World premiere of ‘57 Chevy sold out opening night

The world premiere of the play ‘57 Chevy happened on Thursday night where they sold out opening night, and one performance is still to come today at 2 p.m.. 

The play portrays the autobiography of writer Cris Franco, and it was originally written to be a one-man show, but was later changed to include more actors.

Franco shared on opening night, “I’m stunned in the most positive way, I’m overwhelmed. When I wrote the original story, it was for one narrator. We suspected that this could be expanded,” said Franco. 

^{The ensemble cast of ’57 Chevy dances to the theme song of “The Munsters” during a dance sequence of different 1960s TV show theme songs during a dress rehearsal on May 20 at LBCC. (Dom Maddan)}

The play was directed by adjunct professor Jessica Beron who has directed a number of works for LBCC like God of Carnage, Clue and The Mystery of Irma Vep. 

Franco, described Beron’s efforts in making the play come to life, “She (Beron) gave a physicality that I had never even imagined. What she did with the fantasy sequences, as I said, was stunning. The TV show comes right into the room,” Franco said. 

Beron related to the overall message of the play regarding how parents give up their life in another country so that their future families can have a better life filled with more opportunities. 

“I come from a family of immigrants as well. My grandfather gave up his professional soccer career to come to the United States so his kids could have a better life and hopefully his grandchildren,” Beron said. 

Franco shared that ‘57 Chevy is about an ongoing experience that is still relevant now in America. 

“This is about aspirational parents of any era, in any country. Parents that hope for a better future for their children. That is why people come to the United States,” Franco said. 

‘57 Chevy is written from the perspective of the main character, Junior, who shares what life was like with his father before he passed. 

His father spent a year in America working in an autoshop that specialized in Volkswagens before he went back to Mexico in his ‘57 Chevy that took him from America to Mexico and then back to America with his wife, three daughters and Junior who was just one years old at the time. 

During this time his father searched for opportunities towards a better future. 

Marcell Frazier, an audience member, felt that the play was amazing and liked how it showed how hard the father worked to try and provide a better life for his family.

“It showed the bond between Junior and the father grew as he had gotten older and understood what it meant to sacrifice for his children,” Frazier said.  

The actress who plays younger Junior, Juliana Medina, has acted since she was a little girl and has done four shows previously at LBCC. 

Medina’s performance in ‘57 Chevy brought laughter and smiles to the theater as the audience saw not only the humor executed perfectly, but also her athleticism that portrayed the imagination of Junior.  

^{Franco’s sisters played by Alyssa Hilton, left, Paola Ovalle, center, and Catherine Fuentes, right, dress up as their mother’s spiritual candles during a dress rehearsal of LBCC’s play ’57 Chevy on May 20. (Dom Maddan)}

A rehearsal moment that made Medina understand her character was the scene where younger Junior is getting bullied at school. 

“It made me really realize that even though he’s still a kid, he’s still growing and he is going through so much other stuff, he’s just coping with it,” Medina said. 

^{Actor Abraham Figueroa, who plays the older version of Junior, remembers being ridiculed by his classmates for his Mexican accent, during a dress rehearsal of LBCC’s play ’57 Chevy on May 20. (Dom Maddan)}

Actor Abraham Figueroa plays the older version of Junior and is seen narrating his life while Medina plays out those memories. 

While this is his second production here at LBCC, Figueroa got his degree in theater at UC Santa Barbara and is at LBCC working to get a degree in biological sciences while still being active in theater. 

Being that the play still has one more show, Figueroa shared that when keeping his performance fresh, he remembers that there are certain things that are already set; for example, hitting certain spots. 

However, his response to each scene may change, “The way I deliver them might change, maybe I discovered something in the moment. I play with them a little bit and that’s my freedom to improvise,” Figueroa said. 

Other members of the cast, like Olin Archuleta, who plays cousin Lucio, shared that after each performance, he goes home, relaxes and talks to his friends and family. 

“I’m gonna come in with a clear mind and ready to perform,” Archuleta said. 

The night was filled with support for the performing arts students during their final play of the semester. 

People who want to see the ensemble of ‘57 Chevy have the chance to watch the last performance today at 2pm. 

The show will take place in the little theater inside the Jenni Rivera Performing Arts Center. 

Tickets are available either in person or online at this link. Students, staff, seniors and veterans are $10 and general admission is $15. 

^{Nicholas Paddit, who is part of the ensemble cast and plays a mailman, exclaimsthat he has mail for the Franco family during a dress rehearsal of LBCC’s play ’57 Chevy on May 20. (Dom Maddan)}