A WOMAN NAMED GLORIA

[NoHo Arts District, CA] – CASA 0101 Theater will present the world premiere production of Founding Artistic Director Josefina López’s A WOMAN NAMED GLORIA, directed by Corky Dominguez, starring actress Karla Ojeda as Gloria Molina.  

About A WOMAN NAMED GLORIA  

In A WOMAN NAMED GLORIA, the spirit of Gloria Molina appears to a young woman grappling with a personal crisis.  She becomes enraptured by Molina’s captivating tale — how she became a woman of firsts, in a journey of resilience and defiance against adversity, tracing her path to becoming a Chicana trailblazer, civic leader and the first Latina elected to three political offices.  Through Molina’s recounting, she seeks to ignite a spark of inspiration in the young woman’s heart to create her own legacy.  The play is also a tribute to the life and achievements of Gloria Molina.

It was on August 29, 1970, in East Los Angeles when more than 20,000 Chicano/a/x, including Gloria Molina, marched in protest against the Vietnam War as part of the National Chicano Moratorium Movement, in an effort to bring attention to the disproportionate percentage of Chicanos being killed daily in the war.  It was on this historic day 54 years ago when Gloria Molina, at the age of 22, while witnessing the injustices happening around her that she became an activist, laying the groundwork for all that was to follow in her trailblazing career as a public servant.

The Cast

Karla Ojeda stars in the title role of Gloria Molina leading a cast of 12 actors portraying 68 roles in the play.  Other actors featured in the cast include Laura Curet, Amy Melendrez, Natalie Heredia, Micaela Martinez, Tricia Cruz, Celeste Lanuza, Laura Vega, Oscar Gonzalez, Alejandro Bravo, Edward Navarrete and Martin Morales.

The Team

The production team for A WOMAN NAMED GLORIA includes:  Josefina López (of Boyle Heights, CA), Playwright and Founding Artistic Director, CASA 0101 Theater; Emmanuel Deleage (of Silver Lake, CA), Producer and Executive Director, CASA 0101 Theater; Edward Padilla (of Boyle Heights, CA) Casting Director and CASA 0101 Theater Board Member; Valentina Martinez (of Loa Angeles, CA) (Gloria Molina’s Daughter, Story Consultant and CASA 0101 Theater Board Member); Corky Dominguez (of Boyle Heights, CA) Director; César Retana-Holguin (of Northridge, CA) Set Designer; Alejandro Parra (of Burbank, CA) Lighting Designer; Antonio Storniolo (of Downtown Los Angeles, CA) Projection Designer;  Angelica Ornelas (of Los Angeles, CA) Sound Designer; Patricia Tripp (Mama J) (of Northridge, CA) Costume Designer; Rigo Tejeda (of Whittier, CA) Production Stage Manager; Alexis Castro (of Southeast Los Angeles, CA) Stage Manager; Joaquín Madrid Larrañaga (of Lincoln Heights, CA) Assistant Stage Manager; Lilia Ramirez (of Los Angeles, CA) Key Artwork Artist; Mark Kraus (of Los Angeles, CA), CASA 0101 Theater Development Director; Lorena M. Ortega (of Huntington Beach, CA) CASA 0101 Theater Director of Outreach and Productions; Itzel Ocampo (of Alhambra, CA) Graphic Artist and CASA 0101 Theater Marketing and Operations Manager; Miguel Delgado (of Huntington Park, CA) CASA 0101 Theater Technical Director; Gabriela López de Dennis, Soap Studio Inc. (of Los Angeles, CA) Program; Jorge Villanueva (of Boyle Heights, CA) Maintenance; Oscar Basulto (of Boyle Heights, CA) Box Office Manager; Al Aguilar (of Los Angeles, CA) Production Assistant; Rudy Torres (of Los Angeles, CA) Production Photographer and Steve Moyer Public Relations (of Los Angeles, CA), Press Representative.

The Art

On Thursday evening, August 29, 2024 at 6:00 p.m., in observance of the 54th Anniversary of the Chicano Moratorium, a new mural of Gloria Molina created by artist Margaret Garcia which was commissioned by CASA 0101 Theater, will be officially unveiled in a dedication ceremony to be held on St. Louis Street (between First Street and Second Street) in Boyle Heights, CA.  The event is FREE and will be open to the general public to attend.  During the dedication ceremon,y elected officials, members of Gloria Molina’s family and other VIPS will speak about the significance of the day.

Question and answer talk-back panel discussions will be held on different topics following the Sunday matinee performances of the show during its six-week run. Playwright Josefina López or director Corky Dominguez will moderate the panel discussions.  Patrons purchasing tickets to matinee performances will be able to witness the panel discussions as part of their admission.  Please visit the website, www.casa0101.org  to view a full schedule of topics to be discussed and panelists participating in each panel discussion.

Concurrently during the run of the show, A WOMAN NAMED GLORIA, a FREE Art Exhibit entitled, GLORIA MOLINA: Madrina of the Eastside, will be available to be viewed in the Jean Deleage Art Gallery, located in the lobby of CASA 0101 Theater.  The art exhibit will include portraits from various artists of Gloria Molina during her lifetime.

GLORIA MOLINA:  Madrina of the Eastside is curated by Jimmy Centeno and will feature the artwork of 10 artists, including Richard Aguilar, Oscar Castillo, Vibiana Aparicio-Chamberlin, Margaret Garcia, Aydee Martinez, Pinche Miche, Lilia Ramirez, Barbara Rivera, Laura V. Rodriguez and Richard Valdes.  The exhibit can be viewed prior to performances of A WOMAN NAMED GLORIA, and during art gallery hours, which are Tuesdays through Fridays from 9:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.