Celestial Flesh: A Sacrilegious Comedy, is set in the 1980s, in a downtown Los Angeles church—loosely based on La Placita—declares itself a sanctuary in order to harbor Central American refugees. Inadvertently, a parishioner gets involved in a major cocaine operation—led by a Nicaraguan "contra" based in L.A.—which is helping to fund weapons for the "contras," as well as for gangs in South Central. Within the play, a radical nun and some refugees work on a show about El Salvadoran martyr Archbishop Oscar Romero in spite of increasing threats from an archconservative Cardinal, a CIA-backed drug dealer, and an Central American death squad. Nonetheless, the church's pastor—a renegade priest who is loosely based on the late pastor of La Placita, Father Luis Olivares—along with several refugees, repel a near attack by the U.S. marines and the I.N.S. and take over the church during the play's comically surreal finale.

WHAT: CELESTIAL FLESH: A Sacrilegious Comedy, a world premiere production of a play by critically acclaimed playwright (and CSUN playwriting professor), Rick Mitchell.

WHO: Presented by Urban Ensemble ("an outstanding ensemble," LA Weekly.) Written and directed by Rick Mitchell (critically acclaimed dramatist and CSUN playwriting professor). Play features a professional, all-Latino cast.

WHERE: Raven Playhouse, 5233 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood. Near Metro station.

WHEN/HOW MUCH: May 12th-June 5th. Thursdays-Saturdays, 8:00p.m.; Sundays, 7:00p.m. Admission: $15.00. Student discounts. For reservations call: (818) 754-1570.