Antonio Jaramillo in Anna in the Tropics
We don’t cover live theatre often, but when a friend is involved, we have to support.
Our friend and supporter Antonio Jaramillo (Mayans M.C, Shades of Blue), is starring in Cuban-American playwright Nilo Cruz’ Pulitzer Prize-winning drama, Anna in the Tropics, Sultry heat and Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina combine in this production, sparking rich fantasies, broken dreams, passion and adultery.
Jaramillo is a great lover of the theater, even though most people only know him from film and television. Any chance he gets, he’s on the stage. Anna in the Tropics is his latest work adventure.
I asked him about the character he was playing, the challenges to the role, and what he liked about the character. He said, “I’m playing the role of Cheché! Originally I was going to play the role of Juan Julian “The Lector” but after reviewing the play I thought the role of Cheché is more fun and more challenging as he completely unravels within the story.”
We even got in a small update on Mayans M.C., the hit spin-off of Sons of Anarchy where Jaramillo plays “Michael ‘Riz’ Ariza”. He told us, “Literally the second week after we open the play, Anna In The Tropics, we begin shooting the second season of Mayans M.C.! In other words, I am going crazy trying to navigate the show and the play.”
Jaramillo on Mayans M.C. set
Anna In The Tropics also stars Steve Wilcox, Jill Remez, Presciliana Esparolini, Javi Mulero, Jade Santana, Christopher Cedeno, and Byron Quiros. It is directed by Jon Lawrence Rivera and produced by Martha Demson and the Openfist Theatre Company.
You can check it out at Openfist Theatre in Atwater Village, 3269 Casitas Ave, Los Angeles CA 90039. For more info and tickets, check out openfist.org. Opens May 3 and runs through June 8. — A.O.
