Casting for the first two plays in the Taper, Too season, Drive My Coche by Roy Conboy, and Black Butterfly, Jaguar Girl, Pinata Woman and Other Superhero Girls, Like Me created by Luis Alfaro, has been announced. Jesse Borrego and Ara Celi will appear in Coche, which is directed by Diane Rodriguez. Cristina Frias, Carla Jiminez, Justino Machado, Christina Malpero and Zilah Mendoza are featured in Butterfly, which is based on the writings of East Los Angeles poets Alma Cervantes, Sandra C. Munoz and Marisela Norte. Alfaro directs.The double bill runs June 8-25 at The Actors' Gang. The Square, conceived by Chay Yew and Lisa Peterson (who also directs) is set for July 1-16, followed by Lynn Manning's Weights, July 8-17. There will be a special presentation on Friday June 23 at 11 PM, of Night of Griots, a hip-hop spoken-word fest organized by Jerry Quickley.

Actors' Gang is located at 6209 Santa Monica Blvd. For tickets and information call (213) 628-2772 or visit TaperAhmanson.com

-- By Willard Manus
Southern California Correspondent