Arts & Culture

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 3 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ --

WHAT: "Solitude." World Premiere engagement of a new play.

WHO: Written by Evelina Fernandez. Directed by Jose Luis Valenzuela. Choreographed by Urbanie Lucero. Original music by Semyon Kobialka. Produced by Latino Theater Company.

WHERE: Los Angeles Theatre Center, Theater 3, 514 S. Spring St., Los Angeles, CA 90013.

WHEN: Previews September 4 and 5 at 8 p.m. Opens Wednesday, September 9, 2009 at 8 p.m. Regular show times: Thursday and Friday at 8, Saturday at 3 and 8, Sunday at 3. Dark October 3. Closes Sunday, October 4.

ADMISSION: $35. Students and seniors, $15.

RESERVATIONS: (213) 489-0994 ext. 107.

ONLINE TICKETING: www.thelatc.com

The Chicanos and Chicanas of present-day Los Angeles are at once both Mexican and American, not fully being either.

Gabriel, a rich man, returns to his old neighborhood to attend to the funeral of Carmen, the poor mother he left behind in the neighborhood long ago. He abandoned her, his lover Ramona, and his best pal Johnny , fleeing their impoverished world. Gabriel achieved success and wealth on his new path, marrying Sonia, a woman consistent with his new station in life.

They're all brought back together again by Carmen's death, death being the great equalizer. They're accompanied at this sad time by Ramona's grown son Angel, and two mysterious characters: one, called only The Man, ostensibly just the limo driver but, as it turns out, an authority on the art of making love; the other, a cellist conveniently named Chelo. Why a cellist? Put enough Mexicans in a room, and there will inevitably be music.

The group repairs to Gabriel's upscale home, where Juana, his domestic (the term is ironic here), has gone on strike to participate in the Million Immigrant March happening, as fate would have it, that very day.

A single day's events will change the lives of nearly all these people forever. We may ultimately cross the threshold of death in solitude, but a death can bring people long in solitude together, if sometimes only for a while.

Robert Beltran, best known for major roles in the television series "Star Trek: Voyager" and "Big Love," stars as The Man. "Solitude" also stars Latino Theater Company members Evelina Fernandez, Geoffrey Rivas, Fidel Gomez, Sal Lopez, and Lucy Rodriguez, with celebrated musician Semyon Kobialka as Chelo.

SOURCE Latino Theater Company