Luis Alfaro’s ‘Speaking in Tongues’ Set for World Premiere at Latino Theater Company

The Latino Theater Company has officially announced the world premiere of Speaking in Tongues, a funny and poignant new work by MacArthur “Genius Grant” recipient Luis Alfaro. Directed by Artistic Director Jose Luis Valenzuela, the production runs October 17 through November 15 at The Los Angeles Theatre Center in downtown L.A., with preview performances on October 15 and 16.

Set within a Pentecostal church in the small Central Valley town of Earlimart, the production features a powerful ensemble cast including Evelina Fernández (Hermana Romie), Lucy Rodríguez (Hermana Cubby), Sal López (Hermano Mando), Geoffrey Rivas (Hermano Tico), and Esperanza América. The narrative centers on Hermana Romie, who has secretly written her missing husband’s sermons for years. Against the backdrop of immigration raids, she finally steps into her own spiritual and political authority to lead her congregation.

Playwright Luis Alfaro, the son of San Joaquin Valley farmworkers, is an associate professor at USC and former associate artistic director of Center Theatre Group. His extensive body of work exploring identity, labor, and community has been produced globally.

Celebrating its legacy in downtown Los Angeles, the Latino Theater Company was recently named a 2025 “Nonprofit of the Year” by California State Senator Lola Smallwood-Cuevas and secured a lease extension at The Los Angeles Theatre Center through 2056. Further cementing its national impact, the company just received a five-year, $8.5 million award from the Paul Angell Foundation to launch Round 2 of its National Latinx Theater Initiative (NLTI). This vital re-granting program will continue providing multi-year general operating support and professional development for Latinx theaters and ensembles across the United States and Puerto Rico.

Performance Details:

• Schedule: Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 8 p.m.; Sundays at 2 p.m.
• Location: The Los Angeles Theatre Center, 514 S. Spring St., Los Angeles, CA 90013.
• Tickets: $10 for previews/Thursdays; $24 for students, seniors, and educators; $48 for regular weekend shows; $75 for opening night.

For tickets and more details, call (213) 489-0994 or visit latinotheaterco.org.