Gloria Molina was a long-time and well-loved member of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, a member of the California State Assembly, and a Los Angeles City Council Member. She also served in the Carter Administration as a Deputy for Presidential Personnel.
A resident of East L.A., Gloria Molina entered politics after many years of activism in the Chicano movement. Grand Park in downtown Los Angeles was renamed Gloria Molina Grand Park and the theater at CASA 0101 was renamed the Gloria Molina Auditorium shortly before she died of breast cancer in May 2023 at the age of 74.
CASA0101’s founding Artistic Director, Josefina López was a good friend of Gloria Molina. To honor her memory, she wrote a play about her called “A Woman Named Gloria,” presented at the theater from August 30 to October 6, 2024.
A mural near the theater was created for Gloria Molina and dedicated on August 29, 2024. Gloria was an avid quilter and founder of East Los Angeles Stitchers, which celebrates Latino arts and culture. Thirty volunteers helped create the mural, which included some of Gloria’s quilt patterns.
Los Angeles city officials also declared August 29th Gloria Molina Day.
Gloria Molina’s other accomplishments are numerous but many are depicted in López’s play. They include protesting against the involuntary sterilization of Chicana women during the 1970s and stopping a prison being built in East L.A. during the mid-1980s.
“A Woman Named Gloria” takes the audience through Gloria Molina’s life from childhood to death.
A young woman named Jessica Contreras, played fervently by Lauren Curet, dreams of becoming a Chicana politician. After a family row, she makes the mistake of drinking too much and hits two parked cars. The media threatens to end her political career.
As the older Gloria Molina, played authentically by Karla Ojeda, is about to enter heaven, she stops because she has one last thing to do. She appears to Jessica to give her the courage to persevere by telling her life story.
The ensemble of ten actors play multiple roles. Natalie Heredia portrays Gloria as a child who is initially shy but becomes bolder at her family’s encouragement and Amy Melendrez is Gloria as a young woman entering the political arena.
The entire ensemble melds together as a smooth-running unit. Two standouts include Laura Vega, who is humorous and endearing as Abuela Celas and even takes on Maxine Waters. Martin Morales is chameleon-like also with excellent comedic timing.
A few Los Angeles politicians take mild hits in this play, including Antonio Villaraigosa who Gloria berated during a scandal when he was Mayor of L.A. He later became one of her dear friends.
Chicano politician’s machismo is brought to the forefront in the play when Gloria Molina experiences its misogyny and has to break that glass ceiling.
Gloria Molina had a blessed and accomplished life. She was inherently brave and took no prisoners. Not long before she died, when she knew she had cancer, she walked the Camino del Santiago for the second time. Everyone should know the story of this truly amazing woman.
An art exhibit in the theater lobby displays paintings of Gloria Molina by various artists and a timeline of her life.
CASA 0101 information and tickets
2102 E. 1st St., Los Angeles, CA 90033
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