World premiere of "Ladybird" at 24th STreet Theatre

LOS ANGELES - Dec. 5, 2013 - PRLog -- What are the things that we carry? What are the things that we love that make us who we are?24th STreet Theatre’sTeatro del Pueblo(“Theater of the Village”) presents theworld premiereof a warm, funny and unique holiday play about love and sacrifice, created from stories shared by members of the local community during workshops with professional theater artists. The story of Norma, a Mexican immigrant who longs for home but comes to know and see the hardworking and generous members of her local neighborhood as a new, if different kind of family,Ladybirdweaves together the true stories and real-life experiences of the residents of 24th STreet Theatre’s North University Park neighborhood. Following the performance, 24th STreet literally brings the entire show into the heart of their community with a Posada (Christmas procession) that takes actors and audience into and around the neighborhood before bringing everyone back to the theater to celebrate with food, warmponche(punch) and a traditional star-shaped piñata. Presented in Spanish with English subtitles. Appropriate for all ages.

“This turned into a much bigger project than we had initially envisioned,” explains writer and director Laurie Woolery. “When you start gathering stories from the community, you need a vehicle to house and honor them. There was such an outpouring, so much enthusiasm and passion, and the stories so inspirational, that we layered them together and a play burst forth. This is an amazingly committed group that has been creating and rehearsing for months despite juggling families, school, jobs – many of them are working more than one job.”

“I saw the impact that 24th STreet was making on my kids with their free afternoon ‘After Cool’ program, and I had always thought, how wonderful if they could do that with adults,” says local resident Ivonne Rodriguez. “I’ve known these people from the neighborhood – I see them at the theater in line for a tamale or picking up their kids, and we say hello – but the kinds of stories that have come out while shaping this play are not the kinds of things we would ever have shared. Listening to and getting to know these people, the fire in their bellies that they have to live, has really changed my life. There’s always such tremendous energy in the ‘circle.’ I draw that energy in and it has helped changed the path of my life.” (A working mother of three who never graduated high school, Ivonne was inspired by the work 24th STreet does in the neighborhood and decided to test for her GED. She is now in her third semester at L.A. Trade Tech and will be applying to USC in January.)

Ladybirdwill have four performances over the course of two weekends:SaturdaysandSundaysat3 p.m.,Dec. 7 through Dec. 15. Admission is24 cents.Secure parking is available for $5 in the lot on the southwest corner of 24th and Hoover. The theater is air-conditioned and wheelchair accessible. For reservations and information, call(213) 745-6516 (tel:%28213%29%20745-6516)or go towww.24thstreet.org.