Dear Teatrista,
On behalf of the Chicago Latino Theater Alliance (CLATA), our Board of Directors and staff, it is my honor to welcome you to Destinos: 7th Chicago International Latino Theater Festival, a celebration of Latine voices, stories, and artistry. We are thrilled to bring together talented artists from Chicago, the United States, Latin America, and the Caribbean for a festival showcasing our culture’s richness and diversity.
Destinos has always been more than just a theater festival; it’s a journey into the heart of our shared heritage, it’s an act of resistance, of creating space where there is no space for us, it’s about centering and celebrating our lived experiences and narratives, and a vibrant reminder of the power of theater to connect us all. We hope that this festival inspires you, provokes thought, and allows you to experience the vast range of narratives that the Latine theater community brings to the stage.
Chicago is home to a vibrant theater scene with well over two hundred theatre groups. As a Chicago native, that is something I take great pride in. Chicago’s Latine theater scene is also robust with approximately ten theater groups, most of which are itinerant. The sad reality is that when you take a closer look at the data, what you find is that only approximately 1.3% of Chicago’s theater venues are Latino-owned. In a city where Latinos make up 33% of the population, this is unacceptable. Chicago can do better. We can do better and we will.
We believe in the power of data and the importance of celebrating our impact. Last year, through 133 performances, Destinos contracted over 300 theater artists and professionals and made a meaningful economic impact in 11 different Chicago neighborhoods. Thanks to the hard work of our co-presenters and partners, we welcomed over 14,000 attendees to the festival.
This year, we are making history with the largest Destinos Festival, presenting 22 productions throughout seven weeks at 15 venues across Chicago. It is no easy task. We put a lot of work and heart into this festival and we hope it shows. The artwork for this year’s festival is a tribute to the theater groups, artists- both on and off the stage- and countless other people who put so much love into what they do to ensure that Latine stories are told with so much care and beauty. Through Destinos, we pay tribute to all of you.
As you explore the performances and events, I encourage you to engage with the artists, share your thoughts, and share space with us. We want to hear from you. Your participation is what makes this festival possible, and we are deeply grateful for your continued commitment to celebrating and uplifting Latine voices. Your presence is a silent but strongly visible “I believe in you” that means the world to so many of us. It does not go unnoticed.
Thank you for joining us, and enjoy the magic of Destinos!
Gracias,
Jorge Valdivia Executive Director Chicago Latino Theater Alliance
Table of Contents
About Us
The Chicago Latino Theater Alliance is a leading advocate organization for Latine theater in Chicago. Supporting the development of emerging and established Latine playwrights, actors, directors and theater professionals is central to our mission. Our goal is to cultivate a vibrant and inclusive theater community, by presenting and producing Latine theater that celebrates and promotes the richness and diversity of our Latinidad. We believe together we can build a stronger and more sustainable Latine theater industry.
CLATA’s signature programs include Destinos: Chicago International Latino Theater Festival, an annual, citywide festival showcasing Chicago’s Latine theater artists and companies alongside top Latine artists from the U.S. and Latin America and Inicios: Chicago Latine Playwright Festival, an annual festival dedicated to elevating and promoting Latine playwrights. In Spring 2024, CLATA launched Latine Theatre Artist Week, a series of professional development events and workshops culminating in the Latine Open Casting Call Day, where Latine actors audition for premier Chicagoland theater companies.
Board of Directors
Rose Mary Bombela Chairperson
Omar Diaz Board Member
Noriega Board Member
Carlos Tortolero Vice President and Co-Founder Vice Chair
Melissa Flores Board Member
Salomón Board Member
Enrique Lopez Treasurer
Antonio Guillen Board Member
Roche Schulfer Board Member
Mony Ruiz-Velasco Secretary and Co-Founder
Jose Melendez Board Member
Jorge Valdivia Board Member
Ydalmi
Doris
Staff
Jorge Valdivia Executive Director
Mary Regalado Executive Assistant
Christine A. Pérez Managing Director
Alexa Moreno Communications Intern
Esteban Schemberg Production Manager
Martha Flores Bookkeeper
Samanta Cubias Director of Development
Destinos Festival Staff
Charlie Malave Production Manager for Destinos Festival
Creative Public Relations
Joe Valenzuela Graphic Designer Diego Bolivar Videographer
Jay Kelly PR
Accounting
Yvonne P. Afable Accountant
Afable Consulting LLC
Justyna Solan Auditor, Kopczyk, Osher, Scott CPA’s
Special Acknowledgements
We would like to express our deepest appreciation to the following individuals for their invaluable insights, constructive suggestions, and generosity during the planning and development of our programming this year.
