"ALIENS, IMMIGRANTS AND OTHER EVILDOERS" SATIRIZES THE VILIFICATION OF LATINO IMMIGRANTS IN AMERICA

Writer, director and performer Jose Torres-Tama stars in "Aliens, Immigrants and Other Evildoers" now playing at the Los Angeles Theatre Center in downtown Los Angeles through November 3, 2019.  Photos by Jonathan Traviesa.

For an evening of pointed examinations of the plight of brown Americans throughout history, come explore the sacred rituals surrounding that history, brought to shimmering life by performance artist Jose Torres-Tama in his one man show "Aliens, Immigrants and Other Evildoers" now playing for a limited run at the Los Angeles Theatre Center's Luis Avalos Theatre in downtown Los Angeles.

Using a unique blend of spoken word, mime, archival footage and original music and art, writer, director and performer Torres-Tama tells the stories of the forgotten brown people who have built and rebuilt our cities with little or no credit. This all plays out in a series of 10 ritualistic movements with no intermission.

Torres-Tama satirizes the status of Latino immigrants as "aliens" and explores the rise in hate crimes against Latinos across the United States. While the topic is tragic, Torres-Tama uses his considerable acting skills and comic sensibility to shape-shift into a series of Latino "extraterrestrials" in bilingual rituals that challenge the hypocrisy of a country build by immigrants that in turn criminalizes those people while exploiting their often unpaid labor. He portrays a young re-construction worker, a grieving Ecuadoran woman and even a 'Cracker' politician, all with expert emotional resonance. There are definite references to the current occupant of the White House whom he deems a "Corporate Klansman preaching hate and fear in the most dangerous live reality TV show ever in our history."

At the end of the almost 100 minute experience, one comes away with a profound disappointment in our behavior toward our fellow citizens, yet still inspired to believe change is possible for our nation, provided we act from our hearts rather than our political posturing.

Torres-Tama's program note states "As an artist, it is my social, intellectual and creative responsibility to remember and expose the lies that may be passing for truth." "Aliens, Immigrants and Other Evildoers" was first presented in 2014 at Encuentro, the largest Latinx Theatre Festival in the country.

Kudos to the behind the scenes team which includes Lighting Designer John Grimsley, Video Shorts by Bruce France, original Sci-Fi music by Billy Atwell, Classical Vocalist Claudia Copeland and Production Stage Manager Cobalt McAvinue.

The Los Angeles Theatre Center (LATC) is located at 514 S. Spring Street, Los Angeles 90013. Tickets for "Aliens, Immigrants and Other Evildoers" are available at the LATC box office by calling 213-489-0994 or by visiting www.thelatc,org.

-- Lisa Lyons