[NoHo Arts District, CA] – CASA 0101 Theater will present the world premiere of DIVE BAR, written by Chris Banda, directed by Miguel Angel Delgado, starring Vance Valencia, Martín Morales, Gilbert Reynoso, Oscar T. Basulto and Arezu Tavkoli, and running October 9 – November 1.
About DIVE BAR
In DIVE BAR, a rest stop for the soul, as police helicopters circle outside of Vee’s Bar in Boyle Heights, following a nearby shooting, a mysterious old man matching the description of “A Person of Interest” walks into the bar, prompting intense speculation among the patrons inside. As the truth about the stranger unfolds, everyone in the bar is thrust into a fight for their lives.
“I’ve always wanted to write a Twilight Zone-style story, inspired by Rod Sterling’s signature twists,” said Playwright Vris Banda. “I channeled my own existential questions into these characters as they faced similar struggles. Basically, writing is cheaper than therapy.”
Director Miguel Angel Delgado said, “I’m excited to bring this new theater piece to the stage. Chris Banda has created a phenomenal script that will thrill audiences on multiple levels in this suspenseful and charming play.”
“Chris Banda is an important emerging voice on the theater scene and I am thrilled to have our audiences discover his talent for playwriting and wit, said Founding Artistic Director Josefina López. ”DIVE BAR will keep our theatergoers on the edge of their seats.”
“Chris Banda has written a gem of a play in DIVE BAR,” says the play’s producer, Emmanuel Deleage. “Multiple currents criss-cross below apparently normal waters at Vee’s Bar in Boyle Heights. With this engaging work full of entangled storylines, CASA 0101 is very proud to present a strong and emergent Los Angeles writer with a refreshing voice and a real message to its stage.”
The Cast
The cast of DIVE BAR includes: Vance Valencia (of Boyle Heights) as Mr. Smith, Martín Morales (of Silver Lake, CA) as Charlie, Gilbert Reynoso (of Alhambra, CA) as Goose, Oscar T. Basulto (of Boyle Heights) as Willie and Arezu Tavakoli (of Hollywood, CA) as Sam.
The Team
The production team for the World Premiere production of DIVE BAR includes: Josefina López (of Silver Lake, CA) Founding Artistic Director, CASA 0101 Theater; Emmanuel Deleage (of Silver Lake, CA) Producer and Executive Director, CASA 0101 Theater; Edward Padilla (of Boyle Heights) Casting Director and CASA 0101 Theater Board Member; Chris Banda (of West Covina, CA) Playwright; Miguel Angel Delgado (of South Gate, CA) Director, Sound Designer and CASA 0101 Theater Technical Director; César Rentana-Holguín (of Northridge, CA) Set Designer; Alejandro Parra (of Burbank, CA) Lighting Designer; Tony Iniguez (of West Covina, CA) Costume Designer; Audrey Szot (of Pico Robertson, CA) Props Designer; Gabrielle Maldonado (of Los Angeles, CA) Music Supervisor; Rigo Tejeda (of Whittier, CA) Stage Manager; Julius Bronola (of Los Angeles, CA) Assistant Stage Manager, Wardrobe Assistant; Jimena Jimenez-Barerra (of Boyle Heights) Assistant Stage Manager; Mark Kraus (of Los Angeles, CA), CASA 0101 Theater Development Director; Itzel Ocampo (of Alhambra, CA) Key Art Director and CASA 0101 Theater Marketing and Operations Manager; Karla Melendez (of East Los Angeles, CA) Program Administrator; Gabriela López de Dennis, Soap Studio Inc. (of Los Angeles, CA) Program; Oscar Basulto (of the Boyle Heights) Box Office Manager; Al Aguilar (of Los Angeles, CA) Production Assistant/Foyer Designer; Rudy Torres (of Los Angeles, CA) Production Photographer and Steve Moyer Public Relations (of Los Angeles, CA), Press Representative.
More Info
CASA 0101 Theater is supported in part by: The State of California, Los Angeles County Department of Arts & Culture, Eastside Arts Initiative, National Latinx Theater Initiative, The Herb Alpert Foundation, Perenchio Foundation, The City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, California Arts Council, U.S. Bank Foundation, David Lee Foundation, LA Arts Recovery Fund, California Community Foundation and The Herb Block Foundation.
DIVE BAR is recommended for all audiences and children ages 13 and above. Children three years of age and under are not permitted. The running time of the show is approximately 90 minutes, not including intermission.
Free Parking is available on several streets surrounding the theatre. Limited Free Parking is also available at the Boyle Heights City Hall Parking Lot located at 2130 East First Street (at Chicago Street) by entering the lot from Chicago Street.
During DIVE BAR, CASA 0101 Theater presents the free exhibit Pensar y Poder: Jimmy Centeno, Volume 2, celebrating Centeno’s 10 years as curator with photography, assemblage, painting and mixed media. The exhibit opens October 17 with a 3 to 6 p.m. reception and runs through October 2026 in the Jean Deleage Art Gallery.
More About Playwright Chris Banda
Chris Banda (Playwright) grew up in Los Angeles County and has built a career as a playwright, writing, directing, and developing original plays. He also works as a digital video editor, graphic designer, and digital graphics artist. Banda found his passion for playwriting while studying theater at Rio Hondo College.
He wrote and directed plays such as The Long Walk, Dawgs, and Playing Clean, which was invited to the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival’s New Works program. His first professionally produced play was an adaptation of his one-act Dawgs. It was performed at venues in Los Angeles and Hollywood, including Glaxa, Gardner Stages, the Ivar Theater, and the Los Angeles Theater Center.
After finishing his studies at the Los Angeles Film School, Banda worked as a writer and editor on several feature and short films. He also wrote two episodes of the award-winning web series Encounters, titled Adobo and Between the Lights. In 2021, his play Lolo was chosen for the El Centro del Sur Latinx Theater Festival. Due to COVID-19, the play was filmed for a virtual event. The filmed version entered the festival circuit and won awards such as Best Feature, Best Stage Play, and Best Acting Ensemble.
Two years later, his play Mariposa, which tells the story of a family dealing with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, was invited back to open the 2023 El Centro del Sur Latinx Theater Festival. More recently, his 10-minute play, Blue Days was included in Casa 0101’s Theater production of Fernandomania, which celebrated the life and influence of legendary Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Fernando Valenzuela, and marked his debut at CASA 0101 Theater.
DIVE BAR, originally called Plain Mr. Smith, was written as part of the Moving Arts MadLabs program. Banda works full-time as a digital video professional for the Tennis Channel and also does freelance work for NBC Peacock.
About CASA 0101 Theater:
CASA 0101 Theater, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, was founded 26 years ago by Founding Artistic Director Josefina López, author of Real Women Have Curves, in 2000 to fulfill her vision of bringing art and live theater programs to Boyle Heights. From its humble beginnings in a former bridal shop, CASA 0101 Theater has established itself as a leading arts venue for Los Angeles’ East Side, currently offering year round theatrical productions and classes in dramatic writing and acting for youth and adults. CASA 0101 Theater is dedicated to providing vital arts, cultural, and educations programs in theatre, digital filmmaking, art and dance – to Boyle Heights, thereby nurturing the future storytellers of Los Angeles. CASA 0101 is named such, as casa means house of home in Spanish. 0’s and 1’s are the binary language computers use to operate. CASA 0101 Theater was founded at the dawn of the digital age, when digital cameras started appearing and moviemaking became accessible to more people. Early on Josefina López taught digital video classes. Though the organization subsequently focused its energies on theatre and not digital filmmaking, the name stuck. To learn more, please visit www.casa0101.org