A new Josefina López World Premiere play, A WOMAN NAMED GLORIA, about a woman of firsts, the late Gloria Molina, who was the first Latina woman from Los Angeles in President Jimmy Carter’s White House administration serving as Deputy for Presidential Personnel in 1977; the first Latina woman to be elected as a member of the California State Assembly representing District 56 on December 6, 1982; the first Latina woman elected to the Los Angeles City Council representing the 1st District on February 3, 1987; the first Latina woman elected to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors representing the 1st District on September 1, 1991. In 1996, Time magazine named Gloria Molina as one of the “10 Rising Stars” in the Democratic Party which she served on as one of the Vice Chairs.
CASA 0101 Theater will present the World Premiere production of Founding Artistic Director, JOSEFINA LOPEZ’S A WOMAN NAMED GLORIA, directed by CORKY DOMINGUEZ, starring actress KARLA OJEDA as Gloria Molina.
A WOMAN NAMED GLORIA will be presented on Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m., and on Sundays at 3:00 p.m. for a Six-Week run, August 30 – October 6, 2024, in the Gloria Molina Auditorium at CASA 0101 Theater, 2102 East First Street (at St. Louis Street), Los Angeles, CA 90033.
Featured members of the cast include Laura Curet, Amy Melendrez, Natalie Heredia, Micaela Martinez, Tricia Cruz, Celeste Lanuza, Laura Vega, Oscar Gonzalez, Alejandro Bravo, Edward Navarrete and Martin Morales.
In A WOMAN NAMED GLORIA, the spirit of Gloria Molina appears to a young woman who is grappling with a personal crisis that will affect her political career. She becomes enraptured by Molina’s captivating tale — how she became a woman of firsts, in a journey of resilience and defiance against adversity, tracing her path to becoming a Chicana trailblazer, civic leader and the first Latina elected to three political offices. Through Molina’s recounting, she seeks to ignite a spark of inspiration in the young woman’s heart to create her own legacy. The play is also a tribute to the life and achievements of Gloria Molina.
Josefina López, Founding Artistic Director of CASA 0101 Theater and Playwright of A WOMAN NAMED GLORIA, said: “Gloria Molina was someone who inspired me. She was one of my heroines. Gloria Molina was a Chicana of action who wasn’t afraid to stand her ground and to speak up with conviction about matters that were important to her. She was a doer, not a talker. She was a woman of firsts and a selfless public servant for the people who strived to represent her constituents’ needs. I wrote A WOMAN NAMED GLORIA as a poem for the Dedication of the Gloria Molina Auditorium at CASA 0101 Theater on April 16, 2023, which I have now developed into a full-length play that is my love letter and permanent tribute to Gloria Molina thanking her for supporting CASA 0101 Theater and Artists on the Eastside.”
Corky Dominguez, Director of A WOMAN NAMED GLORIA said: “A WOMAN NAMED GLORIA is a play of epic proportions about a trailblazing Chicana leader named Gloria Molina. The play features 12 actors playing 68 roles. It is my honor to stage this new World Premiere production about the life of Gloria Molina, whose story needs to be told and remembered for future generations to come.”
Valentina Martinez, Daughter of the late Gloria Molina and Spokesperson for Gloria Molina’s family said: “On behalf of my late mother, Gloria Molina, and the entire Molina family, we are very grateful to CASA 0101 Theater, playwright Josefina López, producer Emmanuel Deleage and the entire Cast and Crew of A WOMAN NAMED GLORIA, for telling my mom’s life story. It is my hope that this play, A WOMAN NAMED GLORIA, will stand the test of time as a permanent tribute to my mother’s life and legacy.”
Emmanuel Deleage, Producer of the Show and Executive Director of CASA 0101 Theater, said: “Gloria Molina was a true leader and unabashed fighter for her community who stood up for her convictions. On a personal note, here at CASA 0101 we are so happy she was a supporter and lover of the arts. She was also a patron of CASA 0101, and for us it is only fitting to put up a play honoring her life. We are also grateful to Valentina Martinez, Gloria Molina’s daughter, and the entire Molina family, for entrusting us in telling her story.”
