The world premiere of ICE, written by Leon Martell and directed by Debbie Devine, is coming to 24th Center Theater in April. Could a humorous play about two baseball players from Sinaloa, Mexico who arrive in the U.S. with big dreams — but no documents – ease today’s tensions surrounding illegal immigration? And what happens when it’s written for audiences with children age 8 and up?
ICE is a bilingual, humorous journey in search of what it means to be “American.”
Armed with their Tia’s famous salsa recipe, the pair works day and night to make their taco truck the “Uncle Sam” of mobile restaurants.
Will a contest to be “the most American food truck” at Dodger Stadium for the 4th of July prove to Immigration and Customs Enforcement that they belong? Jesús Castaños-Chima and Tony Duran star as Chepe and Nacho, with Davitt Felder playing multiple roles.
Set in 1988 (the year the Dodgers won the World Series), ICE looks at current events through the prism of the past.
“Here we have two immigrants trying to figure out how to become”American” and what that means. Does it mean economic success and getting ahead? Does it mean fairness and justice and democracy? How is America marketed? Perception
becomes reality.” said Devine.
ICE is the latest in a string of 24th Street productions, including Walking the Tightrope, Man Covets Bird and Hansel and Gretel Bluegrass (each one a Los Angeles Times “Critic’s Choice”) to tackle provocative, emotionally rich subjects that can be enjoyed by both adults and kids, separately or together.
In addition to sharing 24th Street’s trademark sensibility with its predecessors, ICE utilizes the same award-winning creative team, including director Debbie Devine; set designer Keith Mitchell; video designer Matthew Hill; lighting designer Dan Weingarten; sound designer Christopher Moscatiello; costume designer Shannon Kennedy; assistant director Benjamin Durham; and stage manager Alexx Zachary.
Debbie Devine is a multiple award-winning theater director and the co-founder/artistic director of 24th Street Theatre. She has held the position of Drama Department Chair of Colburn School for over 30 years and is also a theatrical director with the Los Angeles Philharmonic. ICE opens for press on Saturday, April 21st. 24thstreet.org.
