A House MUSIC-al will have a world premiere at CASA 0101 theater next week
Kevin D. Carignan
4 min read
Go back to a time and place where LOVE was a drug, friends became FAMILY and music gave you LIFE! Come live or relive the magic of ARENA!
CASA 0101 Theater, Josefina López, Artistic Director, Emmanuel Deleage, Executive Director and Producer, TNH Productions, Rigo Tejeda, Artistic Director and Abel Alvarado, Associate Artistic Director, and Executive Producers Felipe Agredano and Conrado TerrazasCross, El Centro Del Pueblo, Sandra Figueroa Producer Villa and Los Angeles City Council Member Gil Cedillo, Executive Producer, Presents the World Premiere Production of ARENA: A House MUSIC-al, Conceived and Written by Abel Alvarado, Directed by Rigo Tejeda, which will premiere at CASA 0101 Theater, 2102 E. First Street (at St. Louis Street), Boyle Heights, CA 90033, Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m. and Sundays at 4:00 p.m., June 17 through July 17, 2022. Opening night will be place on Friday, June 17, 2022 at 8:00 p.m.
ARENA: A House MUSIC-al is based on 1990s house music at the legendary ARENA Nightclub in Hollywood, CA. A coming-of-age story that follows Lucio Torrez, a young music minister in his father’s apostolic church, who seeks to live his truth, find his voice, and a place where he can be free. ARENA: A House MUSIC-al includes adult themes and nudity. The show is recommended for ages 17 and up.
Abel Alvarado, the creator of ARENA: A House MUSIC-al said: “A few years ago I had the idea of telling the story of my life in a play. I met the Artistic Director of CASA 0101 Theater, Josefina López, and with her guidance I developed the outline of my story, which I am so proud to now be realized in this full production.”
Rigo Tejeda, Director of ARENA: A House MUSIC-al, said: “Abel Alvarado’s story is authentic. In his own words, he tells his truth, which I’m sure will resonate with the audience coming to see this show. His story of how he found his tribe and came to understand the person he was born to be is a liberating story that people can relate to.”
Under the direction of Rigo Tejeda, the cast of 23 actors led by actor Preston Gonzalez Valle as Lucio Torrez. Other cast members include: Caleb Green as Jerry Rodriguez, father of House Mirage; Luis Ceja as Mrs. Martin Mendez, House of Mirage and Arena Hostess (June 17, 18, 19, 25, 26, July 8, 9, 10, 2022), Matthew Noah as Mrs. Martin Mendez, House of Mirage and Arena Hostess (June 24, July 1, 2, 3, 15, 16, 17, 2022); Krystal Gem as Donna Sanchez; Casey Alcoser as Erik Stellar, founder and program director of the Gay Conversion Group, EXIT; Bryant Melton as EXIT member/reporter/bartender Michael; Milton David as Pastor Adan Torrrez, Lucio’s father; Chrissi Erikson as Angelica Torrez, Lucio’s sister; Alejandro Lechuga as Gilbert, a non-binary man and son of a deacon; Daniela Hernandez as Bambi; Angelica Ornelas as Ensemble; Jenna Small as DJ Irene, Arena’s resident DJ; Giancarlo Garritano as Johnny Lozano, Jerry Rodriguez’s boyfriend; Jocelyn Sanchez as Nancy/House of Mirage Dancer; Bella Bilandzija as Ensemble; Ian Martinez as House of Mirage member Nick Lopez; Obinne Chyeador as Suzan Rivera, best friend and fairy queen; Michael “Berck” Berckart as Gene La Pietra, founder and owner of Arena and Circus Disco; Amy Melendez d’Orfa Torrez, wife of Pastor Torrez and mother of Lucio; David Reza as Marcos Reyes, a bouncer at Arena; Victor Becerra as Joaquin and Gilbert Understudy; and Alexander Huntley as Ensemble.
Production sponsors include: National Endowment for the Arts, Eastside Arts Initiative, California Arts Council, Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture, FLUX, Kaiser Permanente, Department of Cultural Affairs City of Los Angeles, El Centro Del Pueblo and Los Angeles City Councilmember Gil Cedillo, 1st District.
Tickets during the five-week run are $35 per person for general admission; $30 per person for students and seniors; and $25 per person for Boyle Heights residents with ID and $75 for VIP tickets. ARENA: A House MUSIC-al includes adult themes and nudity. The show is recommended for ages 17 and up. The show is in two acts, with 32 musical numbers, and has an approximate duration of 150 minutes, which does not include the intermission. Advance reservations are strongly encouraged.
Free parking is available on several streets surrounding the theatre. Free parking is also available on Fridays and Saturdays only at the Boyle Heights City Hall parking lot located at 2130 East First Street (at Chicago Street) when entering the parking lot from Chicago Street; the lot is closed on Sundays. Metro Gold Line train stations are located on First Street in Boyle Heights, on both Soto Street and Boyle Street (Mariachi Plaza), a short walk from the theater.
For tickets, please call the CASA 0101 Theater Box Office at 323-263-7684, email [email protected] or purchase online at www.casa0101.org. To purchase a home and for group reservations, please call Conrado TerrazasCross at 213-200-6161. Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/casa0101theater @ Casa0101
