Apartment Living (2022)
Written by Boni B. Alvarez
Directed by Jon Lawrence Rivera
Play Commissioned by David Román
Playwrights’ Arena & Skylight Theatre Company present the World Premiere of
APARTMENT LIVING
What we think about ourselves and others is seldom the truth.
Shared walls. Shared experiences. Neighbors in a Los Angeles apartment building are forced into tighter quarters and the walls of their comfort begin to close in. What happens when these relationships get too close?
SCHEDULE
Skylight Theatre:
March 12 - April 24, 2022
75 minutes; no intermission
Schedule includes: ASL Interpreted Performance, and multiple Pay What You Want performances.
Pay It Forward Tickets support Free and Discount Tickets to improve access to theater.
Age Advisory: 14 years old. Guests under age 12 will not be admitted.
Theater Is For Everyone.
If you need assistance contact us at Connect@SkylightTheatre.org
Local Box Office: (213) 761-7061
Due to COVID, staff may not be present at all times. Please leave a message.
World Premiere
2021-22 Co-Production Season with Playwrights' Arena
BEYOND
CONVERSATION – FREE ONLINE
Enhance your experience with a special guest chat. Now being offered online, (and hopefully soon agian in person), invited guests participate in moderated chats, then answer audience questions. Topics are suggested by the play's subject matter.
Interracial Relationships In The "New" Age of Racial Injustice
Tuesday, March 15, 6:00pm (online) - Free, reservations required to receive link
Two couples discuss the racial dynamics within interracial relationships, investigate what conversations are had amongst them with the recent racial awakenings, and talk about how these relationships are portrayed in the media. The panel discussion is moderated by Randé Dorn (MA, MFA, LMFT)
The concentration of Randé Dorne’s work lives under the banner of personal liberation. She works closely with courageous thinkers (artists, activists, and entrepreneurs), clients who experience oppression due to ethnicity, culture, religion, sexuality, or gender expression, and clients who are learning to navigate artistic lifestyles that confront traditional relational models. She is a licensed in CA, working nationally and internationally as a coach and public speaker
She holds a Masters degree from Pepperdine University in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy and an MFA from California Institute of The Arts in Dance and Choreography.
Filipinx Representation In Theater
March 29th, 2022
A panel taking a deep dive exploration into Filipinx Representation In Theater seeks to examine the history of it’s portrayal as well as what the future holds for it’s inclusion.
Panelists include Jon Lawrence Rivera (Artistic Director, Playwrights’ Arena), Alison De La Cruz (Co-Artistic Director, Outside In Theatre), and Boni Alvarez (Playwright, Apartment Living). Moderated by Lucy Burns (Associate Professor at UCLA’s Asian American Studies Department).
Burns’s writings include Puro Arte: Filipinos on the Stages of Global Empire (NYU Press, 2014 Outstanding Book Award in Cultural Studies by the Asian American Studies Association) and the co-edited anthology California Dreaming: Place and Movement in Asian American Imaginary (2020, University of Hawai’i Press). As a dramaturg, Burns has collaborated with BIPOC inter/multidisciplinary theater- and dance-makers David Rousseve/REALITY; Leilani Chan/TeAda Productions; Priya Srinivasan; Jay Carlon; and R. Zamora Linmark.
Burns is also a member of a research group consisting of artists, academia, and art professionals who have been conducting research and conversations about the impact of COVID-19 closures in BIPOC theater artists and organizations.
MEDIA
2022
THE ARTISTS OF APARTMENT LIVING
Boni B. Alvarez
writer
A Los Angeles-based actor-playwright, his plays include America Adjacent, Bloodletting, Fixed, Nicky, Dallas Non-Stop, Dusty de los Santos, Driven, Refuge for a Purple Heart, and Ruby, Tragically Rotund. Boni's plays have been produced at Center Theatre Group - Kirk Douglas Theatre, Echo Theater Company, Coeurage Theatre Company, Skylight Theatre Company, Theatre Rhinoceros, and Playwrights’ Arena. He is an alum of the CTG Writers’ Workshop, Echo Writer’s Lab, Humanitas Play LA, Moving Arts’ MADlab, the CBS Writers Mentoring Program and the Geffen Playhouse Writers’ Room. He is currently in Skylight Theatre’s SkyLab and a Resident Playwright of New Dramatists.
