Los Angeles, CA (The Hollywood Times) 8/20/26 – When I first wrote about Renée Santos and her remarkable solo show CROSSROADS last month, I called it Must-see.
Now Los Angeles audiences have another opportunity to experience it, but they may need to move quickly.
CROSSROADS returns to Atwater Village Theatre for three performances August 21–23, and the response has already been impressive. Friday night’s performance is sold out, Saturday has only a few tickets remaining, and as of this writing, Sunday has just two tickets left.
For anyone who believes in the power of storytelling to create understanding, compassion and change, this is a weekend worth knowing about.
I’ve always been a fan of storytelling, and by extension, solo performance. It’s one of humanity’s oldest traditions, preserving our personal and collective histories while fostering deep connection and profound revelation. Have I seen solo shows that missed the mark? Absolutely. But all levels of artistry contribute to the richness of art itself, and the transformative experiences I’ve had thanks to great storytellers far outweigh the missteps.
Santos offered one of those transformative experiences for me with CROSSROADS. I have now seen the piece twice, and while I was moved by the initial production two years ago, the work Santos and director Kimleigh Smith have put into the show since then has elevated it to another level.
The best solo artists do two things remarkably well: they tell deeply personal stories in ways that somehow become universal, and they earn an audience’s trust by demonstrating complete command over their narrative, giving us permission to experience our own emotional journeys along with them.
Santos delivers on both counts.
The show begins with 14-year-old Renée sitting in the lobby of a Boston-area Department of Social Services office, awaiting her fate after an incident with her mother leads to her removal from home.
From there, Santos takes audiences through an approximately 80-minute journey that is harrowing, unexpectedly funny and ultimately hopeful, tracing her experiences through abuse, the foster care system, addiction, recovery and healing.
She portrays multiple characters, including versions of herself at different ages, showing us how damaged people, and systems that sometimes fail the very people they are supposed to protect, can leave wounds that last for years.
But CROSSROADS is not simply about what happened to Renée Santos.
It is about what happens afterward.
It is about surviving. Recovering. Finding your voice. Choosing another direction when life puts you at a crossroads.
And it is about the resilience of the human spirit.
What makes CROSSROADS soar is Santos herself. Her optimism and unmistakable inner joy continue to shine through even during the darkest moments, giving the audience a sense that she, and perhaps all of us, are going to be OK.
Her powerful writing and acting are complemented by her abilities as a singer, guitarist and dancer, bringing additional texture and movement to the production. Director Kimleigh Smith’s influence can be felt throughout the show in its smart pacing, fluid staging and careful balance between darkness and light.
This weekend’s performances also expand the experience beyond the stage.
The Saturday, August 22 performance at 7 PM will be followed by a special talkback, while the Sunday, August 23 performance at 4 PM will include a community conversation, creating an opportunity for audiences to engage more deeply with the issues raised in the production.
This Weekend’s Performances
Friday, August 21 at 8 PM — SOLD OUT
Saturday, August 22 at 7 PM — A few tickets remaining
Special talkback following the performance.
Sunday, August 23 at 4 PM — Only two tickets remaining
Community conversation following the performance.
Tickets:
https://www.tickettailor.com/events/embraceyourcapeenterprises/2287702
One of the most meaningful developments surrounding CROSSROADS is Santos’ Pay It Forward initiative.
For those who cannot attend the show, or those who simply want to make it possible for someone else to experience it, sponsored tickets can help Santos work with organizations serving the foster care community.
The goal is to place tickets in the hands of foster youth, former foster youth, foster families and others impacted by the child welfare system who might not otherwise have the opportunity to attend.
It is a particularly fitting extension of a production that asks audiences not simply to witness one woman’s story, but to think about the thousands of young people navigating similar systems and what happens to them after they leave those systems behind.
Santos is also looking beyond this weekend.
Through fiscal sponsorship with Fractured Atlas, she is building support for the next chapter of CROSSROADS, with the goal of bringing the production beyond its initial Los Angeles run.
Her larger vision is to present the show at conferences, universities, organizations and communities where Santos’ story can become a starting point for larger conversations surrounding foster care, resilience, addiction, recovery and life after the child welfare system.
Those interested in helping support the future of the production can learn more or contribute through Fractured Atlas:
https://fundraising.fracturedatlas.org/crossroads
When I originally saw CROSSROADS, I wrote that I hoped theaters in Los Angeles and beyond would give this work a platform.
After seeing where Santos has taken the show, I feel even more strongly about that today.
CROSSROADS is entertainment, but it is also testimony. It reminds us that the circumstances into which we are born do not necessarily determine where our lives will end up, and that a person can emerge from extraordinarily difficult experiences with humor, creativity, compassion and hope still intact.
In a time when so many people are searching for exactly that kind of hope, Renée Santos has turned her own crossroads into something capable of helping others navigate theirs.
And judging from this weekend’s nearly sold-out performances, audiences are finding their way to her.
For tickets, information about CROSSROADS, the Pay It Forward initiative and Renée Santos’ continuing work, visit:
https://www.reneesantos.com
Support the future of CROSSROADS through Fractured Atlas:
https://fundraising.fracturedatlas.org/crossroads
