A community play reading of “Little Tokyo Goes Nuclear: Three Decades at the Atomic Cafe,” written by Alison Minami and directed by Fran de Leon, will take place on Tuesday, March 25, at 6 p.m. at Robert Louis Stevenson Library, 803 Spence St. in Boyle Heights.
The cast includes CJ Cruz, Mika Dyo, Janet Song, Tamlyn Tomita, and Thomas Winter. Desiree Fernandez will serve as assistant director and stage manager.
“Little Tokyo Goes Nuclear” follows the fictional love story of Troy and Kei amidst the racial tensions of the ‘60s to the emerging reparations movement for Japanese Americans incarcerated during World War II and the café’s punk rock heyday in the ‘80s.
These readings will feature the first installment of a planned trilogy. “Chapter One: The Sixties” sets the stage for Troy and Kei’s budding relationship, following them through generational conflicts with their parents and the cost of their own generation from the unending Vietnam War. As young adults, Troy and Kei struggle to find common ground as each shapes their own meaning of loyalty, sacrifice, and family.
Tucked away in Little Tokyo, the Atomic Café served as a sanctuary for the Japanese American and Los Angeles communities from 1946 until 1989. Through the years, the café was the communal space for hard decisions, farewells, homecomings, and community.
Presented by Center Theatre Group Education + Community Partnerships. Funded in part by CTG Affiliates, a group of dedicated volunteers and philanthropic supporters.
For more information: https://www.centertheatregroup.org/shows-tickets/around-la/202425/little-tokyo-goes-nuclear/