{"id":478841,"date":"2026-09-29T01:34:14","date_gmt":"2026-09-29T01:34:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/478841\/"},"modified":"2026-09-29T01:34:14","modified_gmt":"2026-09-29T01:34:14","slug":"dive-bar-world-premiere-at-casa-0101-theater","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/478841\/","title":{"rendered":"DIVE BAR World Premiere at CASA 0101 Theater"},"content":{"rendered":"

[NoHo Arts District<\/a>, CA]\u00a0 \u2013\u00a0 CASA 0101 Theater will present the world premiere of DIVE BAR, written by Chris Banda, directed by Miguel Angel Delgado, starring Vance Valencia, Mart\u00edn Morales, Gilbert Reynoso, Oscar T. Basulto and Arezu Tavkoli, and running October 9 \u2013 November 1.<\/p>\n

About DIVE BAR\u00a0<\/p>\n

In DIVE BAR, a rest stop for the soul, as police helicopters circle outside of Vee\u2019s Bar in Boyle Heights, following a nearby shooting, a mysterious old man matching the description of \u201cA Person of Interest\u201d walks into the bar, prompting intense speculation among the patrons inside.\u00a0 As the truth about the stranger unfolds, everyone in the bar is thrust into a fight for their lives.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve always wanted to write a Twilight Zone-style story, inspired by Rod Sterling\u2019s signature twists,\u201d said Playwright Vris Banda. \u201cI channeled my own existential questions into these characters as they faced similar struggles.\u00a0 Basically, writing is cheaper than therapy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Director Miguel Angel Delgado said, \u201cI\u2019m excited to bring this new theater piece to the stage.\u00a0 Chris Banda has created a phenomenal script that will thrill audiences on multiple levels in this suspenseful and charming play.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cChris Banda is an important emerging voice on the theater scene and I am thrilled to have our audiences discover his talent for playwriting and wit, said Founding Artistic Director Josefina L\u00f3pez. \u201dDIVE BAR will keep our theatergoers on the edge of their seats.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cChris Banda has written a gem of a play in DIVE BAR,\u201d says the play\u2019s producer,\u00a0 Emmanuel Deleage. \u201cMultiple currents criss-cross below apparently normal waters at Vee\u2019s Bar in Boyle Heights.\u00a0 With this engaging work full of entangled storylines, CASA 0101 is very proud to present a strong and emergent Los Angeles writer with a refreshing voice and a real message to its stage.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Cast<\/a><\/p>\n

The Cast<\/p>\n

The cast of DIVE BAR includes:\u00a0 Vance Valencia (of Boyle Heights) as Mr. Smith, Mart\u00edn Morales (of Silver Lake, CA) as Charlie, Gilbert Reynoso (of Alhambra, CA) as Goose, Oscar T. Basulto (of Boyle Heights) as Willie and Arezu Tavakoli (of Hollywood, CA) as Sam.<\/p>\n

The Team<\/p>\n

The production team for the World Premiere production of DIVE BAR includes:\u00a0 Josefina L\u00f3pez (of Silver Lake, CA) Founding Artistic Director, CASA 0101 Theater; Emmanuel Deleage (of Silver Lake, CA) Producer and Executive Director, CASA 0101 Theater; Edward Padilla (of Boyle Heights) Casting Director and CASA 0101 Theater Board Member; Chris Banda (of West Covina, CA) Playwright; Miguel Angel Delgado (of South Gate, CA) Director, Sound Designer and CASA 0101 Theater Technical Director; C\u00e9sar Rentana-Holgu\u00edn (of Northridge, CA) Set Designer; Alejandro Parra (of Burbank, CA) Lighting Designer; Tony Iniguez (of West Covina, CA) Costume Designer; Audrey Szot (of Pico Robertson, CA) Props Designer; Gabrielle Maldonado (of Los Angeles, CA) Music Supervisor; Rigo Tejeda (of Whittier, CA) Stage Manager; Julius Bronola (of Los Angeles, CA) Assistant Stage Manager, Wardrobe Assistant; Jimena Jimenez-Barerra (of Boyle Heights) Assistant Stage Manager; Mark Kraus (of Los Angeles, CA), CASA 0101 Theater Development Director; Itzel Ocampo (of Alhambra, CA) Key Art Director and CASA 0101 Theater Marketing and Operations Manager; Karla Melendez (of East Los Angeles, CA) Program Administrator; Gabriela L\u00f3pez de Dennis, Soap Studio Inc. (of Los Angeles, CA) Program; Oscar Basulto (of the Boyle Heights) Box Office Manager; Al Aguilar (of Los Angeles, CA) Production Assistant\/Foyer Designer; Rudy Torres (of Los Angeles, CA) Production Photographer and Steve Moyer Public Relations (of Los Angeles, CA), Press Representative.<\/p>\n

