Diego Rivera: His Story by Herbert Siguenza at the East LA Library

El Martillo Press teams up with the Mexican Cultural Institute of Los Angeles and the Chicano Resource Center (CRC) at the East LA Library to present the new one-man show by actor and playwright Herbert Siguenza, Diego Rivera: His Story!

Chicano Resource Center

East LA Library

4837 E 3rd St

Los Angeles, CA 90022

Diego Rivera: His Story is an evocative one-person theatrical play co-written by and starring Herbert Siguenza of the Chicano group Culture Clash. Set in the aftermath of Frida Kahlo's funeral, the performance follows the influential Mexican muralist in his studio as he grapples with grief and mortality. During the play, Rivera is visited by Cantinflas, a charismatic comic figure who serves as his Mexican consciousness. Through a compelling blend of visuals, music, and monologue, Rivera recounts his turbulent life, politics, and complex relationships. The piece was directed by Sam Woodhouse and co-written with Carlos Morton.

Diego Rivera: His Story staged in University of Gdansk in Poland on May 27, 2026

https://youtu.be/zKtK17M2e7c?si=zyabFfwOOdb7lcgn

Herbert Siguenza was recently the Playwright in Residence for the San Diego Repertory Theatre, thanks to a generous grant from the  Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Herbert is also a founding member of the performance group CULTURE CLASH. Along with Richard Montoya and Ric Salinas, Culture Clash is the most produced Chicano theater troupe in the United States. Founded in San Francisco in 1984, Culture Clash has performed on the stages of America’s top regional theaters including the Mark Taper Forum, The Kennedy Center, The Arena Stage, The Alley Theater, The Berkeley Repertory, Yale Repertory, South Coast Rep, La Jolla Playhouse, San Diego Rep, and Syracuse Stage, The Huntington Stage and countless universities and colleges. Mr. Siguenza has co-written, and or performed in the following Culture Clash plays: Bordertown Now, American Night (Commissioned by Oregon Shakespeare Festival), Palestine New Mexico, Water and Power, Chavez Ravine (all three commissioned by the Mark Taper Forum) , Peace (Commissioned by The Getty Villa), Zorro in Hell! (Commissioned by the Berkeley Rep), The Birds (Commissioned by the Berkeley Rep and South Coast Rep), Bordertown (commissioned by the San Diego Rep), Radio Mambo, Nuyorican Stories, Anthems, S.O.S., A Bowl of Beings, The Mission, and others. As a solo writer and performer, Mr. Siguenza has written and produced Cantinflas!, A Weekend with Pablo Picasso, Steal Heaven, El Henry (Best new play San Diego Critics Circle Award 2014), Manifest Destinitis, Beachtown, Bad Hombres/Good Wives, A People’s Cuban Christmas Tale, It’s A Wonderful Vida, Star of Ocotillo and The Many Sins of Diego Rivera. Mr. Siguenza is also an accomplished visual artist and has exhibited both nationally and internationally. He has a BFA in printmaking from the California College of Arts, Oakland, California. TV and Film credits: Ben Ten Alien Swarm for the Cartoon Network, Larry Crowne feature film directed by Tom Hanks. His voice was prominently featured in Pixar’s 2017 Oscar winning animation feature, Coco.

Herbert Siguenza in the VI Conversatorios de las Artes with the Mexican Cultural Institute of Los Angeles. Hosted by the Chicano Resource Center (CRC) of the East LA Library. Introduction and brief Q&A led by El Martillo Press co-founder and editor-in-chief David A. Romero.

Mexican Cultural Institute of Los Angeles, Inc. provides programming and events which promote the contribution of Mexican culture to the Chicano diaspora and the larger cultural landscape of the United States. It is our hope that through the art and cultural events and activities presented by the Mexican Cultural institute more people will have a greater awareness of their own selves, our culture, and the influences upon their lives.

Founded by Matt Sedillo and David A. Romero, El Martillo Press publishes writers whose pens strike the page with clear intent; words with purpose to pry apart assumed norms and to hammer away at injustice. El Martillo Press proactively publishes writers looking to pound the pavement to promote their work and the work of their fellow pressmates. El Martillo is the builder of bridges and the destroyer of walls.