[NoHo Arts District, CA] – CASA 0101 Theater Founding Artistic Director Josefina López and Executive Director Emmanuel Deleage present TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE, written by Jeffrey Hatcher and Mitch Albom, based on the book by Mitch Albom, directed by Miguel Angel Delgado, and running April 18 – May 11.
TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE, starring Vance Valencia as Morrie Schwartz and Gilbert Reynoso as Mitch Albom, is presented as part of CASA 0101 Theater’s 25th anniversary season!
About TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE
Based on the breakout The New York Times bestseller, this autobiographical story is about an accomplished journalist driven solely by his career, and his former college professor. Sixteen years later, Mitch learns that his old professor is battling Lou Gehrig’s Disease. Mitch is reunited with Morrie, and what starts as a simple visit turns into a weekly pilgrimage and a class on the meaning of life.
Miguel Angel Delgado, director, said, “I first read the book TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE when I was in middle school. The book had a profound impact on me at that time, and still does to this day, with its poignant message of caring and focusing positively on your own life even under the most dire circumstances. In the play, the character of Morrie Schwartz has an upbeat, cheerful and inspiring outlook on life even though he is diagnosed with a life-threatening illness. There are many life lessons to be learned from this play.”
The Cast of TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE
Vance Valencia (Morrie Schwartz) (of Boyle Heights, CA) is a local actor known for his work in dozens of film and television productions but most notably for his supporting roles the Robert Zemeckis film Contact and the Bruce Willis action film, Die Hard 2. Recent network television spots include Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Crazy Ex-Girlfriend and a recent spot on John Mulaney’s Everybody’s Live on Netflix. He is also no stranger to the Los Angeles theatre scene having performed major roles at such venues as the Los Angeles Theatre Center, Hudson Theatre, Attic Theatre, Nosotros, Met Theatre, The Starlight Theatre, LA Actors Theatre and Taper2. But Valencia is more than an actor, he is also an educator, holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Cal State Los Angeles and over the years has taught middle school Humanities in the Public, Private and Charter school sectors and teaches acting at CASA 0101 Theater.
A Boyle Heights native and product of local schools – including Roosevelt High School – it is here where his love of theatre began and here where he continues to share his passion for the classics with young people who need exposure to the arts the most. Valencia is always proud to point out that the community park located catty-corner to CASA 0101 Theater is dedicated in his father’s name, longtime community leader and activist, Ross H. Valencia. He has returned to CASA 0101 Theater where has enjoyed critical and popular success in the title roles of Willy Loman in the highly successful production of Death of a Salesman, Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar and in the subsequent drama, Mariela in the Desert by Karen Zacarías.
Gilbert Reynoso (Mitch Albom) (of Alhambra, CA) is making his debut at CASA 0101 Theater in this production. Reynoso found his way into theatre while stumbling into an introductory acting course at Pasadena City College (PCC). “I think you could do this” was the advice given by Professor Daniel Chodos, for Reynoso to go on and cut his teeth at PCC, performing in over 20 productions. Most plays, including: In The Next Room, The Marriage of Bette and Boo and Noises Off, were guided under the direction of Duke Stroud and Whitney Rydbeck, both being his cherished mentors. Since then, Reynoso has gone on to play in local theatre, and has set forth into Film and Television productions, such as SXSW Jury Award winner Pennies From Heaven directed by Sandy Honig.
The TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE Production Team
Josefina López (of Boyle Heights, CA), Founding Artistic Director, CASA 0101 Theater; Emmanuel Deleage (of Silver Lake, CA), Producer and Executive Director, CASA 0101 Theater; Miguel Angel Delgado (of South Gate, CA) Director and CASA 0101 Theater Technical Director; Gabrielle Maldonado (of Lakewood, CA) Music Composer; César Retana-Holguín (of Northridge, CA) Scenic Designer; Alejandro Parra (of Burbank, CA) Lighting Designer; Alejandro Lechuga (of Los Angeles, CA) Costume Designer; Joaquín Madrid Larrañaga (of Lincoln Heights, CA) Stage Manager; Angelica Ornelas (of North Hollywood, CA) Assistant Stage Manager and Props Manager; Lorena M. Ortega (of Huntington Beach, CA) Production Coordinator and CASA 0101 Theater Director of Outreach and Productions; Mark Kraus (of Los Angeles, CA), CASA 0101 Theater Development Director; Itzel Ocampo (of Alhambra, CA) Social Media Manager and CASA 0101 Theater Marketing and Operations Manager; Gabriela López de Dennis, Soap Studio Inc. (of Los Angeles, CA) Artwork and Program; Jorge Villanueva (of Boyle Heights, CA) Facilities Manager; Oscar Basulto (of Boyle Heights, CA) Box Office Manager; Al Aguilar (of Los Angeles, CA) Production Assistant; Francis Gacad (of Anaheim, CA) Production Photographer and Steve Moyer Public Relations (of Los Angeles, CA), Press Representative.
CASA 0101 Theater is supported in part by: Los Angeles County Department of Arts & Culture, National Latinx Theater Initiative, The Herb Alpert Foundation, Perenchio Foundation, The City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, the State of California and U.S. Bank.
Art Exhibit
Don’t miss ABSTRACT TO CONCRETE: BARRIO EXPRESSIONS, a FREE art exhibit examining the relations between abstract and concrete contemporary Barrio art, will be available to be viewed in the Jean Deleage Art Gallery, located in the lobby of CASA 0101 Theater during the run of TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE. Curated by Jimmy Centeno, the exhibit will feature the work of five artists, including: Fernando Barragán, Jimmy Centeno, Pedro Rios Martinez, Carlos Rojas and Richard Valdes. The exhibit can be viewed prior to the performances, and during art gallery hours, which are Tuesdays through Fridays from 9:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
About the Director
Miguel Angel Delgado (Director/CASA 0101 Technical Director) (of South Gate, CA) is making his directing debut at CASA 0101 Theater with this production. Delgado is a versatile theatre artist with experience as an actor, director, playwright and scenic designer with a passion for Technical Theatre. Delgado has worked with several renowned theatre and film companies, including Pasadena Playhouse, Warner Bros. and Paramount Pictures where he has worked in a range of productions from contemporary dramas, to classic works and musicals.
As a director, he focuses on creating dynamic, emotionally resonant experiences, often blending traditional and innovative approaches to bring fresh perspectives to both new and established plays. In addition to his stage work, Delgado is dedicated to fostering inclusive and diverse creative spaces, believing strongly in the transformative power of theatre. Now as CASA 0101 Theater’s Technical Director he has worked on numerous projects such as Queen of the Rumba, Shrek Jr. – The Musical and The Hunchback of Notre Dame, to name a few. Delgado is also the owner of Elerys Productions, where he focuses on high-end production, having worked with the likes of Sons of Anarchy, Mayans, Sabrina Carpenter, John Legend, and Rosalía.
About CASA 0101 Theater
CASA 0101 Theater, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, was founded 25 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 Theater 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 Theater 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. Zeroes and ones are the binary language computers use to operate. CASA 0101 Theater was founded at the dawn of the digital age, when digital cameras started appearing and movie making 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. A documentary film about CASA 0101 Theater is currently in the works by filmmakers Michael and Moni Vargas of Friends of Love. To learn more about the documentary, please visit www.casa0101.org or www.friendswelove.com
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