By ROBERT HORSTING
There’s a new local theater in Highland Park with Off-Broadway chops.
A power couple, actors Tamlyn Tomita and her husband Daniel Blinkoff, have opened Outside In Theatre, a wonderful community theater that will present written and unscripted performances, as well as films/digital format works. This beautiful space was once the creative working studio of artist Mike Kelley.
The inaugural production chosen to announce this site as an artistic incubator is “Torera” by L.A. homegrown writer Monet Hurst Mendoza, which is concurrently playing Off-Broadway. Under the direction of Jude Lucas, the story leads us through the dreams of Elena, a young girl in Mexico longing to become a matadora.
While not arguing the right or wrong debate around bull-fighting, the drama and danger in the arena serve as a metaphor for life’s struggles in a patriarchal society and the challenges she faces in trying to break through the wall of a male-dominated tradition, family dynamics in fulfilling expectations, and the weight of social structure.
The primary cast of Melissa Carvajal, Wilson Aldas, Susana Elena Boyce and Matias Ponce provide an emotional rollercoaster of laughter, riveting tension, joy, and pain through their performances.
The ensemble cast are equally talented in their execution of dances and performance that at times provide a sleight-of-hand effect as the set is changed to the next scene on this in-the-round stage (a central stage with audience seating on four sides). A wonderful bit of choreographed stagecraft that you’ll appreciate if you’ve ever witnessed/experienced slow and clunky set changes in the hands of less creative leadership and crews.
Outside In Theatre will not only be a gift to theater and arts lovers, but serve as an important location for artists to come and share stories, benefit from each other’s experiences, test out ideas, and learn new skills. Writers and filmmakers can submit their ideas or completed works for consideration.
Their vision statement reads: “Outside In Theatre is building the world we want to see by producing daring, dynamic, and authentic untold stories by unheard voices.”
Become one of those voices or support their efforts to bring forth the stories you want to hear by the talented people we have yet to discover!
Location: 5317 York Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90042
Website: https://outsideintheatre.org/