Tickets for the Six-Week Run of A WOMAN NAMED GLORIA, to be presented from August 30 – October 6, 2024, are $25.00 per person for General Admission; $22.00 per person for Students and Seniors 60+ and $20 per person for Boyle Heights residents and Groups of 20 of more. The official press opening night of the play for reviewers will be on Friday, August 30, 2024, at 8:00 p.m. The running time of the show is 112 minutes, not including intermission. To view a Sneak Preview of the show, please visit: https://www.youtube.com/
This show is recommended for all audiences. 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
On Thursday evening, August 29, 2024, at 6:00 p.m., in observance of the 54th Anniversary of the Chicano Moratorium, a new mural of Gloria Molina created by artist, Margaret Garcia, which was commissioned by CASA 0101 Theater, will be officially unveiled at a Dedication Ceremony to be held on St. Louis Street (between First Street and Second Street) in Boyle Heights, CA. The event is FREE and will be open to the General Public to attend. During the Dedication Ceremony Elected Officials, members of Gloria Molina’s family and other VIPS will speak about the significance of the day.
It was on August 29, 1970, in East Los Angeles when more than 20,000 Chicano/a/x, including Gloria Molina, marched in protest against the Vietnam War as part of the National Chicano Moratorium Movement, in an effort to bring attention to the disproportionate percentage of Chicanos being killed daily in the war. It was on this historic day 54 years ago when Gloria Molina, at the age of 22, while witnessing the injustices happening around her that she became an Activist, laying the groundwork for all that was to follow in her trailblazing career as a public servant.
Five Question and Answer Talk Back Panel Discussions will be held on different topics following the Sunday Matinee performances on September 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29, 2024. Playwright Josefina López or director Corky Dominguez will moderate the Panel Discussions. Patrons purchasing tickets to Matinee performances will be able to witness the Panel Discussions as part of their admission. The Schedule of Q&A Panel Discussions is listed below. For Updates to the schedule please visit the website, www.casa0101.org
- Sunday, September 1, 2024: The Chicano Moratorium. Moderated by Playwright Josefina López, Panelists include Carlos Montes, National Respected Leader in Chicano, Immigrant Rights and Anti-War Movements; Co-Founder of the Brown Berets (A Chicano Working-Class Organization in the 1960s and 1970s); Maria M. Martínez, Chicana Activist and Playwright and Vibiana Aparicio-Chamberlin, Chicana Activist, Artist and Member of the 50th Anniversary Chicano Moratorium.
- Sunday, September 8, 2024: Madrigal vs. Quilligan – Sterilization of Women at the Los Angeles County USC Hospital. Moderated by Playwright Josefina López, Panelists include Antonia Hernández, the lawyer who prosecuted the Madrigal vs. Quillligan case who once was a lawyer for the Center for Law & Poverty in Boyle Heights and Gabby Valle, Reproductive Justice Consultant and Advocate.
- Sunday, September 15, 2024: The Director and Members of the Cast of A WOMAN NAMED GLORIA. Director Corky Dominguez moderates a Panel Discussion including Members of the Cast of A WOMAN NAMED GLORIA, including Karla Ojeda, the star of the show.
- Sunday, September 22, 2024: The East Los Angeles Stitchers (TELAS), which Gloria Molina founded in March 2014. Director Corky Dominguez moderates a Panel Discussion with Members of TELAS to be announced.
- Sunday, September 29, 2024: GLORIA MOLINA: The Mother, Sister and Grandmother. Director Corky Dominguez moderates a Panel Discussion with Valentina Martinez, Gloria Molina’s Daughter and Bertha Molina Mejia and Gracie Molina Diaz, two of Gloria Molina’s sisters.
Concurrently during the run of the show, A WOMAN NAMED GLORIA, a FREE Art Exhibit entitled, GLORIA MOLINA: Madrina of the Eastside, will be available to be viewed in the Jean Deleage Art Gallery, located in the lobby of CASA 0101 Theater. The Art Exhibit will include portraits from various artists of Gloria Molina during her lifetime.
GLORIA MOLINA: Madrina of the Eastside is curated by Jimmy Centeno and will feature the artwork of 10 artists including: Richard Aguilar, Vibiana Aparicio-Chamberlin, Margaret Garcia, Aydee Lopez Martinez, Pinche Miche, Lilia Ramirez, Ramon Ramirez, Barbara Rivera, Laura V. Rodriguez and Richard Valdes. The exhibit can be viewed prior to performances of A WOMAN NAMED GLORIA, and during Art Gallery Hours, which are Tuesdays through Fridays from 9:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
