PLACAS, The Most Dangerous Tattoo, a play by Paul S. Flores, developed through a collaboration with the Central American Resource Center (CARECEN) and directed by Michael John Garces, returns to the Bay Area for performances at Laney College Theater in Oakland, March 26-29.
PLACAS stars Ric Salinas as Salvadoran immigrant Fausto Carbajal, a now middle-aged ex-gang member recently released from prison. As a requirement of his parole Fausto must remove the tattoos that mark him as a member of his gang. Wearied by a lifetime of violence, he accepts the terms. He is determined to reunite his family, traumatized by three decades of war, forced migrations and street crime, and to dissuade his son from entering a gang.
Along with Salinas, the cast features Carolyn Zeller, Luis “Xago” Juarez, Xavi Moreno, Sarita Ocon, and Fidel Gomez. Performances are at 8 p.m. and tickets are $12-$40,000. The March 2014 performances at Laney Collage are produced by the San Francisco International Arts Festival. March 28 includes a post-performance reception with the artists and March 29 includes a performance event with Youth Voice for Change, featuring Oakland youth. Tickets are available online or through 1-800-838-3006. The play will tour nationally in 2014.