Alma
Awards and Recognition
- OC PREMIERE
- WINNER ATC National Latine Playwriting Award
- OCTG Recommended
- StageRaw Recommended
» See this show for free when you Subscribe for $20/month!
EXTENDED BY POPULAR DEMAND THRU MAY 31!
On the Fyda-Mar Stage…
Alma and her daughter, Angel, made sixteen wishes long ago: good health, love, carne asada every day, perfect SAT scores, and a spot at UC Davis, to name a few. But now that Angel is 17, she’s got a different vision for her future than her immigrant single mom. Featuring the powerfully fresh voice of playwright Benjamin Benne, winner of the National Latinx Playwriting Award, Alma is a poetic, funny, and timely play filled with lots of amor and a touch of symbolism. It begs the question: what does the American Dream mean today—and who does it belong to?
WINNER of 2019 ATC National Latine Playwriting Award
“An entertaining and frantic physicality powers Portillo’s portrayal. […] Echeverria makes for a very believable 17-year-old, equal thirds cagey wise child, self-absorbed rebellious whelp and vulnerable, emotive, teen all at once. The actress smoothly shifts through her own feelings while alternately combatting, placating and, always, loving the domineering woman who is the play’s center of gravity.”Orange County Register
“A spirited Marta Portillo portrays Alma with comedy and flair, while an audacious Heather Lee Echeverria as her daughter Angel volleys back her fair share of adolescent sass and filial love.” StageRaw
“A poignant reflection of the real-life experiences of countless immigrant families […] a grounded and lovely performance.” Orange Curtain Review
“Relatable, grounded, and thought-provoking.” SoCal Thrills
Executive Producers
Steven & Louise Koch
Associate Producer Laurie Smits Staude
Executive Season Producers
Bette & Wylie Aitken
Associate Season Producer The Family of Mary Kay Fyda-Mar
Community Partners
Show artwork designed by KC Wilkerson, kcwdigital.com.
LATINX COMMUNITY NIGHT |
| Friday, May 17, 7-11:00 p.m. |
| Community Partners: Breath of Fire Latina Theatre Ensemble, Hispanic Education Endowment Fund, and Café Biaani' |
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| Are you part of a Community Organization? Contact us at [email protected] for information on special discounts and fundraising opportunities. |
IN PERFORMANCE
IN REHEARSAL
Venue Bette Aitken theater arts Center
- Full-Service Bar
- Free Parking
- Conveniently Located
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At a Glance
- Upcoming Performances
- Approximate Running Time:
- 1 hour, 5 minutes with no intermissions
- Special Notes:
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- Post-show discussion after each performance
- Join us for Opening Night as a Platinum Member.
- Babes in arms and children under 4 are not permitted.
- 30% off for groups of 10 or more.
- Pay-What-You-Can Preview Performances
- Free Parking
It was powerful, well written, simple and yet so layered
The show Alma was very entertaining.
Great, timely story. Emotionally presented.
Because I can recommend it to so many others. I am White but fluent in Spanish due to my Peace Corps service in Peru and Chile. This play will be enjoyed by fellow Returned Peace Corps Volunteers. Also: fellow retired bilingual and regular teachers from Anaheim Elementary School District who taught English Learners; fellow classmates of the Advanced Spanish sessions of CSU Fullerton OLLI for retirees; and my family members and friends.
Outstanding overall!
Writing is gorgeous. Acting is spectacular!
I may be biased as one of the producers – but this show is absolutely perfect for the Chance and the Fyda-Mar stage. The intimate theater thrusts the audience into the small apartment with the 34 year old mother, Alma, and her daughter, Angel, 17. We become uncomfortable voyeurs as these two women bare their souls to us as Alma realizes the 16 wishes she made for and with her daughter over the years of are not the same as Angel’s. This wonderful story, written beautifully by playwright Benjamin Benne, is a love letter to mothers everywhere. I am amazed by the progress of the cast and crew at this point of the process and look forward to Opening Night. Can’t wait to see this show numerous times over its run at the Chance and proud to be underwriting such a wonderful project!
Great show