Casa 010 Theater And Tia Chucha’s Centro Cultural & Bookstore Present The World Premiere of ALWAYS RUNNING
CASA 0101 Theater and Tía Chucha’s Centro Cultural & Bookstore will present the World Premiere of ALWAYS RUNNING, based on the groundbreaking memoir written by Luis J. Rodriguez, adapted for the stage by Los Angeles Poet Laureate Luis J. Rodriguez and Hector Rodriguez, directed by Hector Rodriguez, starring Rufino Romero as Luis J. Rodriguez, leading a cast of 11 actors playing 31 roles.
The play will be presented for a Six-Week Run on Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m. and Sundays at 5:00 p.m. at CASA 0101 Theater, 2102 East First Street (at St. Louis Street), Boyle Heights, CA 90033, August 31 – October 20, 2019.
Opening Night is Saturday, August 31, 2019, at 8:00 p.m. Discounted Previews will be presented on Thursday and Friday, August 29 and 30, 2019 at 8:00 p.m. Special Saturday Matinees will be given on September 7, 14 and 21, 2019 at 3:00 p.m. There will be no performances September 27, 28 and 29, 2019.
Josefina López, Founding Artistic Director of CASA 0101 Theater and a Producer of ALWAYS RUNNING, said, “It is a great honor and privilege for CASA 0101 Theater to be presenting the World Premiere stage adaptation of Los Angeles Poet Laureate, Luis J. Rodriguez’s seminal awarding winning book, “ALWAYS RUNNING: La Vida Loca: Gang Days in L.A.,” about gang violence, discrimination, and drug addition, and the restorative, redemptive powers of turning one’s life around for the better through art, poetry and public service. This story is empowering.”
Luis J. Rodriguez, Author of “ALWAYS RUNNING: La Vida Loca: Gang Days in L.A.,” and Co-Writer of the new stage play, ALWAYS RUNNING, said: “It is my great pleasure to collaborate with CASA 0101 Theater and my co-writer Hector Rodriguez in bringing the story of my troubled youth to the stage. My book was about the transformative power of the arts as well as how the Chicano Movement provided me meaning and knowledge to join with the social justice struggles of the day. It dramatizes how a caring, persistent, and guiding mentor eventually gave me the consciousness and tools to own my life instead of turning it over constantly to drugs, crime, and violence. When my oldest son Ramiro was born, I finally had the epiphany to let go of the madness.”
Hector Rodriguez, Director, and Co-Writer with Luis J. Rodriguez of ALWAYS RUNNING said: “I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to work with Luis J. Rodriguez to tell his life story in a dramatic form. Nothing beats working with the actual person who lived the life you are bringing to the stage. Luis’s insight and guidance bring an inspiring truth, authenticity, and honesty to the stage play that is beyond words.”
The stage play, ALWAYS RUNNING, co-written by Luis J. Rodriguez and Hector Rodriguez, is adapted from Luis J. Rodriguez’s award-winning book, “ALWAYS RUNNING: La Vida Loca: Gang Days in L.A.” A young man escapes his life of gang violence, discrimination, depression, and drug addition through art, the Chicano Movement, poetry and service.
This production is made possible in part by the Eastside Arts Initiative. CASA 0101 Theater’s sponsors include The California Endowment, the Los Angeles County Arts Commission, The Herb Alpert Foundation, The City of Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Department and The Ralph M. Parsons Foundation.