Rocío Aranda-Alvarado, Ouida Maedel, Marissa Lynn Jones and The League of Chicago Theatres, Adelina Feldman-Schultz, Rey Andujar, Sandra Delgado, Isaac Gomez, Brook Flannigan, Patrick Zakem, Sandra Aponte, Susan Booth, John Collins and Paige Whitson-Martini.
Venues
A. Aguijon Theater 2707 N Laramie Ave Chicago, IL
B. Albany Park Theater 3547 W Montrose Ave Chicago, IL
C. APO Cultural Center 1438 W 18th St Chicago, IL
D. Center on Halsted 3656 N Halsted St Chicago, IL
E. Chicago Shakespeare Theater 800 E Grand Ave Chicago, IL
F. Citlalin Gallery and Theater 2005 S Blue Island Ave Chicago, IL
G. The Den Theatre 1331 N Milwaukee Ave Chicago, IL
H. The Greenhouse Theater 2257 N Lincoln Ave Chicago, IL
I. National Museum of Mexican Art 1852 W 19th St Chicago, IL
J. Petterino’s 50 W Randolph St Chicago, IL
K. St. Augustine College 1345 W. Argyle St Chicago, IL
L. Steppenwolf 1700 Theater 1700 N Halsted St Chicago, IL
M. Teatro Tariakuri 3117 W 63rd St Chicago, IL
N. The Storyfront 4346 S Ashland Ave Chicago, IL
O. Wirtz Theater 710 N. Lake Shore Drive Chicago, IL
Schedule
October
El Brote (Argentina) Oct 2-5
Elvira Oct 3-26
Latin Standards (San Francisco, CA) Oct 4-5
El Piélago de las Calamidades Oct 5-27
The Magic Parlour Presents Siegfried Tieber (Los Angeles, CA) Oct 9-20
Que Te Vaya Bien Oct 10-27
Ruth on the Rocks Oct 11-Nov 16
Jocey y Las Mariachis Oct 12-27
Port of Entry Oct 17-Nov 2
Desaparecidas (New York, NY) Oct 18-20
Spotlight Week:
80 Minutes Around the World: Immigration Stories Oct 18
Hay Comida en Casa: A comedy show pa’ la cultura Oct 19
Scratch Night Oct 21
Azira’i (Brazil) Oct 24-27
Juicio a una Zorra Oct 24-Nov 10
Más Dramáticas Oct 23-24
La Memoria de los Sésiles (Chile) Oct 31-Nov 3
November
Adverses Nov 1-Dec 15
Where Do We Sit On The Bus? Nov 15-17
I came here to weep (Brooklyn, NY) Nov 15-16
Brote (ARGENTINA)
CRIOLLA
El Brote (ARGENTINA)
Written by: Emiliano Dionisi | Directed by: Emiliano Dionisi
Synopsis
The lines between fiction and reality begin to blur for an actor, and now he cannot even be sure who is writing the events in his own life. What kind of character are we in this story?
A un actor se le comienzan a desdibujar los límites entre la ficción y la realidad y ahora desconfía de quien escribe los acontecimientos de su vida ¿Qué clase de personaje somos en esta historia? NORTH
Cast
Roberto Peloni
Production team
Cast: Roberto Peloni
Set Design: Micaela Sleigh
Lighting Design: Agnese Lozupone
Sound Design: Martin Rodriguez
Graphic Design: Nahuel Lamoglia
Photography: Luis Ezcurra
Cover Design: Roberto Peloni
Stage Manager: Juan José Barocelli
Production Manager: Sebastián Ezcurra
Production Assistant: Fernando Rosales
Produced by: Compañía Criolla
Lighting Supervisor: Daphne Agosin*
Production Assistant: Fernando Rosales*
About the company/artist:
Founded in 2009, Compañía Criolla is one of the most prolific and recognized companies of the last decade. The company has received numerous national and international awards and distinctions, including ACE, Estrella de Mar, Teatro del Mundo, A.T.I.N.A, Certamen Barroco (Almagro, Spain), Florencio Sánchez (Uruguay), and HUGO. Some of their productions include Huesito Caracú, Recuerdos a la Hora de la Siesta, El Puente Azul, Cyrano de Más Acá, El Apego, Los Monstruos, Romeo y Julieta de Bolsillo, Perderte Otra Vez, and Patas Cortas, among others.
