SEPTEMBER 2009
RUBY, TRAGICALLY ROTUND
a sexy comedy of plus-size proportions!
by BONI. B. ALVAREZ
directed by JON LAWRENCE RIVERA

"Director Jon Lawrence Rivera, longtime head of Playwrights’ Arena, helms one of the most genuinely eccentric productions of the season in “Ruby, Tragically Rotund,” Boni B. Alvarez’s world premiere at the Los Angeles Theatre Center. And that’s a good thing..."
— LA TIMES

"Director Jon Lawrence Rivera rides again with stunning vigor over a hysterically funny comic stampede. The intent of the play is serious, but it’s presented with a huge amount of humor and universally marvelous performances... you can’t keep a good comedy down, and with actors this talented, and this natural, the only way to go is up."
— PARK LA BREA NEWS

"Intelligent and moving... Staged as theater-in-the-round, the audience has full view of the unfolding drama that is Ruby’s life. Ruby’s dysfunctional family issues are splayed out for all to see—like being the subject of the 360-degree mirror on TLC’s What Not to Wear. The design of the set enhances the audience experience in that you are not only acutely aware of the physical and emotional presence of each actor, but you are also conscious of your fellow theater goers’ reactions to the performance. This hyper-awareness mirrors the self-consciousness fat girls face as expressed by Ruby and her girlfriends."
— ASIAN JOURNAL

"This unique one act play mixes comedy and tragic elements into a neat package that is not necessarily expressed in any linear pattern. The kind of humor and drama seen within this production is within the same vein as a John Waters work... Directed by Jon Lawrence Rivera, RUBY, TRAGICALLY ROTUND is far from being yet another square-peg-attempting-to-fit-in-a-round-hole kind of play. It's indeed the saga of looking beyond the overeating and the causes to its effects! This Ruby is not only a (big) ruby, but a gem within its own right!"
— ACCESSIBLY LIVE OFF-LINE

"Ellen D. Williams ( as RUBY) in a great performance... riveting and well-acted."
— LA WEEKLY

 

set design: Miguel Montalvo
lighting design: Adam Blumenthal
sound design: Bob Blackburn
costume design: Mylette Nora
casting director: Raul Clayton Staggs
stage manager: Jaclyn Kalkhurst
producers: Diane Levine and
Ted Benito

starring
Robert Almodovar
Mandela Bellamy
Regan Carrington
Kacy-Earl David
Alison dela Cruz
Fran de Leon
Mark Doerr
Angel Star Felix
Kennedy Kabasares
Katherine Lee
Marc Pelin
Ellen D. Williams

A 22-year old rotund Filipina college student is forced to join the Miss Sunnyvale Beauty Pageant. Her sister is not happy. Her mama is really not happy. But the judges love her jaw-dropping "talent" - what is it?
You have to watch to see.

Preview: Thursday, Sept. 10, 8 PM
Opening: Friday, Sept. 11, 8 PM
Closing: Sunday, Oct. 11, 3 PM
Performance Schedule: Thurs-Sat @ 8 PM / Sun 3 PM

The New LATC [Theater 4]
in Historic Downtown
514 S. Spring Street
Los Angeles, CA 90013
for tickets go to http://thelatc.org
or 213-489-0994 x 107

Copyright 2009 Playwrights' Arena

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