About Productions presents Adobe Punk, a theatrical event with music opening Sat., March 19, 2022 at Plaza de la Raza’s Margo Albert Theatre in Lincoln Heights. The play will run through Sun., April 3, 2022. 

Adobe Punk is an original theaterwork created by a collaborative team of artists. Gabriel Garza and Theresa Chavez, a mother/son team and 7th and 8th generation Californians, came up with the narrative. This is the first ever production to focus on L.A. punk and first ever set in Bell Gardens. 

The play is directed by Chavez, with Sage Lewis as Music Director overseeing music and sound, creating sound collages representing the adobe house itself. Set designer/visual artist Dorothy Hoover built the modular set which is central to the narrative. Songs are written by Chavez and Nina Diaz (Girl In A Coma, Elvis Costello).

In the story, punk music finds life in one of L.A.’s oldest adobe homes. Set in the early 1980s in working-class Bell Gardens, three young punk musicians, from disparate cultures, squat in a vacant house. Inspired by the bands X, the Minutemen, and the Bags, the trio builds its punk songbook and a life-size zine, as they define their artistic identity and find their place in the musical and historic landscape of L.A.

The three central actors are Karis Brizendine (in the role of Noreen), who is making her professional theatrical debut; Isaac Cruz (in the role of Manny) who was born in NYC and has appeared on film, TV, and theater all over the US; and Giselle Etessami (in the role of Kat), who was born and raised in Los Angeles to Iranian refugees and began acting at the age of five. She learned to play bass guitar for this role.

Musician Nina Diaz says “I’ve explored a variety of song writing genres especially now as a full time solo artist, but punk is my backbone, my touch stone. My years with Girl in A Coma fueled my connection with punk. Collaborating with Theresa on music for Adobe Punk is a cathartic reenergizing experience as I tap back into those Girl in A Coma years. The characters in the play (Manny, Kat and Noreen) bring the songs to life. It’s almost like I’m living through them, and finding pieces of myself again.”

The Plaza de la Raza’s Margo Albert Theatre is located at 3540 N. Mission Road, Los Angeles, CA 90031. The play will perform Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8:00 pm, and Sundays at 3 pm, from March 19th through April 3rd. 

Find additional information at aboutpd.org/adobe-punk. Tickets range $15-35 available HERE 

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