art Exhibit entitled, CHARITY AND PENANCE, by artist, Arturo Urista, who also wrote the 10-Minute new play, Charity and Penance, which is part of En Mi Jardín. Curated by Arturo Urista, and installed by Jimmy Centeno, the exhibit will include four new works, four silkscreen prints and six paintings. The new works are all based on the actual building where Self Help Graphics & Art was located at 3802 Aveñida César Chavez in Boyle Heights, CA when Arturo Urista once worked there as a volunteer. The exhibit can be viewed prior to performances of En Mi Jardin, and during Art Gallery Hours, which are Tuesdays through Fridays from 9:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
