The Roots and Wings Project returns to DTLA, joining forces with the California Arts Council to Present LUMINOUS STREETS, an immersive theatrical tour of DTLA centering on women’s survival and pursuit of justice. Leading female writers developed new works that speak to the fight for basic human rights, exploring the ways women are treated when interfacing with the world.
The audience is guided, experiencing multiple plays at unique venues throughout the Downtown Los Angeles Historic Core including The Last Bookstore, the historic King Eddy’s Saloon, and a headquarters at Words UnCaged. This piece, the second part of a trilogy sponsored by the California Arts Council Cultural Pathways Grant, invites audiences to witness and consider what it means for women to challenge the patriarchal paradigm, speaking truth about oppression and demanding justice.
The work was inspired after director Jesse Bliss spent an extended period of time in DTLA for the sold-out run of her play A RECORD OF LIGHT at The Last Bookstore in 2011. She became compelled to mount a series of plays exploring the dynamics and science of the interface of women in the streets in a patriarchal world. The work examines maltreatment, judgement and subsequent realities. Each play speaks to a variety of urgent circumstances women face navigating the world. The potent writers bring powerful and brilliantly written subject matter.
LUMINOUS STREETS Headquarters is at Words UnCaged, a program founded by the men of Lancaster Prison with a mission to have incarcerated artists dialogue with the public. Tobias Tubbs helps oversee the Pre-Entry and Re-Entry programs for the organization. The Roots and Wings Project is excited and honored to have him on as Co-Producer. Tobias was given a youthful offender death sentence—L.W.O.P. (Life Without the Possibility of Parole)—but through a communtation he was pardoned and released. During that time Tobias became an extraordinary Trauma Informed Specialist and continues to do healing work on the outs. The Roots and Wings Project has a Theatre and Writing Program at CIW Women’s Prison in Chino and is thrilled to collaborate with Tobias and help further bridge the worlds.
The cast consists of fearlessly talented actors who take the streets of Los Angeles full-force. There is one person embodying all 3 male roles in the series played by Pop Locker and Actor Ricardo “Boogie Frantick” Rodriguez Jr. who brings an unparalleled level of creativity and innovation to the work. He represents MAN.
The process of building this show is intricate. It has a longer timeline than a typical play so that actors have the work integrated firmly in the body and are safe-gaurded to the many happenings in DTLA. The ensemble has been at work since June, building from the ground up and preparing for the harsh demands and vulnerabilities of site-specific theatre.
This powerful ensemble is made up of celebrated talents including Real Women Have Curves writer Josefina Lopez, USA Ford Fellow Sigrid Gilmer, and internationally renowned Ricardo “Boogie Frantick” Rodriguez Jr., as well as Jesse Bliss, Marlene Beltran, Kat Evasco, Rachel Greenhoe, Raisa Donato, Jeanette Godoy, Juanita Chase de Lamont, Hilaria Larriva, Marta Portillo, and Aisha Lomax. This ground-breaking theatrical work also includes musicians to open the shows. LUMINOUS STREETS is directed and executive produced by Jesse Bliss and Co-Produced by Roger Q. Mason and Tobias Tubbs.
The Roots and Wings Project is a politically charged, socially transformative, project-based theatre company that brings attention to truth and provides stage and space for stories of the unnamed, unspoken and misunderstood.
Who is Jesse Bliss? Jesse Bliss is a Los Angeles based international playwright, director, producer, poet and actress. Her works have been widely produced at world-class venues internationally including SPARC at the Old Jail at Venice, Lincoln Heights Jail, The Last Bookstore, The Rosenthal Theater at Inner-City Arts, Casa 0101, Edinburgh, California Institute for Integral Studies, UC Santa Cruz, Occidental College, UCLA and countless others. Ms. Bliss is a veteran arts educator and curriculum writer for some of the nation’s leading arts organizations including Skirball Cultural Center, Geffen, Center Theater Group and Inner-City Arts to name a few. She is the author of the celebrated chapbook I LOVE MYSELF GOLDEN written for incarcerated women and loved on both sides of the walls with Illustrations by Alfie Numeric. Most recently, Jesse was featured in Julie Hebert’s documentary LOOK WHAT SHE DID and produced a sold-out run of MATRIARCH. She is Producer of THINK OUTSIDE THE CAGE 90.7 FM, a show voicing truth about mass incarceration. She oversees The Roots and Wings Project Theatre and Writing Program at CIW Women’s Prison in collaboration with Tia Chucha’s Centro Cultural Trauma to Transformation Program and Poets and Writers. Miss Bliss is Founder and Creative Director of The Roots and Wings Project.
Show Times and Days:
October 18-November 10
Fridays 8 PM
Saturdays 8 PM
Sundays 3 PM
Meeting Location: Words Uncaged @ The Medallion | 334 Main St | Los Angeles 90013 | Lower level Unit 5016
Words Uncaged: an organization created by men of Lancaster Prison dedicated to supporting voices of the incarcerated.
Cost: $20
For tickets and more info:TheRootsandWingsProject.com
WHAT:
LUMINOUS STREETS – an immersive theatrical tour of DTLA centering on women’s survival and pursuit of justice. The audience is guided, experiencing multiple plays at unique venues throughout the Downtown Los Angeles Historic Core including The Last Bookstore and the historic King Eddy’s Saloon.
WHO:
• Written by Josefina Lopez, Sigrid Gilmer, Jesse Bliss, Kate Evasco, Rachel Greenhoe
• Directed by Jesse Bliss
• Starring Boogie Frantick, Raisa Donato, Jeanette Godoy, Juanita Chase de Lamont, Hilaria Larriva, Aisha Lomax, Marta Portillo and Marlene Beltran
• Presented by The Roots and Wings Project and The California Arts Council.
WHEN:
October 18-November 10
Fridays 8 PM
Saturdays 8 PM
Sundays 3 PM