The following is an interview with playwright Gabriel Rivas Gomez regarding the recent launch of Latino Theater Company’s production of Level Up! In this interview, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief Barbra Dillon chats with Rivas Gomez about the genesis behind the production, what he hopes that audiences may take away from the performance, and more!
Barbra Dillon, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief: Latino Theater Company recently launched the world premiere of your innovative, new play, Level Up! What can you share with us about the overall premise of Level Up!, as well as the genesis behind its creation?
Gabriel Rivas Gomez: Level Up! is the story of Desi Lopez, a trans tween who only feels she can be herself in her virtual world. Her dog and best friend, Azlan, is dying and she has one last chance to save him, at least virtually. As she goes on this quest, she learns about herself and her family, and learns how she might survive both in the virtual and real worlds.
Years ago I read and really enjoyed the book, Ready Player One. And I was really intrigued by Aech – a character we see in the virtual world as a white male and is a Black lesbian named Helen in real life. When I had the opportunity to tell a multi-generational story, I was interested in the idea of virtual space being “safe” for a young trans person because they could be in control of their identity.
BD: What can you tell us about your shared creative process in working with the cast and crew of to bring this story to life on the stage, especially in light of its unique and inventive design elements?
GRG: I’ve been fortunate to work with a group of people who have jumped into this project excited to find creative solutions instead of feeling daunted by the challenges it presents. The cast is very talented, creative, and so thoughtful in how they approach their roles. When they have questions about the script, it’s been easy to trust them as the fierce artists they are. Fidel Gomez, who has been on board as the director of this play from the beginning, has been excited about the notion of putting a virtual space on stage. He’s a gamer, and he understood the value of thinking of the set for this play as an interface more than as a traditional set. And our design team has been brilliant. The design elements of this play — lighting, projection, set, costumes, sound, puppetry and fight choreography — are jaw dropping. The team has managed to do the “impossible” and put a video game on stage.
BD: At Fanbase Press, our #StoriesMatter initiative endeavors to highlight the impact that stories can have on audiences of various mediums – no matter the medium. How do you feel that Desi’s story may connect with and impact audiences, and what, if any, conversations do you hope that it might inspire?
GRG: In writing Level Up! it was important to me that it truly be a multi-generational play and that children, their parents, and even grandparents could see pieces of themselves on stage. It’s my hope that young people will be brought to the theater to see a show with their family members, and that this show can spark conversation afterwards over dinner or ice cream. At its core, this play is about people of different ages learning to see one another’s humanity and to learn that their hopes and their grief can be communal. And if the conversations after the show reflect that, I will be thrilled.
BD: What makes Latino Theater Company the perfect home for this production?
GRG: The Latino Theater Company is really doing groundbreaking work on several fronts. I’m a member of the Circle of Imaginistas, a group of eleven writers the company has commissioned. This season, eight of us will have seen our plays produced by LTC, and the remaining three will be produced soon. This is unheard of. The company has created a culture where we as writers feel empowered by instead of in competition with one another. Because when this company says they will develop our work and get it on stage, they mean it.
What’s more, LTC is finding ways to make theater that is accessible to younger audiences. I have two teenagers who attended the Summer Youth Conservatory this past summer. This is a program that is free to those young people who are accepted, and it was truly life changing. My oldest credits the conservatory with their new sense of confidence and the connections they have made to so many theater friends. LTC is also part of Generation Now, a network of theaters who are creating theater for multi-generational audiences.
Living in this moment in history, I had some concerns that a play about a trans tween might not be viable. But the leadership at the Latino Theater Company felt that the times we are living in should compel us even more to tell stories about people who have been marginalized.
For these reasons and more, I think the Latino Theater Company is the perfect home for this production.
BD: Age-wise, is there a recommended audience that would be ideal for this production, and how is the Latino Theater Company providing accommodations to families who may need childcare during the performances?
GRG: Level Up! is recommended for ages 10 and up, and I really hope families will come together to see the show. And if they have children who are too young, LTC is offering FREE childcare during Saturday matinee performances. This is another thing the company is doing that is both unheard of and wonderful.
BD: Are there any other projects – past or current – that you would like to highlight for our readers?
GRG: Most of my work is available on the New Play Exchange. Level Up! is my first multi-generational play, and I’m looking forward to writing another soon.
BD: Lastly, what would you like to tell readers who want to learn more about and purchase tickets for Level Up!?
GRG: Tickets can be purchased here. We are offering $10 tickets to previews and Thursday shows. Family passes are available, which provide discounted tickets for families of four or more, and FREE childcare is available for Saturday matinee shows!
