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Latino Theater Company’s world premiere of ‘SHE’
by Marlow Wyatt is poignant, lyrical coming-of-age drama
LOS ANGELES (REVISED March April 4, 2022) — The Latino Theater Company opens its 2022 season with the world premiere of SHE, a poignant, lyrical coming-of-age drama written by Marlow Wyatt and co-directed by Shanae Sharon and Herb Newsome. Performances take place May 6 through June 5 at The Los Angeles Theatre Center in downtown L.A., with previews scheduled April 28 through May 5.
Camille Spirlin (Runaway Home at the Fountain) stars as 13-year-old SHE Sojourner Freeman. Growing up in a small town filled with poverty and neglect, SHE escapes by re-imagining her reality through poetry. Her dreams take flight when she’s presented with the opportunity to attend the prestigious Vanguard Academy. But forced to make her own way, SHE soon discovers that dreams cost… and you don’t always pay with money.
Also in the stellar cast are Lorenz Arnell (Ovation, Backstage and LADCC awards for the title role in The Ballad of Emmet Till at the Fountain) as SHE’s best friend, Davie Mansaw; Karen Malina White (The Mountain Top for L.A. Theatre Works, Eight Nights at Antaeus, The Ballad of Emmet Till at the Fountain) as SHE’s neglectful, man-obsessed mother, Bernice; Kamal Bolden (NBC’s The Endgame, AMC’s upcoming 61st Street) as Bernice’s charismatic gambler boyfriend, Mr. Lonnie; Aixa Clemente (The House of Bernarda Alba at the Mark Taper Forum, American Illiad at the Victory) as the eagle-eyed town matriarch, Miss Jane; and Gerard Joseph (Antaeus Theatre Company’s The Zip Code Plays Los Angeles podcast series) as the city-slick hustler Othalee.
“How do you thrive when you’re stuck in a small box?” asks Wyatt. “SHE is trapped by the boundaries of poverty, searching and wanting and growing up female in a male society. She copes through a world of poetry and eventually discovers that the small town she desperately wants to escape is filled with the very people who give her wings to fly.”
SHE is a CTG/HUMANITAS finalist, Long Beach Playhouse New Works winner, and received National Black Theatre Festival A-List and Antaeus Theatre Company Lab Results readings. In 2021, as the pandemic raged, the Latino Theater Company produced an online, digital reading in advance of this world premiere production.
The creative team for SHE includes set designer Herb Newsome; lighting and sound designer Kenneth Cosby; and costume designer Wendell C. Carmichael. The stage manager is Ladine Jae.
“I commend the Latino Theater Company for prioritizing putting together an all-Black creative team for this production,” Wyatt notes.
Marlow Wyatt is a playwright and actor with a BFA (magna cum laude) from Howard University College of Fine Arts. Her thirst to share the richness and beauty of Black culture manifested into playwriting. Selected works include Robbin, from the Hood (2021 Eugene O’Neill semi-finalist, 2021 New Works Pipeline/SBT); Red Ribbons (2022 Voices for Victory reading series, 2021 Headwaters New Play finalist, National Black Theatre Festival A-List reading series); Listen, A Black Woman Is Speaking (2021 Playwrights Union First Look reading); Mourning of the Sons (LACMA-Theater at the Museum); American Dreamers (St. Brigid Catholic Church benefit); Sweetie’s Confession (Fade to Black, NESONA Festivals); Say Something (AWOT Festival, Moving Arts); and The Village, What Would Billie Sing and Red, White & Blue-Trilogy (Girl Blue Project). Marlow is an Antaeus Theatre Company 2021 NEXT Commission artist, Support Black Theatre’s 2021 As We Grow We Sow awardee, SBT’s first New Works Pipeline artist and a 2019 MADLab playwright. She is also a Many Voices Fellowship finalist, a Howard Players honored alumna and a CTG/Humanitas Playwrights Prize finalist.
The Latino Theater Company is dedicated to providing a world-class arts center for those pursuing artistic excellence; a laboratory where both tradition and innovation are honored and honed; and a place where the convergence of people, cultures and ideas contribute to the future. Now in its 37th year, LTC has operated The Los Angeles Theatre Center, a landmark building in Downtown’s Historic Core, since 2006.
SHE opens on Friday, May 6 at 8 p.m., with performances thereafter taking place on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 4 p.m. through June 5. Six preview performances take place on Thursday, April 28; Friday, April 29; Saturday, April 30; Wednesday May 4; and Thursday, May 5, all at 8 p.m., and on Sunday, May 1 at 4 p.m. Tickets range from $10–$48, except opening night which is $58 and includes a post-performance reception, and previews, which are Pay-What-You-Choose starting at $5. The Los Angeles Theatre Center is located at 514 S. Spring St., Los Angeles, CA 90013. Parking is available for $5 with box office validation at Joe’s Parking structure, 530 S. Spring St. (immediately south of the theater).
To purchase tickets and for more information, including up-to-date Covid-19 safety protocols on the date of each performance, call (213) 489-0994 or go to www.latinotheaterco.org.
Details for Calendar Listings
‘SHE’
WHAT:
The Latino Theater Company presents the world premiere of SHE by Los Angeles-based playwright Marlow Wyatt. Growing up in a small town filled with poverty and neglect, SHE escapes by re-imagining her reality through poetry. Her dreams take flight when she’s presented with the opportunity to attend the prestigious Vanguard Academy. Forced to make her own way, SHE discovers that dreams cost… and you don’t always pay with money.
WHO:
• Written by Marlow Wyatt
• Co-Directed by Shanae Sharon and Herb Newsome
• Starring Lorenz Arnell, Kamal Bolden, Aixa Clemente, Gerard Joseph, Camille Spirlin, Karen Malina White
• Produced by Latino Theater Company
WHEN:
Previews: April 28 – May 5
Performances: May 6 – June 5
• Wednesday at 8 p.m.: May 4 ONLY (Preview)
• Thursdays at 8 p.m.: April 28 (Preview), May 5 (Preview), May 12, May 19, May 26, June 2
• Fridays at 8 p.m.: April 29 (Preview), May 6 (Opening), May 13, May 20, May 27, June 3
• Saturdays at 8 p.m.: April 30 (Preview), May 7, May 14, May 21, May 28, June 4
• Sundays at 4 p.m.: May 1 (Preview), May 8, May 15, May 22, May 29, June 5
WHERE:
The Los Angeles Theatre Center
514 S. Spring Street
Los Angeles CA 90013
PARKING:
• $5 with box office validation, Joe’s Parking structure, 530 S. Spring St. (immediately south of the theater)
• Metered parking available on streets surrounding the theater.
• Take the Metro: nearest stop is Pershing Square (two blocks west of The LATC).
TICKET PRICES:
$10-$48 (except previews and opening night)
• Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays (except opening night, June 6): $48
• Students, seniors and veterans: $22
• Thursdays: $10 (available online beginning the Monday prior to each performance)
• Previews: Pay-What-You-Choose starting at $5
• Opening night (June 6): $58 (includes post-performance reception)
OTHER:
Go to www.latinotheaterco.org/covid-19 prior to each performance to find up-to-date Covid-19 safety protocols.
HOW:
(213) 489-0994 or go to www.latinotheaterco.org
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