Cerritos College alumni, actor Alejandro Patino and actress Doreen Wiley, were invited to reunite to play big roles in the presentation of “The Rimers of Eldritch,” directed by Janet Miller.

Having Patino and Wiley as part of the play is different than other plays at Cerritos because both of them play professional roles in the world of the acting industry.

Patino is familiar to the Burnight Theatre stage for playing roles in productions such as “Macbeth,” “Jesus Christ Superstar” and “A Chorus Line.”

He participated in movies such as “Fast and Furious” alongside Vin Diesel and was part of “Iron Man 2” alongside Robert Downey Jr.

“It feels great to be seen on the big screen, especially in movies like that,” Patino refers to his role in “Fast and Furious.”

He also appeared as the gardener for Eva Longoria’s character Gabrielle Solis’ new Latino in the ABC series, “Desperate Housewives.”

Patino explains why he accepted to come back to a role in the Rimers of Eldritch as Peck Johnson after hitting the big screen.

“[Miller] had an actor that dropped out and she called me up to ask me if I had some time to come in and help her with fulfilling that role.”

Most of the roles Patino has played have been the “Mexican” or “Gangster” character.

“My biggest accomplishment or biggest film that I have worked on that gave me the emphasis to push myself as an actor was a movie that I did with Steve Martin and Eddie Murphy called ‘Bowfinger’,” said Patino.

“That was my wake-up call to just focus on my acting,” he continued.

Wiley has done several shows at Cerritos College before returning to play the part of Mary Windrod for “Eldritch.”

She describes the character of Windrod as an acting challenge for her because it is a very serious role of an elderly woman who is suffering from dementia.

By accepting this part, she steps out of her comfort zone of familiar roles in which she sings and dances, for example being a part of Broadway and Shakespeare plays.

“When I was offered the [Windrod] role I wasn’t certain I could do it and then I thought if I don’t accept this role then I have no right to call myself an actor because its such an acting challenge,” Wiley said.

Miller expressed her thoughts and feelings about having professional actors at Cerritos College to play roles for Eldritch.

“It’s always great to have that professional level. Its really great to bring in professionals to work with the students because they can share their experience with the students.”

The play’s set in the mid-20th century in Eldritch, Missouri.

The towns people of Eldritch focus on the murder of aging Hermit Skelly by a woman who mistaken him for attempting rape when he was actually trying to prevent one.

Opening night for “The Rimers of Eldritch” will be on Friday at the Burnight Theatre.

Pre-sale tickets are $12 general admission and $10 for staff, faculty, alumni and Cerritos College students with the Spring ‘12 purple I.D. sticker.

Tickets will also be available prior to the 8 p.m. show.