PV’s Katia Gomez Stars in World PremiePlay at the Beautiful Theatricum Botanicum in Topanga.

By Jordan Tyler Kessler

Image credit: Kent Kanouse/Snap Man flickr.com

Katia Gomez moved to PV six years ago and quickly rose from Academy Hill Homes Association Board Member to Board President — a role in which she has served for three years. When she isn’t attending crimewatch meetings, liaising with Chadwick school, or fundraising for community projects, she can be found performing on stage and screen. Currently, she is acting in the world premiere of John Guerra’s play, “The Last, Best Small Town,” at Will Geer’s Theatricum Botanicum, a beautiful outdoor venue in Topanga. She plays Della, a Latina mother and maid in the town of Fillmore during the 2008 recession.

The Last, Best Small Town – WORLD PREMIERE

Written by John Guerra
Directed by Ellen Geer
July 31st – November 6th

This production is made possible in part by a grant from the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs.

Buy Tickets Here

The Last Best Small Town tells the story of two neighboring families—one Latine and one White—who live in the small Southern California town of Fillmore. As the first decade of the 21st century unfolds, the children of these families come of age, fall in love, and suffer loss, as they continually hunt for their place in a world that can no longer promise them a better life than their parents.

“I always knew I wanted to be an actress, starting from when I was in middle school. I remember doing a play with my sister...and I didn’t really think people would laugh. I was just having fun and everybody was cracking up in the audience...I think after that I was like – maybe I can be an actress!”

After having her first daughter, Katia began her formal acting training; studying the Uta Hagen technique at ActTrue in Miami, then Meisner at Act One Studios and Improv at Second City in Chicago. Reflecting on her training, she shares, “With Uta Hagen, I learned a lot about taking in the environment: what does it smell like, what does it sound like? With Meisner, [I learned about] taking in my partner. And with improv, [I learned about] thinking on my feet – in the moment.” Although she broke into the professional acting world through her comedic work, her heart lies with drama, which is part of why she loves this play and her character, Della.

Because this is the world premiere of the show, Katia has the unique opportunity to build Della’s character in collaboration with the writer, John Guerra. Through the rehearsal process, Katia has worked with John and the actor playing her husband, Richard Azurdia, to add sprinkles of Spanish dialogue to the initially English-only text.

“As actors we like to be a part of something that means something. [John’s] presence and his demeanor makes me feel like I’m part of something important. And [director] Ellen Geer is brilliant because she knows exactly what to say to hit straight at the bullseye...I feel myself stretching and growing as an actor through this process.”

Katia relates to Della because they both value their community and their families above all else. Both Katia and Della are often found helping their neighbors. Katia also relates to Della’s pride in being Latina. Katia’s first language was Spanish, and she made an effort to pass along the language/culture to her daughters. Despite Della’s warm nature, “during the rehearsal process, and with the caring and watchful eye of Ellen Geer — who I think is amazing — I found that [Della] is a ball of fire. I found that [Della’s] a force that is driven by love.”

Reserve your tickets to see PV community member and rising star, Katia Gomez in “The Last, Best, Small Town” at www.theatricum.com.