A Reading of Café Vida

Friday, January 27, 2012
7:00 p.m.

Los Angeles Theater Center (LATC) - Theater 3
514 South Spring Street
Los Angeles, CA 90013

As part of the LATC Playwrights Festival, we are thrilled to present a reading of Café Vida, by acclaimed playwright Lisa Loomer, featuring Cornerstone ensemble members and community members. Café Vida is the first play of Cornerstone's Hunger Cycle, and will have a full production this spring. Come get a sneak peek at this world premiere play, produced in partnership with Homeboy Industries and Homegirl Cafe.

Chabela and Luz are rival homegirls ready to leave the life and begin anew at Café Vida—the only place in the city that gives young women and their shady pasts a genuine second chance to start a new life free of violence. It’s here that these former enemies choose la vida over la muerte as they learn to compost, tend a garden, julienne an onion, and rock your lunch order with a smile and a heaping side of transformation.

Admission is FREE! For more information visit http://thelatc.org

Cesar Rodriguez, "Tepa"

We were deeply saddened this past December by the passing of César Rodriguez, a member of the Teatro Jornalero Sin Fronteras troupe. We would like to share a tribute from Teatro Jornalero Sin Froteras:

When we met César, who was born in Jalisco, Mexico, on February 12, 1972, he was a day laborer at the Instituto de Educación Popular del Sur de California (IDEPSCA) day labor site in downtown Los Angeles. He was a journeyman laborer, and also a talented actor – he worked with Theatre Without Borders, and participated in the Teatro Jornalero Sin Fronteras' pastorela tour last year, A Christmas Between Two Worlds, playing the role of Santa Claus in a funny and memorable performance.
 


During his brief time with Teatro Jornalero, we were all touched by César’s commitment, integrity and honesty, but what we will remember most about him is his infectious sense of joy and love for life.

Rest in peace dear friend. Your Teatro Jornalero compañeros, and all of your friends in the Cornerstone family, will cherish you forever.

Nos entristeció profundamente el pasado Diciembre por el deceso de César Rodríguez, miembro de la Teatro Jornalero Sin Fronteras. Nos gustaría compartir un homenaje de parte de cada uno de los miembros de Teatro Jornalero Sin Fronteras:

Cuando conocimos a César, quien nació en Jalisco, México, el 12 de Febrero de 1972, era un jornalero en el Instituto de Educación Popular del Sur de California (IDEPSCA) del centro de jornaleros en el centro de Los Angeles. Él era un trabajador oficial, y también un talentoso actor - que trabajó con el Teatro Jornalero Sin Fronteras, y participo en la Pastorela de Teatro Jornalero Sin Fronteras gira del año pasado, Una Navidad Entre Dos Mundos, haciendo el papel de Santa Claus en un espectáculo divertido y memorable .

Durante su breve tiempo con el Teatro Jornalero, “Tepa” nos conmovió a todos por el compromiso, la integridad y la honestidad, pero lo que mas vamos a recordar de él es su contagioso sentido de alegría y amor por la vida.

Descansa en paz nuestro querido amigo. Sus compañeros de Teatro Jornalero Sin Fronteras, y todos sus amigos de la familia de la Compania de Teatro Cornerstone, te recordaremos por siempre.

We are now accepting applications for Cornerstone's 2012 Institute Summer Residency!

This year we are headed to Arvin, CA, an agricultural town in Kern County, southeast of Bakersfield. From July 5 – August 5, Cornerstone staff and Institute students will live in the town and collaborate with Arvin residents to stage an original play.

Arvin, CA

LEARN more about this year’s Institute Summer Residency
APPLY for this year's Residency

Everyone has a story to tell about hunger—we all need to eat! In a place called the "bread basket" of the United States, a place of both bounty and need, what do people in the Central Valley hunger for? What feeds you? What feeds your hunger? What could we learn from listening to our stories about how and what we eat? Come and find out!

This project invites anyone currently residing in the Central Valley of California to share memories, experiences, and tales about hunger.

Click HERE for more information.

The latest issue of Theater Magazine from the Yale School of Drama features an interview with Cornerstone Artistic Director Michael John Garcés on Los Illegals and includes the full text of the play.

Click here to order the magazine.