Collage including a stylized illustration of a man with glasses and a crown drawn on his head, street signs for Horst and Alondra Boulevards, a sign for Northwalk Square, a police officer, a silver car, a campaign sign for Luis Alvarado for Norwalk mayor, coins, and a building labeled Norwalk City Hall.
Title of the play or movie 'The Little King of Norwalk,' with credits for Israel López Reyes and Geoffrey Rivas.
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Event date from September 25 to November 2 in large gold and black text.

What happens when a homeboy wears the crown?

A tribute to Chicano identity in its many forms, The Little King of Norwalk blends satire, a touch of magical realism, and a nod to Gogol’s The Inspector General. It’s a modern barrio fable about power, politics, and the price of survival, inspired by a real-life scandal last year when Norwalk banned shelters, supportive housing, and businesses serving the poor.

Commissioned by Latino Theater Company and developed through its Circle of Imaginistas playwriting group, this world premiere follows Juan, a homeboy fresh from a DUI who shows up for his first mandated AA meeting. Mistaken for a powerful state inspector, Juan is quickly courted by the ambitious mayor and his corrupt inner circle. At first, Juan exploits the role for his own gain — until the lies catch up with him. Can he find redemption by telling the truth?

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  • Thursday, September 25 - 8:00 PM | Preview
    Friday, September 26 - 8:00PM | Preview
    Saturday, September 27 - 8:00PM | Preview
    Sunday, September 28 - 4:00PM | Preview

    Thursday, October 2 - 8:00PM | Preview
    Friday, October 3 - 8:00PM | Preview
    Saturday, October 4 - 8:00PM | Opening Night
    Sunday, October 5 - 4:00PM

    Thursday, October 9 - 8:00PM
    Friday, October 10 - 8:00PM
    Saturday, October 11 - 8:00PM
    Sunday, October 12 - 4:00PM

    Thursday, October 16 - 8:00PM
    Friday, October 17 - 8:00PM
    Saturday, October 18 - 8:00PM
    Sunday, October 19 - 4:00PM

    Thursday, October 23 - 8:00PM
    Friday, October 24 - 8:00PM
    Saturday, October 25 - 8:00PM
    Sunday, October 26 - 4:00PM

    Thursday, October 30 - 8:00PM
    Friday, October 31 - 8:00PM
    Saturday, November 1 - 8:00PM
    Sunday, November 2 - 4:00PM

  • Previews are an integral part of the theater-making process, allowing directors and playwrights to present their plays to audiences for the first time and identify areas for adjustment. These special performances offer a first look at the play and allow you to be part of each show's creative journey before its official opening. It's worth noting that Previews are priced differently; all previews are available for just $10. We are committed to keeping our Previews at a lower price point to ensure that high-quality live theatre is accessible to as many people as possible.

    Consider attending a Preview and sharing your feedback about the production. You can then return to a performance later in the run to witness how the performance evolves and grows.

  • PREVIEW $10
    THURSDAYS $10
    OPENING NIGHT $75

    ADULT $48
    STUDENT WITH ID $24
    SENIOR 65+ WITH ID $24
    VETERAN WITH ID $24
    LAUSD Staff WITH ID $24

    Groups of 6 or more get up to $10 OFF per Ticket. More Info here.

  • Latino Theater Company is committed to providing full access to patrons with disabilities. Our theatre is ADA accessible and is enabled with the following features.

    A minimum of 3 wheelchair and semi-ambulatory tickets are available throughout this Theater.

    Our theatre has raked seating, with steps to most rows. Most seats are fixed, though there are a limited number of free-standing seats that may be preferable for some patrons.

    Accessible seating is available to those with mobility disabilities who require accessible seating because of their disability, at most price levels. This includes individuals who use wheelchairs, those who use other mobility devices, and people who cannot climb steps or walk long distances because of significant arthritis, or severe respiratory, circulatory, or cardiac conditions. Individuals who, because of their disability, cannot sit in a straight-back chair or those whose service dogs cannot fit under a non-accessible seat or lie safely in the aisle are also permitted to purchase accessible seats.

    Individuals purchasing a ticket for an accessible seat may purchase up to three (3) additional seats for their companions in the same row and that are contiguous with the accessible seat. If contiguous seats have already been sold and are not available, the Latino Theater Co. will offer other seats as close to the accessible seats as possible.

    FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING ACCOMMODATIONS AND SERVICES, PLEASE CALL THE BOX OFFICE AT 213-489-0994 OR EMAIL TICKETS@THELATC.ORG

Reviews

“A LAUGH-OUT-LOUD HIT… one of the funniest plays I’ve ever seen in Los Angeles… a love letter to the city of Norwalk wrapped up in a hysterically wacky film noir with a touch of magical realism and a nod to Nikolai Gogol‘s The Inspector General… Theatre at its most vibrant with imagination and heart, the rare awe-inspiring & sidesplitting kind that makes you want to keep coming back for the live arts.” — Edward Hong, The Nerds of Color

“HUMOR E INTELIGENCIA… Actuaciones notables y un impecable equipo técnico… entretiene, conmueve a la vez… recomendada.” — Nestor Fantini, Hispanic LA

“HUMOROUS AND INTELLIGENT… remarkable performances and an impeccable technical team… entertains and moves at the same time… recommended.”)

“HILARIOUS… a highly entertaining and thought-provoking satire … tight, full of jokes and local geographic and cultural references, and very distinct characters… an excellent cast and creative staging… a fun, must-see show.” — Anita W. Harris, LA Theatrix

“SOARS… full of razor-sharp one-liners that perfectly bite the line of problematic and witty… smartly interrogates the rationalizations some Latinos navigate when choosing to climb the sociopolitical ladder to the detriment of their community.” — Steven Vargas, Stage Raw

“SHINES… a major play, and one of the funniest I have seen all year. Vividly imaginative, energetic, and hysterical, it represents theatre at its very best.” — Alistair Hunter, Norwalk Patriot

Cast

Close-up of a smiling man wearing glasses, a blue beanie, a denim jacket with a hoodie, and a graphic T-shirt, outdoors with a blurred background.

Xavi Moreno*

A portrait of a young woman with long, dark brown hair wearing a red dress with floral patterns against a gray background.

Esperanza América*

A middle-aged man with dark curly hair and a beard, wearing a black blazer and a blue dress shirt, smiling against a neutral gray background.

Randy Vasquez*

A woman with shoulder-length brown hair, wearing a white top, looking directly at the camera with a neutral expression.

Ruth Livier*

Close-up of a man with glasses, grey hair, and a small ring earring, making a serious facial expression.

J.Ed Araiza*

Close-up of a man with dark hair and a mustache, wearing a black coat, looking directly at the camera with a serious expression.

Richard Azurdia*

Headshot of a young man with short, curly black hair, a thin mustache and goatee, wearing a white t-shirt against a gray background.

Ulyses Montoya u/s

Smiling young woman with long dark hair, wearing a blue sweater and jeans, posing against a dark background.

Valerie Rose Vega u/s

* Member of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States

Credits

Written by
Israel López Reyes

Directed by
Geoffrey Rivas

Scenic Design
Maureen Weiss

Costume Design
Claire Fraiser

Lighting Design
John A. Garofalo

Projection Design
Hsuan-Kuang Hsieh

Sound Design
John Zalewski

Choreographer
Marissa Herrera

Stage Manager
Yaesol Jeong

Assistant Stage Manager
Alexa Mora

Wardrobe Supervisor
Hannah Creighton

Wardrobe Supervisor
Rey Hoffman

The Little King of Norwalk was commissioned in Latino Theater Company’s Circle of Imaginistas playwriting group.