'Speaking in Tongues'

Commissioned by Latino Theater Company and developed in its Circle of Imaginistas playwriting group, the world premiere of Speaking in Tongues by Luis Alfaro continues the MacArthur Foundation "Genius Grant" recipient's funny, poignant exploration of life in the small, predominantly Mexican-American agricultural towns of California's San Joaquin Valley. Jose Luis Valenzuela directs a five-week run, October 17 through November 15, at The Los Angeles Theatre Center in downtown Los Angeles. Preview performances take place October 15 and 16.

The setting is a Pentecostal church on the edge of a cornfield in Earlimart, a California town off Highway 99 in Tulare County. Hermana Romie, Hermana Cubby, Hermano Mando and Hermano Tico share chisme, food, and their devotion to the Apostolic faith. Hermana Romie's husband was the pastor of their church — until he disappeared eight weeks ago. Hermana Romie has secretly authored his sermons for years while hiding her own gifts to uphold the church's patriarchal traditions. As immigration raids threaten the community and their daughter prepares to leave for a secular life in Los Angeles, Hermana Romie claims her own authority, uniting religious devotion with activism and leading the congregation toward collective resilience.

Speaking in Tongues is part of a body of geographically inspired plays by Alfaro that explore the nature of identity, community, labor, immigration and the relationship of people to the land. The play is peppered with references to real life in Earlimart, including casual mentions of nearby towns such as McFarland and Tipton, popular eateries like Taqueria El Sol De Jalisco and La Barca Bakery, and neighborhood lore: the Visalia Mall (it has air conditioning!) and "Tule fog."

A Chicano playwright born and raised in L.A., Alfaro is the son of farmworkers from the San Joaquin Valley.

Speaking in Tongues opens Saturday, Oct. 17, at 8 p.m. Performances continue Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. through November 15. Preview performances take place Thursday, Oct. 15 and Friday, Oct. 16, at 8 p.m.

Tickets are $10 for previews and all Thursday performances; $48 for Friday, Saturday and Sunday performances, except opening night; $24 for students, seniors, veterans and LAUSD teachers with valid ID; and $75 for opening night, which includes a post-performance reception.

The Los Angeles Theatre Center is located at 514 S. Spring St., Los Angeles, CA 90013. Parking is available for $8 with box office validation at the Los Angeles Garage Associates parking structure, 545 S. Main St., Los Angeles, CA 90013 (between 5th and 6th streets, just behind the theater).

For more information and to purchase tickets, call (213) 489-0994 or visit latinotheaterco.org.

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