Photos: Cornerstone California

Puppet designer Lynn Jeffries works on props.   (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

Jacob Brown of the local hire production crew and a student from Cal State Bakersfield, paints prop fish.  (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

The company in the Sunset School gymnasium.   (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

Berenize Lopez from Lamont and company do warm-ups.   (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

Berenize Lopez reads about herself.   (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

Sheila McClure, left, Elena Gil (both local cast) and Elzie Alexander are served by local Spirits: Gene A. Lundquist and Emmanuel Fuentes.   (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

Performing in the Sunset School gymnasium.   (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

Michael John Garces, artistic director of Cornerstone Theater Company and director of “California: The Tempest” during technical rehearsal.   (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

Karen Covarrubias, left, and Bahni Turpin with the company.   (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

Iris Gonzalez, left, E’Vet Thompson, Page Leong and Gema L. Sanchez with the company.   (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

Iris Gonzalez, left, E’Vet Thompson, Page Leong and Gema L. Sanchez with the company.   (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

Joji Koyuri, left, and Gabriel Garcia, an Arvin local, wait to come on stage.   (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

Gabriel Garcia, an Arvin local, with the company.   (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

Peter Howard during a performance.   (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

Bahni Turpin, left, and Brent Grihalva during a performance.   (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

Karen Covarrubias, Brent Grihalva and Bahni Turpin during a performance.   (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

Peter Howard, left, Page Leong and Marcenus “M.C.” Earl during a performance.   (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

Gabriel Garcia, left, Page Leong, Peter Howard, Joji Koyuri, Marcenus “M.C.” Earl and Francisco Martinez during a performance.   (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

Peter Howard in performance.   (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

Page Leong in performance.   (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

Karen Covarrubias, left, Bahni Turpin, Brent Grihalva and Page Leong during a performance.  (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

A technical rehearsal.   (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

Page Leong, left, and Bahni Turpin with the company.   (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

The company in the Sunset School gymnasium.   (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)