Teatro Mascara Magica has found a new home at its El Salon Theatre in San Ysidro and continues to provide the community with lively and thought-provoking works, among them the current production of “The Last Angry Brown Hat” Oct. 17-22.
Written by Alfredo Ramos and directed by William A. Virchis, the play is described as one of the seminal works of the Chicano theater movement in the 1990s. It traveled the country on a 60-city tour and won several awards and accolades. The Smithsonian National Museum of American History named it among the most significant Latino plays of the late 20th century.
Guest artists include Daniel E. Mora, John Padilla, Victor Contreras, Bruno Bosardi and Rene Fernandez.
The play’s title refers to former members of a 1960s militant civil rights organization, the Brown Berets, whose reunion 25 years later is for the funeral of one of their comrades. The reunion uncovers the various trajectories their lives have taken over the intervening years.
Performances are Friday, Oct. 20, at 7 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 21, at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 22, at 2 p.m. The play is rated for mature audiences (17 years and older).
The theater is located at 114 West Hall Ave., San Diego. Tickets are available at www.tmmsd.org.
OnStage Playhouse
Upcoming production of “Star of Ocotillo” Dec. 1-23
Herbert Siguenza returns with his third alternative Christmas play for On Stage Playhouse. The nativity play is a dark Chicano comedy of manners with miraculous consequences.
Synopsis: A Hollywood producer and his TV star wife construct a luxury home on the edge of the border. A couple of old friends come over for the weekend and things unravel when a young undocumented girl is found hiding. Dark secrets are exposed and their world falls apart as the young girl carries the hope of a New World.
The production is directed by Siguenza and James P. Darvas.
Performances are Thursday through Saturday at 8 p..m, Sunday at 5 p.m. There is a Monday, Dec. 11 show at 8 p.m.
Tickets are donation based, starting at $15 online.
Billed as the South County’s only “live” theater, OnStagePlayhouse operates year round, producing six regular shows, plus numerous short-run productions and free educational events.
For more information, visit the website at onstageplayhouse.org, call (619) 422-7787 or email media@onstageplayhouse.org. OnStage Playhouse is located 291 Third Ave., Chula Vista.
Old Globe Theatre
Current production of “The Two Gentlemen of Verona,” Oct 28 through Nov. 5, Old Globe and University of San Diego Shiley Graduate Theatre Program, Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre, Conrad Prebys Theatre Center.
From William Shakespeare. Directed by Jimonn Cole.
Synopsis: Set in a modern-day Italy, we meet two young men in search of identity—and Julia, the first Shakespearean female character to disguise herself as a young man. This company of 14 M.F.A. actors, now in training at The Old Globe and University of San Diego, brings a wild cast of characters to life in a bold staging of this timely, classy comedy that highlights themes of betrayal, loyalty, and friendship.
A joint venture of the Globe and USD, the Shiley Graduate Theatre Program nationally recruits seven students each year to participate in an intensive two-year course of graduate study in classical theatre. Private funding for the Master of Fine Arts in Theatre program has been contributed through a generous endowment established by Donald and Darlene Shiley. Additional support for the program is provided by the Dorothy Brown Endowment Fund and the Louis Yager Cantwell Foundation.
Major underwriting of The Old Globe and University of San Diego Shiley Graduate Theatre Program at The Old Globe is provided by Darlene Marcos Shiley. Financial support is provided by the City of San Diego. The Theodor and Audrey Geisel Fund provides leadership support for The Old Globe’s year-round activities.
Total running time: Two hours and 15 minutes (two acts with one intermission).
Cast includes Danny Adams as Duke, Kevin Alicea-Minor as Speed, Jose Balistrieri as Proteus, Buffalo (dog) as Crab, Luana Fontes as Outlaw 3, Chris Hathaway as Host, Outlaw 2, Vandous Stripling II as Valentine, Madeline Grace Jones as Julia, Erick Lindsey as Antonio, Angelynne “Ajay” Pawaan as Sylvia, Carter Piggee as Lance, Akoni Steinmann as Turio, Emma Svitil as Eglamour, Michael Underhill as Pontino, Outlaw 1 and Lisa VillaMil as Lucetta.
Tickets are $15, $10 for full-time students