Jon Lawrence Rivera
director, artistic director Playwrights' Arena
The recipient of the first Career Achievement Award from Stage Raw, his directing credits include the following world premieres for Playwrights’ Arena: March: A Parking Lot Play (co-produced with the Los Angeles LGBT Center), Southernmost by Mary Lyon Kamitaki, Baby Eyes by Donald Jolly, I Go Somewhere Else by Inda Craig-Galván, Bloodletting by Boni B. Alvarez (also at Kirk Douglas Theatre), The End Times by Jesse Mu-En Shao, Little Women by Velina Hasu Houston, The Hotel Playwritten by Paula Cizmar, Velina Hasu Houston, Jennifer Maisel, Nahal Navidar, Julie Oni, Janine Salinas Schoenberg and Laurie Woolery (performed in an actual hotel), @TheSpeedofJake by Jennifer Maisel, Circus Ugly by Gabriel Rivas Gomez, Painting In Red by Luis Alfaro, Cinnamon Girl by Velina Hasu Houston and Nathan Wang (also at the 2nd Beijing University International Musical Theater Festival 2014), Dallas Non-Stop by Boni B. Alvarez, The Anatomy of Gazellas by Janine Salinas Schoenberg, Girl Most Likely To by Michael Premrirat, Bonded by Donald Jolly and Euripides’ Helen by Nick Salamone (at the Getty Villa). Other recent work includes: Anna In The Tropics by Nilo Cruz at Open Fist Theater, America Adjacent by Boni B. Alvarez, and Obama-ology by Aurin Squire at Skylight Theatre; The Joy Luck Club by Susan Kim, The Last Five Years by Jason Robert Brown, and Criers for Hire by Giovanni Ortega at East West Players; Honeymoon in Vegas by Jason Robert Brown and A Class Act by Ed Kleban for Musical Theatre Guild; Bingo Hall by Dillon Chitto, Fairly Traceable by Mary Kathryn Nagle, and Stand-Off At HWY #37 by Vickie Ramirez for Native Voices at the Autry (also at the University of South Dakota) and the landmark Los Angeles Premiere of Dogeaters by Jessica Hagedorn at SIPA and Kirk Douglas Theatre. Rivera is the recipient of a NY Fringe Festival Award for directing Hillary Agonistes, an LA Weekly Award for directing Sea Change, and 5 Ovation Award nominations.
Gabriel Leyva
actor
(ALEX SANDOVAL) Born and raised in Ponce, Puerto Rico. Gabriel Leyva graduated in 2013 with an Acting Major BA in Theater from the University of Puerto Rico. The island native was a cast member of the Puerto Rico Traveling Company, and other companies where he played Don Quixote and such classics as the celebrated play Cruel World. In 2019 Leyva graduated with a Masters in Fine Arts from USC School of Dramatic Arts. As 2020 rolled by, he was a cast member in the A Noise Within Theater production; Alice in Wonderland, and a cast member in Amazon Prime’s “Orígen of Juanes”.
Geri-Nikole Love
actor
(MAYISHA HAYES) She has a BFA in Theatre from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. Since graduating, she became a co-founder of The Movement Theatre Company and has performed in various plays in New York City; Carlisle: a different Three Sisters (La Mama), Black Boy & the War (Harlem School of the Arts) and is a proud Actors Equity and SAG-AFTRA member. She has starred in multiple Lifetime Movie Network Films and Independent Features ("Downshift", New Media; ("Livin' The Dream") and has been featured on Network TV ("Fantasy Island," "Westworld," "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D" and
"Lethal Weapon").
Charrell Mack
actor
(CASSANSDRA PERKINS) Is making her Skylight Theater debut and is thrilled to be a part of Boni Alvarez’s new play Apartment Living. She recently worked with The Echo Theater Company as Rebel in Ascensiondirected by Ahmed Best. She studied Theatre Performance at The University of Southern California, where she received a MFA and starred in productions like Othello as Desdemona, Motherf**ker with the Hat as Veronica and more. She also premiered her first short film, “Retreat”, last year along with her graduating cohort as a part of The School of Dramatic Arts new program
Gigette Reyes
actor
(EASTER ROSALES) Born and raised in the Philippines, she has lived in California for a total of 25 years. Gigette has been a member of the Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA--a theatrical association of artists and educators and the UNESCO International Theater Institute Center in the Philippines) since 1978 and has done numerous plays with this theater group as well as other top professional theater groups in the Philippines. To view her television and film credits, visit:imdb.me/gigette.reyes
Andrew Russel
actor