More Info<\/p>\n

CASA 0101 Theater is supported in part by:\u00a0 The State of California, Los Angeles County Department of Arts & Culture, Eastside Arts Initiative, National Latinx Theater Initiative, The Herb Alpert Foundation, Perenchio Foundation, The City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, California Arts Council, U.S. Bank Foundation, David Lee Foundation, LA Arts Recovery Fund, California Community Foundation and The Herb Block Foundation.<\/p>\n

DIVE BAR is recommended for all audiences and children ages 13 and above. Children three years of age and under are not permitted. The running time of the show is approximately 90 minutes, not including intermission.<\/p>\n

Free Parking is available on several streets surrounding the theatre. Limited Free Parking is also available at the Boyle Heights City Hall Parking Lot located at 2130 East First Street (at Chicago Street) by entering the lot from Chicago Street.<\/p>\n

During DIVE BAR, CASA 0101 Theater presents the free exhibit Pensar y Poder: Jimmy Centeno, Volume 2, celebrating Centeno\u2019s 10 years as curator with photography, assemblage, painting and mixed media. The exhibit opens October 17 with a 3 to 6 p.m. reception and runs through October 2026 in the Jean Deleage Art Gallery.<\/p>\n

\"Black-and-white<\/a><\/p>\n

More About Playwright Chris Banda<\/p>\n

Chris Banda (Playwright) grew up in Los Angeles County and has built a career as a playwright, writing, directing, and developing original plays.\u00a0 He also works as a digital video editor, graphic designer, and digital graphics artist.\u00a0 Banda found his passion for playwriting while studying theater at Rio Hondo College.<\/p>\n

He wrote and directed plays such as The Long Walk, Dawgs, and Playing Clean, which was invited to the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival\u2019s New Works program.\u00a0 His first professionally produced play was an adaptation of his one-act Dawgs.\u00a0 It was performed at venues in Los Angeles and Hollywood, including Glaxa, Gardner Stages, the Ivar Theater, and the Los Angeles Theater Center.<\/p>\n

After finishing his studies at the Los Angeles Film School, Banda worked as a writer and editor on several feature and short films.\u00a0 He also wrote two episodes of the award-winning web series Encounters, titled Adobo and Between the Lights.\u00a0 In 2021, his play Lolo was chosen for the El Centro del Sur Latinx Theater Festival.\u00a0 Due to COVID-19, the play was filmed for a virtual event. The filmed version entered the festival circuit and won awards such as Best Feature, Best Stage Play, and Best Acting Ensemble.<\/p>\n

Two years later, his play Mariposa, which tells the story of a family dealing with Alzheimer\u2019s disease and dementia, was invited back to open the 2023 El Centro del Sur Latinx Theater Festival.\u00a0 More recently, his 10-minute play, Blue Days was included in Casa 0101\u2019s Theater production of Fernandomania, which celebrated the life and influence of legendary Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Fernando Valenzuela, and marked his debut at CASA 0101 Theater.<\/p>\n

DIVE BAR, originally called Plain Mr. Smith, was written as part of the Moving Arts MadLabs program.\u00a0 Banda works full-time as a digital video professional for the Tennis Channel and also does freelance work for NBC Peacock.<\/p>\n

About CASA 0101 Theater:<\/p>\n

CASA 0101 Theater, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, was founded 26 years ago by Founding Artistic Director Josefina L\u00f3pez, author of Real Women Have Curves, in 2000 to fulfill her vision of bringing art and live theater programs to Boyle Heights. From its humble beginnings in a former bridal shop, CASA 0101 Theater has established itself as a leading arts venue for Los Angeles\u2019 East Side, currently offering year round theatrical productions and classes in dramatic writing and acting for youth and adults.\u00a0 CASA 0101 Theater is dedicated to providing vital arts, cultural, and educations programs in theatre, digital filmmaking, art and dance \u2013 to Boyle Heights, thereby nurturing the future storytellers of Los Angeles.\u00a0 CASA 0101 is named such, as casa means house of home in Spanish.\u00a0 0\u2019s and 1\u2019s are the binary language computers use to operate.\u00a0 CASA 0101 Theater was founded at the dawn of the digital age, when digital cameras started appearing and moviemaking became accessible to more people.\u00a0 Early on Josefina L\u00f3pez taught digital video classes.\u00a0 Though the organization subsequently focused its energies on theatre and not digital filmmaking, the name stuck.\u00a0 To learn more, please visit www.casa0101.org<\/p>\n

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