Award-winning company
continues commitment to
risk-taking fare that resonates with both kids and adults
LOS
ANGELES (Sept. 3, 2013) – Theater that’s international and
local. Produced and presented. For young and for old. In Spanish
and in English.
24th
STreet Theatre announces
a 2013-14 season that continues the multiple award-winning
company’s commitment to risk-taking fare that connects with kids
as well as adults, and which actively engages the local
community and beyond.
Located on 24th STreet and Hoover in the West Adams district of
Los Angeles, 24th STreet stands out as a highly acclaimed
professional theater that also works closely with the community
to provide an inclusive environment, making theater accessible
and affordable to all. Part of that mission includes producing
sophisticated, provocative theater that families can enjoy
together.
“Our version of TYA (Theater for Young Audiences) is very
different from the concept most Americans hold of family
theater,” explains executive director
Jay McAdams.
“We don’t shy away from difficult, sensitive or unpleasant
topics. The average theatergoer will probably not identify what
we do as kids’ theater.”
The season opens in October with “Dos de Mexico” when 24th
STreet brings the simple yet profoundly beautiful work of two
Mexican companies to L.A. On
Oct.
5 and
Oct. 6,
Compañía
Proyecto Perla presents
Pato, Muerte
y Tulipán (“Duck,
Death and Tulip”) in which Duck and Death invite young and old
alike to join them in a world made of paper, words and leaves on
a road full of questions about what it means to be alive. On
Oct. 12 and
Oct. 13,
Compañía Hecho a Mano presents
Lágrimas de Agua
Dulce (“Tears
of Sweet Water”), about Sofia, a little girl living in a small
town plagued by drought who is forced to cry endlessly to
provide water for her people.
For the holidays, 24th STreet offers
Teatro del
Pueblo, an original and unique ensemble production
created by adult members of the surrounding community in
workshops with 24th STreet’s professional theater artists.
Inspired by O’Henry’s classic short story
The Gift of the Magi,
ensemble members weave together a moving tale about sacrifice
and the true meaning of love. Supported by
The James Irvine
Foundation Exploring
Engagement Fund, performances take place
Dec. 7 through
15.
In 2014,
LAb24 – 24th
STreet’s in-house experimental theater project that debuted last
season with the critically acclaimed, extended run of
Walking the
Tightrope –
will present the
world
premiere of,
Hansel &
Gretel Bluegrass by
Bryan Davidson,
with 24th STreet artistic director
Debbie Devine directing. This new
version of the classic fairy tale is set in depression-era
Kentucky and features the rollicking bluegrass sounds of
The Get Down
Boys. Performances take place
March 22 through
June 14.
The theater’s annual “
Explorer Series”
celebrates diversity in music for all ages. On
Saturday,
May 10,
The Get Down
Boys will
perform their special blend of high-energy bluegrass and
Americana. On
Saturday,
May 17,
Los Pinguos (called the “Latin
Beatles” by the
Los
Angeles Times) will electrify audiences with their unique
brand of Argentine-accented Latin rhythm.
McAdams laughs, “We’re presenting shows in another language
about a topic [death] parents don’t want their children to know
about, and a dark fairy tale re-set during the American
depression. When we say we’re doing really sophisticated theater
for young audiences, we mean it! But, as with last year’s
Walking the
Tightrope, kids are gonna love it, and so will audiences
of all ages.”
“I saw
Walking
The Tightrope with
my wife, my children AND my parents,” says actor
Jack Black,
a longtime supporter of 24th STreet Theatre. “Three generations
of my family experienced the show together, and we were all
blown away.”
Details
for Calendar Listings
24th STreet Theatre
2013-14 Season
Oct. 5-6 (
Saturday
@ 2 p.m. & 7:30 p.m., Sunday
@ 2 p.m.):
Pato, Muerte y Tulipán (“Duck, Death
and Tulip”) – Enter a world made of paper, words, leaves, water,
snow, moons and suns as Duck and Death invite young and old
alike to join them on a road full of questions about what it
means to be alive. Three dimensional figures emerge from the
flat pages of a story book in this beautiful and moving
performance from Mexico’s Compañía Proyecto Perla, presented in
Spanish and English by a mix of live actors and puppets.
(Recommended for ages 5+)
Oct. 12-13 (
Saturday @ 2 p.m.
& 7:30
p.m., Sunday @ 2 p.m.):
Lágrimas de Agua Dulce (“Tears of Sweet
Water”) – Sofia is a little girl crying tears of sweet water.
This may go unnoticed in some places, but her small town in
Mexico is afflicted by drought, so this event unleashes the
greed of adults. Sofia is forced to cry endlessly in order to
provide water for her people. Presented in Spanish with English
supertitles by Mexico’s Compañía Hecho a Mano. (Recommended for
ages 5+)
Saturday, Nov. 2 (
6
p.m. -10 p.m.)
:
Dia de los Muertos — Celebrate the joyous
tradition of Mexico’s
Day
of the Dead at
24th STreet with food, music, dance and a graveyard where you
can make your own altar for your departed loved ones. A
free 24th STreet community
event. (Appropriate for all ages)
Dec. 7-15 (
Saturdays and Sundays @ 3 p.m.):
Teatro del Pueblo – Created by adult
members of 24th STreet’s local community in workshops with
professional theater artists, this holiday show about love and
sacrifice is inspired by O’Henry’s classic tale
The Gift of the Magi.
Presented in Spanish with English supertitles. Sponsored by a
grant from The James Irvine Foundation. (Appropriate for all
ages)
March 22-June 14 (
Saturdays @ 2 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.):
Hansel & Gretel Bluegrass – The
world premiere of a new version of the
classic story set in depression-era Kentucky and featuring the
rollicking bluegrass sounds of
The Get Down
Boys. The latest production from
LAb24 (
Walking the
Tightrope), 24th STreet Theatre’s resident experimental
theater company dedicated to presenting provocative plays that
appeal to kids while maintaining the look and emotional depth of
adult theater, is written by
Bryan
Davidsonand directed by
Debbie Devine.
(Recommended for ages 8+)
May 10 (@
2 p.m.):
Saturday Explorer Series presents
The Get Down
Boys —The
Get Down Boys (Matt Bruer–banjo, Etienne Cremieux–fiddle, Andy
Keathley–guitar and Evan Winsor–bass) are a Los Angeles based
string band performing high energy traditional and original
bluegrass music, along with modern favorites infused with the
sounds of Americana. Known for their carefully crafted songs,
floor-shaking rhythms, and unmistakable harmonies, The GDBs
bring an irresistible and infectious passion to their spin on
American roots music. (Appropriate for all ages)
May 17 (@
2 p.m.):
Saturday Explorer Series presents
Los Pinguos — Originally from Buenos
Aires, Argentina. Los Pinguos combines Latin rhythms, performed
with Spanish guitars, bass and harmonizing vocals. (Appropriate
for all ages)
Tickets to 24th STreet Theater productions are always
affordable, including
24
cent admission
for residents of the theater’s surrounding University Park
community. For everyone else, tickets to
Pato, Muerte y
Tulipán;
Lágrimas
de Agua Dulce; and
Hansel
& Gretel Bluegrass are
$10-$24;
the Explorer Series is
$5;
Teatro del Pueblo is
24 cents for all; and
Dia de los Muertos is
free.
For more information about 24th STreet Theatre’s 2013-14 season,
call
(213)
745-6516 or
visit online at
www.24thstreet.org
