FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Real Women Have Curves’ Josefina Lopez among Writers
to Debut Audience Favorite at the new LATC on May 9
Los Angeles, April 22, 2009 — After sold-out shows at Casa 0101 Theater in Boyle Heights during Women’s Herstory Month, “8 Ways to Say 'I Love My Life' and Mean it!” will premiere at the new Los Angeles Theatre Center in downtown Los Angeles on Saturday, May 9, 2009, Mother’s Day weekend. The play, which is part of the new LATC’s Spring on Spring Street Theater Festival will be directed by Diane Rodriguez, recipient of The National Endowment for the Arts/Theatre Communications Group Directing Award in 1998.
“8 Ways” is a collection of monologues, derived from a forthcoming book by the same name, written by eight women and based on their lives. The “8 Ways” theater performance inspired audiences during its successful 10-show run at Casa 0101, located in Boyle Heights, Calif., in March 2009 and was named “Editor’s Hot Pick” by LatinoLA.com. The monologues will be performed by actresses Jacqueline Calderon-Guido, Kikey Castillo, Michelle Castillo, Yolie Cortez, Yvonne DeLaRosa, Sophia Santi, Iliana G. Wrinkle. Writer Rita Mosqueda Marmolejo will perform her own piece.
In addition to Ms. Marmolejo, the eight writers include author and screenwriter Josefina Lopez (“Hungry Woman in Paris” and “Real Women Have Curves”); author Susan Orosco (“Latin Power: Seven Powers all Latinos Have Upon Which to Build an Empire”); Bel Hernandez (Latinheat.com publisher and editor-in-chief); Margo De Leon Guerra (current Voces Latinas club president); communications specialist Laura De Anda, implementation consultant Joanna Diaz; and producer and screenwriter Nancy De Los Santos Reza. Seven of the writers met through Voces Latinas Toastmasters, a nonprofit speaking and leadership club, based in Los Angeles. Ms. Orosco co-founded this President’s Distinguished Toastmasters club in 2002, Ms. De Leon is the current club president (2008-2009), Ms. De Anda is immediate past club president (2007-2008) and Ms. Diaz and Ms. Reza are current club officers.
Designed to motivate and inspire others, the monologues and stories “demonstrate there is always a way to turn pain into power,” Ms. Orosco said.
Audience members who saw the performances raved:
“I love the play. All the actresses are very talented and it is very [well] written.” –Patricia Alcalde, TV Las Vegas
"I am deeply grateful to all eight writers who opened their souls so deeply and to the eight actresses who acted - no - who lived - these stories as if they were coming out of their bones/guts/hearts." – Dr. Anne P. Warman, marriage & family therapist
"Empowering! This amazing show not only transcends gender and cultural boundaries, but it inspires the human spirit to embrace and accept its beauty. Thank you for the best theater experience I've had in a long while." – Norma Maldonado
“I laughed, I cried, I looked in the mirror and saw a glimpse of what true love really means! Thank you. Mil gracias.” – Raquel Salinas, cultural artist
General admission is $35 for the "8 Ways" theater performance at 8 p.m. on May 9. Students and seniors are $15. Tickets may be purchased at www.thenewlatc.com. New
LATC spring season passes are $100, and are valid for admission to new LATC performances through June 14. The new LATC is located at 514 South Spring St., Los Angeles, CA 90013.
For more information about the 8 Ways production, contact: Susan Orosco at 626.255.2659 or Bel Hernandez at 310.464.5290. For more information about the new LATC, call 213.489.0994.
