At the Jenni Rivera Performing Arts Center From May 21 – 24th
By Bel Hernandez Castillo
The beloved comedy ’57 Chevy is getting a fresh new ride. An all-new ensemble adaptation of the hit play will make its debut at Long Beach City College’s Jenni Rivera Performing Arts Center beginning May 21, 2026, bringing to life a heartfelt and hilarious immigrant story that has already captivated audiences across Southern California and the Southwest.
This is a hilarious story of a daydreaming immigrant boy, his stern Mexican father, and their family’s beloved ’57 Chevy.
Originally performed as a one-man show starring Ric Salinas (of the acclaimed comedy ensemble Culture Clash), ’57 Chevy became a theatrical favorite during its acclaimed run at the Los Angeles Theatre Center before touring throughout the region. Critics praised the production as “a hilarious trek” (Los Angeles Times), “profoundly satisfying” (L.A. Weekly), and “an evocative coming-of-age masterpiece” (Su Teatro News). During the 2020 pandemic shutdown, San Diego Repertory Theatre even adapted the production into a filmed streaming presentation for audiences at home.
Now, playwright and four-time SoCal Emmy Award-winning writer Cris Franco is reimagining the production in a bold new way. Expanding from a solo monologue into a full ensemble piece, the new version features 17 actors portraying more than 30 colorful characters drawn from Franco’s bicultural childhood growing up between Mexico City, South Central Los Angeles, and the San Fernando Valley.
The transformation from solo performance to ensemble production was sparked by Franco’s longtime collaborator and friend, Valerie Dunlap. Believing the story could become even richer through a larger cast, Dunlap encouraged Franco to expand the script so that more performers—and more audiences—could connect with its humor, heart, and cultural authenticity.
“As a boy, the only thing larger than my big familia was my fantasy life fueled by endless hours of watching American television,” Franco shared. “It’s going to be a blast seeing a full cast step into my imagination and tell the crazy-but-true stories about our Chevy that brought our family from Mexico City to our first home in South Central L.A., and later to the San Fernando Valley.”
Shortly after completing the new script, Dunlap shared it with Rick Greaver at Long Beach City College, who introduced the work to Senior Faculty and Professor of Theater Arts Anthony Carreiro. After viewing the filmed version and reading the expanded adaptation, Carreiro immediately recognized the production’s significance for LBCC’s diverse student body.
“One hoped the ensemble version would attract theater groups, high schools, and colleges,” Dunlap explained. “And that’s exactly what happened.”
With nearly 60 percent of LBCC students identifying as Latino, the play offered student actors the rare opportunity to portray culturally authentic Latino characters spanning generations—from Mexican immigrants newly arrived in the U.S. to Chicanos fully immersed in American culture.
“I have directed many productions at the college, and every time I’ve found a play that speaks directly to our community, I’ve seen the joy in students who recognize themselves in the story,” Carreiro said. “That is exactly what is happening with this wonderful play.”
The production will be staged in the Little Theater at LBCC’s new Jenni Rivera Performing Arts Center and directed by acclaimed actor, choreographer, and director Jessica Berón. For Berón, the rehearsal process has been both emotionally resonant and wildly entertaining.
“We’ve had fascinating conversations about how memories feel and even how they sound,” Berón said. “That exploration led us into choreography, physical comedy, stunts, and so much playfulness. There are moments in rehearsal where we laugh so hard it takes time to recover and continue working.”
At its core, ’57 Chevy is a loving portrait of a bilingual, bicultural Mexican-American family navigating the promise and contradictions of the American Dream during the 1950s through the 1970s. Franco fills the play with vivid details from his childhood: plastic-covered living room furniture, strict immigrant parents, inventive Spanglish phrases, crowded family homes, and the unforgettable image of “Gringo Stalker Jesus”—the blue-eyed portrait of Jesus seemingly watching every move inside Latino households.
But beneath the comedy lies a timely and deeply human message.
“What makes America great is its culture of opportunity,” Franco explained. “It allowed immigrants like my father—and so many others—to pursue their dreams through hard work, sacrifice, and hope.”
Berón believes the play’s themes feel especially urgent today. Although the story takes place decades ago, the backdrop includes the Civil Rights Movement, anti-war protests, and ongoing debates surrounding immigration and identity.
“These students recognize the parallels between that era and the world we’re living in now,” Berón noted. “The play highlights the challenges immigrants face while also celebrating what connects us across cultures.”
Excitement around the production has continued building across campus, with students and faculty alike praising the energy surrounding rehearsals. The ensemble cast is led by Abraham Figueroa as Junior, Danny Rangel as Dad, Frania Dueñas as Mom, and Juliana Medina as Young Junior, alongside Alexis Frisch, Alyssa Hilton, Elizabeth Aoshi, Catherine Fuentes, Celvin Reyes, Miguel Yozov, Nicholas Paddit, Nichole Mendez, Noah Cisneros, Olin Archuleta, Paola Ovalle, Quinn Hicks, and Travis Johnson.
As opening night approaches, Franco says the production captures the youthful wonder and optimism that shaped his memories growing up in America.
“Because the story is told through the eyes of a wildly imaginative nine-year-old boy, the play sparkles with innocence, joy, and humor rarely seen onstage today,” Franco said. “I’m proud families can experience together what it was like to be an immigrant at a time when the American Dream still felt possible for hardworking newcomers.” For tickets and show information, visitLBCC ’57 Chevy Show Information