Fernandomania festival opens Friday at Casa 0101 Theater
Josefina López, Ignacio Gonzalez and Dr. Connie Valencia. (Photo by Steve Moyer)
LOS ANGELES — CASA 0101 Theater in Boyle Heights will open Fernandomania, a ten-minute play festival honoring Dodgers legend Fernando Valenzuela, this Friday, Aug. 29. The four-week production features 12 original works written by Southern California playwrights, including Downey resident Ignacio Gonzalez, and runs through Sept. 21 at the Gloria Molina Auditorium.
The festival is part of CASA 0101’s 25th anniversary season and will be performed in English and Spanish with subtitles. A cast of 16 actors will bring to life 57 roles across a dozen world-premiere plays directed by Emmanuel Deleage, Carmelita Maldonado, Karla Ojeda and Vance Valencia.
Organizers say Fernandomania is more than a celebration of baseball. It is a reflection on family, culture and identity inspired by Valenzuela’s rise as a 20-year-old rookie pitcher from Sonora, Mexico, who captured Los Angeles’ imagination in 1981.
“Fernando wasn’t flashy or arrogant. He was humble, calm, and dominant at the same time,” Gonzalez said. “That’s what resonated with so many of us. He made people who never cared about baseball feel seen.”
Gonzalez grew up in Bell Gardens and was 10 years old and playing Little League when “Fernandomania” first swept through Los Angeles. He remembers the way Valenzuela changed not only the Dodgers but also family life in Latino communities.
“I’d grab my glove and sometimes go to games by myself because my family wasn’t that interested,” Gonzalez recalled. “But when Fernando arrived, everything changed. Suddenly my dad, my relatives, even neighbors were following the games. You could walk down the street and hear Jaime Jarrín’s voice on the radio coming from house after house. It felt like the whole community was connected whenever Fernando pitched.”
His contribution to the festival, Beisbol y Novelas, captures that intergenerational connection. The play tells the story of a girl, her father and grandmother who clash over the household television — the Dodgers game versus telenovelas — until Valenzuela bridges the divide. “Before Fernando, baseball was mostly for little boys and maybe their dads or uncles,” Gonzalez said. “After he came along, abuelas, tías and primas wanted to be part of it. He made it a family affair.”
The festival grew out of a 10-week playwriting workshop co-facilitated by Gonzalez and playwright Dr. Connie Valencia at CASA 0101. Nearly 20 writers participated, and 12 plays were ultimately chosen for production.
Among the lineup:
Fernandomania Forever by CASA 0101 founding artistic director Josefina López, which anchors the show in 12 transitional scenes. López, best known for Real Women Have Curves, explores how Valenzuela became an icon for Boyle Heights immigrants, inspiring pride and visibility.
Linda, by Maria Valenzuela, the youngest daughter of Fernando and Linda Valenzuela, tells the story of how her parents met. “It’s been incredibly meaningful to be part of this festival and honor him by writing a play that reflects both his impact and our family’s love,” she said in a statement.
No Sabo by Oscar Arguello depicts a boy struggling with identity who finds connection through Valenzuela.
Once Upon a Time in LA by Michael St. Onge recalls a childhood trip to Dodger Stadium with his grandfather to see Valenzuela pitch, blending grief and healing.
Our Playground by Dr. Connie Valencia centers on four women in East Los Angeles who find strength and inspiration in Valenzuela’s legacy.
The program also includes works by Chris Banda, Gloria Isabel Briseño, Kimberly Huff, Jose Luis Lopez Jr., Christopher John Magallanes, Celina Martinez and others.
Valenzuela, nicknamed “El Toro,” pitched 17 seasons in Major League Baseball, 11 of them with the Dodgers. He was a six-time All-Star, 1981 Rookie of the Year, Cy Young Award winner, and a two-time World Series champion. The Dodgers retired his number 34 in 2023, just one year before his passing at age 63.
For Gonzalez, the legacy is not only in the record books but in the way Valenzuela brought people together.
“These plays aren’t just about baseball. They’re about families remembering how they fell in love with the game, how generations connected through Fernando,” Gonzalez said. “There’s a direct line from Fernandomania to the Dodgers being one of the most popular franchises in baseball today.”
Fernandomania runs Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. through Sept. 21 at CASA 0101 Theater, 2102 E. First St., Los Angeles. Tickets are $25 general admission, $22 for students and seniors, and $20 for Boyle Heights residents and groups of 10 or more.
For tickets and information, visit casa0101.org or call 323-263-7684.