Review: ‘Luminous Streets’ in Highland Park

Cast of "Luminous Streets" by The Roots and Wings Project (Photo by Jesse Bliss)

“Luminous Streets” is a site-specific theatrical tour of the York Blvd. corridor of Highland Park by The Roots and Wings Project staged over two weekends in September. It explores the cultural history of the Los Angeles neighborhood with stories centered on women’s survival and the pursuit of justice.

The performance on Sept. 21 started at Pop-Hop Books at 5002 York Blvd., an alternative bookstore and community gathering place, with an intimate concert by Alma Cielo on violin. In the cozy bookstore, Cielo's bow gently brushed a rack of postcards as she mesmerized the room. The powerful sound of her voice and the energy with which she played was a surprising jumpstart to the evening. As if the audience had been cleansed, we were prepared for the stories to come.

After the musical introduction, the first of five theatrical performances began. Each piece was set in the space we occupied and often referenced our actual surroundings. This detail was small but had a profound effect. Despite the separate locations, stories, and characters, each piece was held together not only by a unifying theme but also by the location itself. The settings were both intimate and unpredictable; street sounds could be heard at all times, and pedestrians sometimes unwittingly became part of the show. Although it might sound distracting, it instead made one feel invisible, like a ghost or a fly on the wall.

In Pop-Hop Books, we explored cooking and culture in “Le Cuisine Creole” by Roger Q. Mason, starring Morgan Danielle Day and Ryan Nebreja. Day returned in full circus-ringleader regalia to be our host for the evening. She led us from stop to stop and enticed us with bits of history along the way.

Our next two stops took us to Be Nice, Have Fun, a party supply store at 5011 York Blvd., and MorYork Art Gallery at 4959 York Blvd. for two more shows: “Driving Straight,” written and performed by Melissa Lugo and Liv Jones, and “Woman Ascending,” by Ligiah Villalobos, starring Rufino Romero and Blanca Melchor. Both stories involve deep friendship—one blooming and the other on the rocks—yet they each had a very distinct pacing and tone. It was surprising to see how full and complex the characters and stories felt, despite each play lasting no longer than 10 minutes.

The fourth show took place against the backdrop of the beloved “No Ice” mural outside of Cafe De Leche at 5000 York Blvd. Liv Jones returned in a visceral performance alongside John Sweet for a fantastical piece by Tyree Marshall, “Banish Him.” A bystander would be forgiven for thinking a fight had erupted on the sidewalk and that a crowd had formed to gawk. Cigarette smoke, honking cars, laughing children and barking dogs all enhanced the performance in a way that a conventional theatre could never replicate.

Finally, we found ourselves at the legendary Johnny’s Bar, 5006 York Blvd., to see “Pure Cane Sugar,” written by director and executive producer Jesse Bliss. Theodosia (Marlaina Owens) and Cordelia (Celia Mandela Rivera) try to make sense of balancing all the things that make them whole, and what they sacrifice along the way. Supported by Sweet and Joshua Nicholas Moreno, Owens and Rivera are a joy to see perform together. A musical number ended the night and transported us back to reality.

“Luminous Streets” is a meaningful, entertaining and informative night out, even before considering the vibrant stories that center around realistic and relatable characters. It's an experience that lovers of history, art, architecture, theatre, advocacy, social justice and culture can all enjoy. In an increasingly isolated digital world, it can feel like a true adventure to hit the pavement and see real artists in the real world. This type of art and performance doesn’t just enrich the cultural and social fabric of a neighborhood—it is essential.

“Luminous Streets” continues this weekend in Highland Park along York Blvd., with performances Friday, Sept. 26 at 8 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 27 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 28 at 4 p.m. For tickets and information, visit TheRootandWingsProject.com. Run time is 1 hour and 45 minutes.