Solomania!

Four Los Angeles artists bring together their very personal and distinct stories in Solomania!, a repertory festival of solo performance artists.

Un-embedded and uncensored, hip-hop spoken word artist and political activist Jerry Quickley brings distinctive insight to Live from the Front, which combines music, poetry, video, and a powerful performance style to tell the story of his travels to, and ultimate expulsion from, Iraq.

Universal themes of self-discovery and acceptance are central to the hilarious and touching “Gaytino! by Dan Guerrero. A journey in story and song from East Los Angeles in the 50s to New York’s Great White Way in the 60s and 70s and back to California, Gaytino! examines a father/son relationship and a treasured boyhood friendship through decades of Chicano history and the gay experience viewed from a unique perspective.

In Taking Flight noted actress Adriana Sevan weaves a compelling and humorous tale of two friends’ struggle to find a new normal after a tragedy leaves one of them in a hospital bed and the other intent on saving her with manicures, pedicures, and mambo magic. A courageous look at the cost of care giving, sacrifice and the resilience of the human spirit. Giovanna Sardelli directs.

The Watts Towers are a steel and mortar monument to one man’s spirit, ingenuity and determination in South Central Los Angeles. It has a special significance for Roger Guenveur Smith in his intriguing new piece The Watts Towers Project. Smith was inspired by the towers, which were built over a period of 33 years by Simon Rodia, an Italian immigrant, whose singular vision has held steadfast over earthquakes, riots, and civic indifference. The Towers will be surveyed from the “Hollywatts” perspective: the imagined turf of Smith’s childhood.