New faces, same reputation

By David Dixon

In Downtown San Diego, the Mo’olelo Performing Arts Company has been known for producing shows that emphasize different cultures and relevant issues and despite the current changes afoot within this respected company, nothing is expected to change.

“One of MPAC’s values is to explore and examine life in all of its complexity and diversity to seek new experience and overcome prejudice,” said Amy Elizabeth Oliveira, the theater company’s new marketing coordinator.

The 2015–16 season is the first one to be programmed by Lydia Fort, Mo’olelo’s new executive artistic director.

The first play of the new season — directed by Fort — is “Cell,” which focuses on the timely subject of illegal immigration. Featuring an all black cast, “Cell” stars Craig Noel Award-winning actress Sylvia M’Lafi Thompson as Rene, a corrections officer.

Thanks to her efforts, Rene’s sister Cerise (Monique Gaffney) and niece, Gwen (Andrea Agosto), work at a detention center for illegal immigrants. Although they are not supposed to become emotionally attached to the undocumented detainees, Gwen begins to sympathize with those waiting to be deported.

Fort acknowledged that working on a world premiere can be a liberating experience.

“It’s amazing how you can be hand-in-hand in creating something, and it doesn’t happen very often,” she said.

The script was written by New York City playwright, Cassandra Medley, and Fort has been working with her during rehearsals to make the tale as powerful as possible.

“I feel it is incredibly exciting to help shape something while it’s being made,” she said, adding that she believes Medley’s script is important for several reasons.

“It challenges what we think of others,” she said. “We have had a lot of discussions about Black Lives Matter recently, and this is an opportunity to ask, ‘what are the results?’ The interesting thing about the text is that it looks at how we can dehumanize each other, even as people of color.”

Casting Thompson in the lead was an easy decision for the director. “Everyone knows and loves Thompson,” she said. “Being a newcomer [to Mo’olelo], I talked to people and described the character of Rene. Hands down, everyone said Thompson [should play her].”

Instead of auditioning for Fort, Thompson got the part after the two of them had a discussion over lunch.

Once “Cell” closes, Mo’olelo has two additional shows lined up for the new season. The National New Play Network world premiere, “In a Word,” is a collaboration between UC San Diego alumni Lauren Yee, writer, and Larissa Lury, director. The story examines how a couple comes to terms with their son’s kidnapping during the two-year anniversary of the tragic incident.

“It’s haunting, beautiful, powerful and funny,” Fort said.

For their final selection, ion theatre Executive Artistic Director Claudio Raygoza, has been tapped to direct the West Coast premiere of “Pinkolandia” written by bilingual artist, Andrea Thome.

The adventure deals with two Chilean-American sisters in the 1980s who go on imaginary journeys together.

“The play has a beautiful fantastical nature about it, that reminds me of what theater can do,” Fort said.

With “Cell” and future narratives, Fort said she wants to tell stories that leave a profound impact on audiences.

“I feel like when [I see theater], I have come to a sacred space and have borne witness to something with other people,” she said. “That to me is what makes theater so incredible.”

Fort hopes that people do not view the dramas that she stages as mindless entertainment.

“My objective is can I create something that challenges people to talk afterwards? Can I create something that inspires people to go home and get on the Internet to research [the topic of a play]?”

With Fort in charge, Mo’olelo should continue to be highly regarded for creating brave and intelligently crafted productions that appeal to those that are not afraid to question and think.

“MPAC’s core demographic is people who are seekers — people who want to confront the problems humanity is facing and consider the ways we can grow and make the world a better place,” said Oliveira.

The world premiere of “Cell” will be performed at the Tenth Avenue Arts Center through Oct. 18. For tickets or more information, visit moolelo.net.

—A fan of film and theatre from a very young age, David Dixon has written reviews and features for various print and online publications. You can reach him at [email protected].