Chaffey College will stage ‘Juanita’s Statue’

Chaffey College theater students will present “Juanita’s Statue,” a comedic spin on the classic story of Don Juan, opening 7:30 p.m. Thursday in the theater on the college’s Rancho Cucamonga campus, 5885 Haven Ave.

The play is a contemporary comedy with themes of self-love, gender fluidity and Latino culture, something that resonates with the 40 cast and crew members and the greater Chaffey community, according to theater arts professor Christa Havenhill, who directs the production.

“I felt that it would really engage the students and the audiences, since 60 percent of our student population is Latino and we’re a Hispanic-serving Institution. I felt like we needed to dive into the culture of our students, so that students, as well as the audience, would be excited about the show,” Havenhill said in a news release.

The story focuses on Juanita, who disguises herself as a man to escape the wrath of her lover Ignacio’s father. Masquerading as the “new” Don Juan, Juanita moves through Los Angeles’ historic Olvera Street, and the characters she encounters instantly fall in love with her/him.

Havenhill said she used

Olvera Street as the setting because she felt it fit the original intent of playwright Anne Garciaromero. Characters speak both English and Spanish in the play.

“The main message is that love is primarily found within,” Havenhill said in the news release. “If you want long-term love, you have to first look inward.”

Psychology major Alizé Lopez, playing the role of Juan/juanita, said she feels connected to the role because of her own background.

Lopez, a Fontana resident who graduated from the School of Arts and Enterprise in Pomona, said she struggled with growing up in a traditional Latino family because she identifies as gender fluid.

“There are a lot of parallels in this play that I find in my personal life,” Lopez said in the news release. “I found peace within myself, so I don’t need the outward validation, and that’s very similar to Juanita’s struggle.”

After opening night, performances continue at 7:30 p.m. April 12 and 13 and 2 p.m. April 14, and there will be American Sign Language interpretation at the April 12 performance.

The play contains adult themes.

Tickets are $10, available at chaffey.edu/acc/acd/acdcommunity/box-office.php.