Chalk Rep is launching its new audio play series Chalk Lines, five short plays using immersive audio storytelling which will bring to life unsung landmarks in Los Angeles City Council districts 8, 9, and 10 — including the Metro Expo Line, Leimert Park, Historic West Adams, and Exposition Park. Extending its signature site-specific style to the auditory realm, Chalk Rep combines classic theatrical storytelling with the unique sounds and ambiance of Los Angeles. In response to Covid19 safety protocols, audience members are able to safely enjoy Chalk Lines at home focusing solely on the auditory experience. They also have the option to visually augment the experience by visiting each outdoor location and listen on a mobile device for free beginning June 19, 2021; donations are encouraged. Streaming info and an experience guide are accessible through Chalk Rep.
– Mutual Life written by Giovanni Adams is set in 1992 at the former Carl Bean AIDS Care Center in Historic West Adams. A young Latinx orphan living out his last days in hospice receives a mysterious sales visit for life insurance. Features Tonatiuh Elizarraraz (Arturo) and Xan Churchwell (Dee).
– March of Time – Time Warp written by Luis Alfaro follows an unusually frank tour guide through 150 plus years of Los Angeles history and a morphing district from Union Station to Chinatown to the Coliseum and much more. Features Tonatiuh Elizarraraz (Tourist), Emily Kuroda (Tour Guide) and Giovanni Adams (Chorus).
– 8 for 16 written by Kimrie Lewis rides the Expo Metro line from Vermont to Crenshaw and back while a seasoned street vendor and a young college student navigate intricate negotiations. Features Emily Stout (Karly) and Veralyn Jones (Diamond).
– From Your Homeworld to Mine written by Joseph Guy Maldonado begins at the Vermont Expo Metro Station where passengers exiting the train encounter a man preaching the word of alien life. But perhaps he has much more to offer and share about history and humankind. Features Gregg Daniel (Rodney).
– Leimert Park Drum Circle, Sunday Afternoon written by Colette Robert beckons listeners with the beat of a drum down to Leimert Park Plaza on a journey of time, memory, and self-discovery. Features Veralyn Jones (Parent).