The Play, AUGUST 29, at a time of America In Struggle with Guest Evelina Fernandez

About this episode

The episode features Evelina Fernandez discussing the significance of the play AUGUST 29 in the context of contemporary social struggles in Los Angeles.

It is the Summer of 2025, a time like no other in Los Angeles, California. There is drama on the streets, especially in Latino neighborhoods, where masked men jump out of unmarked cars and grab people who look like they might not have citizenship papers. It is at this time that the Latino Theatre Company has decided to mount their famous play, AUGUST 29, originally premiered in 1990, about a crisis and a killing in 1970 in East Los Angeles, a mostly Mexican American - Chicano area. Listen to Evelina Fernandez, founding member of the Latino Theatre Company now celebrating their 40th year, who knows the history of abuse toward Latinos in Los Angeles and cities across the USA, and can give first person tales of the back story of the play, AUGUST 29. The theatrical work created long ago inspires us to contemplate where we are as a society in 2025.. AUGUST 29’s last performances at the Los Angeles Theatre Center (LATC) in downtown, Los Angeles are August 22, 23, and 24. Performances will be held in other venues throughout September. It is being produced in partnership with the students of the Los Angeles City College Theatre Academy. CONTACT: LATC Ticket Office for performance…

People in this episode

Host: Keren Goldberg

Guest: Evelina Fernandez

Topics covered

• theater
• Latino culture
• immigration
• social issues
• historical context
• community
• artistic expression

Keywords

• AUGUST 29
• Evelina Fernandez
• Latino Theatre Company
• Los Angeles
• immigration
• theater performances
• social justice
• Chicano history
• community theater

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Latino Theatre Company

Books & works: AUGUST 29

Places: Los Angeles, California, Los Angeles Theatre Center, East Los Angeles, Los Angeles City College Theatre Academy

More episodes of Commentaries from the Edge

• A TIME CAPSULE: Opening the Capsule at the Los Angeles Central Library after 100 years | Todd Lerew · June 10, 2026 · 35 min
• TO READ, TO THINK, TO DREAM: Celebrating a 100 Year Old Library | Christina Rice and Madeline Rice · June 10, 2026 · 32 min
• The Extraordinary Life from Hollywood to being a Pioneering Elected Official - with Sheila Kuehl · March 13, 2026 · 50 min
• MEDITATION: Navigating Through Uncertain Times with Dr. Marvin J. Southard, Ph.d · February 20, 2026 · 27 min
• The Courtroom Goes to the Movies - with Author and UCLA Law Professor Paul Bergman · January 31, 2026 · 45 min
• THE CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF LOS ANGELES with Director Fernando Guerra, Ph.D · October 17, 2025 · 40 min