Photos: Cornerstone California

A Cornerstone Theater Company banner at the Sunset School announces the night's performance of "California: The Tempest" in the Sunset School gymnasium on Sept. 04, 2014. The Los Angeles company's mission is to do new contemporary professional theater that reflects the lives of various communities it works with and includes nonprofessional community members in its casts.

A Cornerstone Theater Company banner at the Sunset School announces the night’s performance of “California: The Tempest” on Sept. 04, 2014. The Los Angeles company’s mission is to do new contemporary professional theater that reflects the lives of the various communities it works with. (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

Sept. 25, 2014 4:20 PM PT

The Tempest in the Sunset School gymnasium, September 04, 2014.

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)

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)