The Downey Arts Coalition and Urban Theatre Movement bring you a new staged reading series, “Urban Acts: New Plays From the Street.” Four new plays, performed at four site-specific locations in Downey. Keep reading after the poster:
Experience vital new work from contemporary playwrights, read live by talented actors working in professional theatre. Q&A to follow with the playwright.
The DAC is co-producing this series with the critically-acclaimed Urban Theatre Movement, who is usually in residence at Los Angeles Theatre Center and just came off a successful run of Miguel Piñero’s Short Eyes which was named LA Times Critics’ Choice.
Here is a run down of the dates & plays:
Sunday May 6th – 7PM
In Case You Forget by Ben Snyder
Directed by David Santana
On the streets of New York, this is the story of a young street artist’s last days before he is incarcerated for vandalism. This powerful work explores the philosophical, social, and artistic side of being a graffiti artist.
Presented at NUMBER 34 – 9029 Florence Ave. @ Arrington east of Lakewood.
PLUS: Art show featuring street art with gala reception afterward.
Sunday May 20th – 7PM
La Vida Lucky (1974) by Daniel Houston Davila
Directed by Alistair Hunter
A tough Mexican-American man in the barrio of Norwalk, CA, at a young age is facing the decision to have a vasectomy. Adapted from the playwright’s novel Malenche’s Children, the University Press of Mississippi describes the novel as “a chronicle of this small Mexican-American hamlet, from its formation in 1900 by Mexican farmworkers yearning to end their wanderings to its troubled rise one hundred years later when their descendants live uneasily between two worlds.”
Presented at GRANATA’S & TAPAS – 11032 Downey Avenue and 2nd Street
Sunday May 27th – 7PM
HandBall by Seth Zvi Rosenfeld
Directed by Paul Tully
Rosenfeld’s work often deals with the collision of cultures in urban environments, and this play follows the gentrification of a Bronx neighborhood that once was a destination for handball enthusiasts.
Presented at EPIC LOUNGE – 8239 2nd Street and New
Sunday June 3rd – 7PM
Alexander the Greatest by Forrest Hartl
Directed by Forrest Hartl
A dark comedy about a narcissistic young actor who lies, cheats and steals his way to the top of Hollywood. It’s our privilege to present the work of one of the DAC’s original members.
Presented at DOWNEY MORAVIAN CHURCH – 10337 Old River School Rd. south of Florence
* In Case You Forget and Handball contain adult language, so sensitive ears should be fore-warned.
To RSVP for the shows, send the dates and your name to
For sponsorship information, email Andrew at .
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