The premiere of the “’57 Chevy” showcases at Long Beach City College

LBCC Theater Arts department is showcasing the world premiere of “’57 Chevy”, written by Val Dunlap and Chris Franco, directed by Jessica Beron. The play will be performed on May 21-24.

The play showcases the life of Franco and his family as they embark on this new journey to search for meaning behind their father’s intention.  

Dunlap and Franco originally wrote the story to be a one-man show; however, with the LBCC theatre performing the play, “will bring to life the double immigration story of ten-year-old Junior,” according to the flyer posted by the performing arts program. 

“The show is called “‘57 Chevy” because the “‘57 Chevy” is, at the time, it’s a brand new car and the father works his way up from being just a mechanic at another person’s garage to eventually owning his own shop,” Beron said. 

The father saves up his money from the shop to drive from America to Mexico, where he picks up his wife, three daughters and son. 

Junior’s father uproots his entire family from Mexico in search of a new life filled with beginnings. That life consists of the American dream in middle-class suburbia, a life that many immigrants chase. 

Franco wrote “‘57 Chevy” after his father passed away. 

The role of the father is played by Danny Rangel, a returning alumnus of Long Beach City College who had his first show back in 2005 with his past mentor, Tony Carrera, where he played in Romeo and Juliet. 

Carrera, another mentor, recommended Rangel to Jessica Beron, who is the director of “‘57 Chevy”. 

“I was just very impressed with the script and everything, and I just couldn’t wait to be a part of this,” Rangel said. 

^{Juliana Medina, left, plays young Junior in “’57 Chevy”. Medina practices her lines while classmates watch her. (Dom Maddan)}

Rangel, along with other actors a part of the play, had the opportunity to speak with Franco, which then allowed them to have the right information to portray the character to the best of their ability. 

“ We [Franco and Rangel] sat down for about 15-20 minutes before the first read through and he gave me all this information on what his dad was like. It really helped me build a solid foundation to create this character that I want to not only make my own, but also to match what Chris Franco, the writer, is looking for,” Franco said. 

The audience will also see actress Juliana Medina, who plays the younger version of Junior, as she portrays the memories of the life of Franco, who is also known as Junior, and life with his father. 

Medina describes the character as coming really easily to her because of the childish tendencies of young Junior and how it already matches her playful character off stage. 

“I really get to be myself, but mainly like a child, I get to bring out my inner child for the majority,” Medina said. 

The play is surrounded by the playful imagination of Junior, who has a lot of Hollywood’s influence already built into who he is. Throughout the play, the audience is going into the mind of Junior, so there is a lot of memory to be portrayed rather than present moments.  

^{Abraham Figueroa, left, and Juliana Medina, right, play the current and young versions, respectively, of Junior, the protagonist of “’57 Chevy”. “’57 Chevy” first show will be on May 21. (Dom Maddan)}

Also a part of the cast is actor Abraham Figueroa, who plays older Junior and narrates his life with his father years later. 

Figueroa already has a degree in theater and as he is pursuing an associate’s degree in science, he wanted to be involved with the theater program at LBCC, where he discovered “‘57 Chevy” and auditioned. 

Leading him to get the role after extensive research about Franco, so he can play the character to the best of his ability.  

“[Franco] is a writer and is essentially somebody who is writing a eulogy about his recently deceased father. He’s going back over the memories of his family and how big of an influence his father was on his life,” Figueroa said. 

Since this is the very first premiere of the play, Figueroa carries a sense of responsibility to make sure that not only he, but the other cast is showing their best side for a play that could potentially go on to other big projects. 

“…it is a work in progress because the writers will come to watch our show and they’ll see what works and what doesn’t work. All we can do as actors and the director is do the best we can with what there is,” Figueroa said.  

Tickets are open to buy online, where the performance will be held at the LAC campus at Bob and Barbara Ellis Auditorium, Mainstage Theatre. Opening night for the play is May 21, and closing night is May 24. 

^{Cast members of the play “57 Chevy” do a can-can-inspired dance to “The Flinstones” theme song during rehearsals of the play on Wednesday. The show’s opening night is on May 21. (Dom Maddan)}