In collaboration with Ánimo Watts Charter High School, WVTC will produce its first full-length mainstage production since "Ochre & Onyx" in 2009!  This will also be the first theatre production EVER for the students of Animo Watts, who have seen their arts programs cut during these difficult economic times and have persevered through this unique partnership.  

With the students intimately involved in every aspect of the production - from cast to stage crew to designing the posters - WVTC has recruited a dream-team of award-winning designers and managers to build a top-quality show and mentor the youth through a perfect fusion of arts education and professional theatre production.

"Simply Maria, Or The American Dream" by Josefina Lόpez

Directed by: Raul Cardona

Starring Ana Puentes as "Maria"

Producer: David Mack

Artistic Director: Guillermo Avilés-Rodríguez

Associate Artistic Director: David Guerra

Production Stage Manager: Jene Roach

Associate Production Stage Manager: Aaron Saldana

Technical Director: Stacy Hennon

Technical Advisor: Rene Garcia

Costume Designer: Dione Labhar

Lighting Designer/Master Electrician: Maura McGuinness

Scenic Designer: Jill Bencsits

Video Designer: Corwin Evans

Fight Director: Edgar Landa

Graphic Designer: Daniel Lucas

Special Thanks to:  Ánimo Watts Charter High School Principal James Marin, Green Dot Public Schools, Ms. Burnett, Carl Fredlin, Unusual Suspects Theatre Company, Cornerstone Theater Company, California Community Foundation Preparing Achievers for Tomorrow Initiative, Watts Village Theater Company Board and Staff, Casa0101 and Josefina Lόpez.

"Simply Maria, Or The American Dream" by Josefina Lόpez is a wildly funny play that tells the story of Maria, a young Latina aspiring to be an actress, and her dream of going to college.  The story begins in Mexico with Maria's parents eloping.  Maria is born and soon after they leave for the US.  Her father, Ricardo, tells Maria that in America, with an education, she can have the American Dream.  Maria believes him and studies hard; however, when she tells her parents she wants to go to college, they order her to get married instead.  Maria is so upset she cries herself to sleep and has a nightmare in which her American self and her Mexican self wrestle with each other.  She gets married and gives birth to six babies.  Her wedding dress attacks her and a giant tortilla squashes her.  Maria is awakened by her mother's crying and overhears her mother confronting Ricardo about his affairs.  Maria is shocked by the news and realizes she has to go to college to be economically independent and have the life that she wants, one that combines the best of her two worlds.

This production is produced by special arrangement with THE DRAMATIC PUBLISHING COMPANY of Woodstock, Illinois.  The initiative that this project is based on is made possible through the support of the California Community Foundation's (CCF's) Preparing Achievers for Tomorrow (PAT) initiative to develop after-school theatre productions with music for Animo Watts Charter High School students over the next two years.  PAT is a five-year, $12 million initiative of the CCF to improve academic achievement, decision-making skills and self-esteem of youth in South Los Angeles through sports, music and recreation.  PAT provides grants to nonprofits for direct services for young people and helps strengthen the ability of nonprofits to deliver services over the long-term.  PAT was made possible by a generous legacy gift from an anonymous donor whose life was devoted to helping others as a volunteer to nonprofits in Southern California.