(DIXON SHANLEY) hails from the small town of Apex, North Carolina. A recently-moved California resident, he has thus far enjoyed his time in this beautiful state. Prior to the pandemic, Andrew graduated with a BFA in Acting at Montclair State University. Since graduating, Andrew has had the opportunity to perform in various projects in the East Coast. He is proudly represented by UGA Talent. To view more of Andrew's work, visit his website at Andrewrussel.actor
Rachel Sorsa
actor
(WHITE LADY) Previous Playwrights’ Arena productions include: Helen in Helen; Emma/Mother (Ovation Nomination Best Featured Actress) in Billy Boy; empress in Cinnamon Girl. Other works: with Del Shores; Bethany Blaylock in This Side Of Crazy (Ovation Nomination Best Featured Actress) and Kate in Yellow (LADCC winner). As Rosemary Clooney (BroadwayWorld nomination Best Lead Actress Musical) in Tenderly. Companies: Center Theatre Group, North Coast Rep., Georgia Ensemble Theatre, LGBT Center, Mainstreet Theatre, member Rogue Machine. TV: Home For Christmas, Netflix; Veneno, HBO Max. www.rachelsorsa.com
DESIGNERS
SCENIC DESIGN: Alex Calle
LIGHTING DESIGN: Azra King-Abadi
COSTUME DESIGN: Mylette Nora
SOUND DESIGN: John Zalewski
PROJECTION DESIGN: David Murakami
PROP DESIGN: Michael O'Hara
PRODUCTION STAFF
PRODUCTION STAGE MANAGER: Veronica Vasquez
ASSOCIATE PRODUCER: Tyree Marshall, Cedes Sifuentes
SENSITIVITY CONSULTANT: Joy DeMichelle
TECHNICAL DIRECTOR: Christopher Hoffman
COVID COMPLIANCE OFFICER: Cedes Sifuentes
CASTING DIRECTOR: Raul Clayton Staggs
PUBLICIST: Judith Borne
GRAPHIC DESIGN: Celina Duffy
SOCIAL MEDIA: Rebecca Tessier
SCENIC PAINTING: Marygold Martinez
VIDEO ENGINEER: Sam Clevenger
MASTER ELECTRICIAN: Miranda Richards
VIDEOGRAPHER: Seth Dorcey
Skylight's Artistic Development, Community Engagement Programs and Theatre For All initiatives are made possible through the generous support of our Individual and Foundation donors, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors through the Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture, and the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs.
Funding for Beyond Conversation has been provided by California Humanities and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) as part of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.
PRODUCTIONS
REVIEWS
The play’s structure is ELEGANT… In 'Apartment Living,' heaven can be a chance encounter with someone we may never speak to again. Champions of the overlooked and chroniclers of how we live now, Alvarez and Benne ('Alma'/CTG) are STRONG BETS FOR A HEALTHY PLAYWRITING FUTURE.
- LA Times, Charles McNulty
Sharp, quick, and often very FUNNY... Alvarez’ CLEVER play surely has a future as an insightful chronicle of what we have all endured over the past 24 months. Under the direction of Rivera, his GIFTED and ethnically kaleidoscopic cast is skilled and incredibly committed to their characters’ journey.
- TicketHoldersLA, Travis Michael Holder
PITCH-PERFECT... An adeptly balanced mix of COMEDY and DRAMA, laughter and fears performed by an all-around FABULOUS ACTING ensemble and featuring the most INGENIOUS set design in town. Following last fall’s A Hit Dog Will Holler, Playwrights’ Arena and Skylight Theatre Company are on quite a roll.
- StageSceneLA WOW!, Steven Stanley
Playwright Boni B. Alvarez TAKES THE AUDIENCE ON QUITE A JOURNEY. A cast of actors as diverse as our city. Through them we witness the breakup of a relationship and the discovery of what is really important in life. It makes you think...make new choices as life resumes. This is a play that PLAYS WELL AFTER IT'S OVER.
- Discover Hollywood, Nyla Arslanian
Takes us on a ROLLER COASTER of emotions where dynamic relationships are tested… where assumptions can take the right or the wrong direction, but at the end, it shows a more positive and UNEXPECTED result, bringing people together, bonding by the collective hope that better days lie ahead. - Glamgical, Glamour
This TALENTED, multi-racial cast, performing under Jon Lawrence Rivera’s capable direction, has a tight-knit chemistry as their characters fight against the isolation and claustrophobia that threatens to break them apart.
- StageRaw, Taylor Kass
SKILLFULLY HELMED by Jon Lawrence Rivera...added bonus of a talented cast. UNIQUE perspective on human relationships...the story of a nearly invisible protagonist which changes all the lives it touches. - Splash Magazine, Elaine Mura
BRILLIANT...cinematic. Director Jon Lawrence Rivera directs with attention to the emotion depth and ...allows us to become engrossed in the lives of these apartment dwellers.
- ShowMag, Leigh Kennicott
An EXCELLENT cast…we are flies on the wall as these neighbors come and go.
- Not Born Yesterday, Morna Martell