Voices From the Cornerstone Community

The Cornerstone Theater has earned a reputation for productions that draw from the culture, history and talents of the communities in which the company works. The Times asked members of Cornerstone productions, past and present, to share favorite memories.

AMY BRENNEMAN, Cornerstone board chairwoman, founding member; star of “Judging Amy”

I would have to say performing “The Winter’s Tale” in the shadow of the U.S. Capitol ranks high. We had toured the show for four months, covering 9,000 miles. Our cast was made up of people from all over the country and from every walk of life. And that tour ended five years of living and performing on the road. All of that feeling poured into the performance on that balmy September night in 1991. For me, it was theater at its most exciting, raw, thrilling and soulful.

CHAY YEW, playwright

One of the most memorable experiences I had with Cornerstone Theater was conducting interviews with the elder Chinese population in Los Angeles’ Chinatown for my docu-play, “A Beautiful Country.” For hours, I sat in the community center, like an adopted grandson, conversing with residents about their lives in America in Mandarin and Cantonese, which felt almost alien and yet at home in my mouth from years of non-usage.

One woman with a big round face shyly sat down in front me. She proceeded to tell me about how she had come into the country, working long hours, putting her only daughter into law school. She was extremely proud. When I asked how their relationship was, she muttered, saying they don’t see each other frequently and they don’t speak to each other much. “She speaks only English, and I Cantonese. There are no words between us. It’s all gestures and awkward smiles.” She still works. When I asked where, she pointed to my red backpack and said, “I make those.” “In a sweat shop?” The 60-something-year-old woman nodded and showed me the palms of her hands. Shaking her head, she said, “They only ache late at night.” Then, she ambled off into the distance with her paper bag of Chinese groceries.

This anecdote made me appreciate being Asian American more than I have had in years.

JANET ESCOBAR, community member whose family appeared in “Central Ave. Chalk Circle”

Our most memorable experience with Cornerstone was working on “Central Ave. Chalk Circle.” The five of us have worked on several different shows at one time or another, but it was the only show that all five of us worked on together. And it won an Ovation award. It’s great to know that we were all a part of that. It gave us all a feeling of accomplishment, like we did something special and we felt special.

ARMANDO MOLINA, Cornerstone actor-director-writer

What’s most memorable about our work with communities is when folks who we collaborate with come together socially in what are known as cast parties. Recently, the cast of our collaborating partner, George Street Playhouse residency in New Brunswick, gathered after a performance for a backyard barbecue. People spent time with people who they might otherwise would have never met. This gathering had Hungarian Americans, Mexican Americans, African Americans, Anglo Americans and gay Americans--all from New Brunswick [N.J.].

GEOFF KORF, lighting designer

I was on my way to a rehearsal in Watts. I was stopped at the traffic light at Imperial Boulevard, and I noticed that the driver in the car in front of me was Bill Rauch. At this light, I was kind of watching Bill, and he was looking intently at each and every car around us. I think he was looking at people--but not just looking as you do when you are checking someone out; he seemed to be trying to somehow make a connection with them. I think, if he could have, he would have just gotten into the car next to him and started up a conversation. I just watched him, and it made so much sense to me--that this was one of the people who had created Cornerstone Theater. It’s funny that it sticks out so much in my mind, but I think it was one of those moments that made me understand why it’s important for me to be a part of this company.

EMILY HONG, community member in cast of “For Here or to Go?”

The most memorable moment was when I walked into Cornerstone, everybody treated me like a family member. There were so many diverse people.

LUIS ALFARO, playwright

After resisting the Cornerstone methodology for months, I finally agreed to meet the community of Boyle Heights, which Diane Rodriguez and I wrote “Los Vecinos” (The Neighbors) for. We went to the Pico Aliso housing project meetings--Boyle Heights homeowners, women with HIV, religious and community groups. I have never been so humbled by the determination and spirit of a community. The issues and ideas we searched for in our script were handed to us through the voices of the community. Although the piece was a pastorela--shepherds’ play--the community actors were really telling their story, their desires, their wishes. I’ll never forget how honest and easy making art in community can be.

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--Compiled by Lisa Fung