The Center at West Park presented a reading of John Leguizamo’s new play Our Hood, an innovative adaptation of Thornton Wilder’s Our Town at the end of May as part of their American Playwrights Series. The Center at West Park is located at 165 West 86th Street New York, NY 10024.
Our Hood transports audiences to the vibrant streets of 1990s’ Queens. The Our Hood reading stared Luna Lauren Velez (“Dexter,” Spider Man) as Documentarian and Mrs. Lopez, Ani Mesa (Superior, Maternal) as Luna Lopez, Trey Santiago-Hudson (The Walking Dead, Emotional Logical) as Xavier Garcia, Maria-Christina Oliveras (“Blue Bloods”, Hadestown) as Mrs. Garcia and Others, Jhulenty Delossantos (“Uncoupled”, “East New York”) as Dr. Garcia and Others, Gary Perez (Fatal Attraction, “East New York”) as Mr. Lopez and Others, Kim Ramirez (“New Amsterdam”, “The Black List”) as Nyseli Garcia and Others, and Xavier Padin (Upright Citizens Brigade) as Simon Robinson and Others. The reading was directed by Aaron Gonzalez (Ghetto Klown, Motherf*cker With the Hat) and stage managed by TaTyana Smith (Masterpiece, On Site Opera).
Luna Lauren Velez, Trey Santiago-Hudson, Ani Mesa, Gary Perez, Maria-Christina Oliveras, Jhulenty Delossantos, Kim Ramirez and Xavier Padin. Photo by Lia Chang
Director Aaron Gonzalez, Trey Santiago-Hudson, Kim Ramirez, Luna Lauren Velez, Gary Perez, Jhulenty Delossantos, Maria-Christina Oliveras, Ani Mesa, Xavier Padin. Photo by Lia Chang
Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Luna Lauren Velez and Gary Perez. Photo by Lia Chang
Director Aaron Gonzalez and Maria-Christina Oliveras. Photo by Lia Chang
Trey Santiago-Hudson, Maria-Christina Oliveras and Ani Mesa. Photo by Lia Chang
Trey Santiago-Hudson, Maria-Christina Oliveras and Ani Mesa. Photo by Lia Chang
Jhulenty Delossantos, Maria-Christina Oliveras and Fidel Vicioso. Photo by Lia Chang
Trey Santiago-Hudson and Maria-Christina Oliveras. Photo by Lia Chang
Danny Borba, Maria-Christina Oliveras and Nico Raimont. Photo by Lia Chang
The Center at West Park’s American Playwrights Series is a collection of readings showcasing plays written by renowned playwrights and writers of our time. The program kicked off in Fall 2023 with Kenneth Lonnergan’s This is Our Youth starring Mark Ruffalo, Missy Yager, and Matt Damon. The program will continue with Stephen Adly Guirgis’s The Motherf*cker With the Hat and Tony Kushner’s Budenbar.
The Center at West Park. Photo by Lia Chang
The Center at West Park is a not-for-profit community performing arts center, based in the historic West Park Presbyterian Church, named a New York City Landmark in 2010. Since its construction in 1889, the building has been home to countless artists and activists, paving the way for social progress in the wider community. Reflecting 10 years of growth, the opening of the CWP Film Center marks an important step towards revitalizing the building as a community resource.
Trey Santiago-Hudson, Lia Chang, Maria-Christina Oliveras. Photo by Ani Mesa
Lia Chang. Photo by Kalin Ivanov
Lia Chang is an actor, a multi-media content producer, activist, documentarian and an Award winning filmmaker and co-founder of Bev’s Girl Films making films that foster inclusion and diversity on both sides of the camera. Lia is also the host and Executive Producer of BACKSTAGE PASS WITH LIA CHANG, an Arts and Entertainment and Lifestyle program that airs on Sundays at 6:30pm on FIOS 34, RCN 83, Spectrum 56/1996 and streams on MNN2. Lia was recently profiled on Asian American Life. BGF collaborates with and produces multi-media content for artists, actors, designers, theatrical productions, composers, musicians and corporations. www.liachang.com www.liachangphotography.com
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