**CLATA Production Team
WED, THU, FRI AND SAT 8PM
DRAMA 90 MIN 15+ SPANISH WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES DEN THEATRE (UPSTAIRS MAINSTAGE) 1331 N. MILWAUKEE AVE TICKET PRICE $26-$31
PURCHASE TICKETS
Elvira COLECTIVO
Elvira
Written by: Raúl Dorantes | Directed by: Mark Litwicki
Synopsis
Elvira tells the story of Elvira Arellano, a Mexican immigrant, single mother, worker and eventual activist. Fearing deportation, Elvira takes sanctuary for a year in a Humboldt Park church. Her year enclosed in sanctuary allows her to observe herself and the systems that led to her arrest and enclosure. Her son, a friend, her pastor, and other supporters accompany her as well as the demands and cruelty of the law-is-the-law Sistema. This is a story about a struggle for survival and for justice, but also about loss. It is not triumphant; the struggle goes on.
Elvira cuenta la historia de Elvira Arellano, una inmigrante mexicana, madre soltera, trabajadora y activista. Al enfrentar su deportación, Elvira vive por un año en una iglesia ubicada en Humboldt Park declarada como santuario. Ese año le permite observarse a sí misma y observar al sistema que la llevó a su orden de arresto y encierro. Su hijo, una amiga, su pastora y un grupo de simpatizantes la acompañan mientras enfrenta la crueldad del defensor de la ley Sistema. Se trata de una historia acerca de la lucha por la sobrevivencia y el logro de la justicia, así como sobre la pérdida. No es un relato que declara el triunfo; pues la lucha sigue.
Production team
Music Director and Composer: JuanFra Dimas
Light Designer: Scott Wagner
Custom and MakeUp Design: Victor Velazquez
Graphic Design: Joe Valenzuela and Laura Torres Murcia Carpenter: Daniel Patiño
Stage Manager: Pedro Pablo Marín
Light Operator: Juan Garzón and Jessica Garzón
Subtitles Operator: Emily Masó
About the company/artist:
Since its inception in 2009, Colectivo El Pozo has expanded theatrical opportunities for Chicago artists that are mutually interested in developing Spanish-language theatre works within the broader scope of immigration. Our work is original and driven by writers from the Latina/o diaspora in the US. El Pozo develops and produces at least two new works per season, as well as staged dramatized readings throughout the year. El Pozo strives for cutting edge theatre that incorporates a signature multimedia component to its productions. In addition, we collaborate with a rich and diverse enclave of artists that are invested in furthering our mission. El Pozo offers a space where multidisciplinary artists with an interest in Spanish-language theatre can contribute in a meaningful way and thrive. Special thanks to Elvira Arellano for sharing her and her family’s story with us.
AUGUSTINE COLLEGE (CHARLIE CHAPLIN AUDITORIUM) 1345 W. ARGYLE ST. OCT 02 THROUGH OCT 26
TRAGEDY 75 MIN ALL AGES SPANISH WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES PURCHASE TICKETS
$20-$25
Armando Villegas
Juanjo Lopez
Wannapa Pimtong-Eubanks
Alma Pauleth
Mayra I. Echeverría
Aida Palma Carpio
Latin Standards (SAN FRANCISCO, CA)
The Chicago Latino Theater Alliance and Center on Halsted present:
Latin Standards (SAN FRANCISCO, CA)
Written by: Marga Gomez | Originally Directed by: David Schweizer
Synopsis
Staged as an unmusical “final farewell concert” Marga Gomez shares a loving, funny and true story of perseverance and creative and caffeinated addiction passed down from immigrant father to lesbian daughter. Mixing nostalgia, urgency, and comic edge, Gomez portrays herself as a driven adult child of a Cuban entertainer as well as some unforgettable characters from Washington Heights in the 1960s to a Latiné drag queen bar in 2012 San Francisco. Latin Standards premiered Off Broadway at the Public Theater’s “Under The Radar Festival” and has gone on to presentations in Los Angeles, Miami, Tucson and San Francisco. The New York Times named it “Critic’s Pick” for its “Winning heart and humor.”
Presentada como un “concierto de despedida” sin musica, Marga Gomez comparte una historia divertida y real sobre la perseverancia y una adicción creativa a la cafeína, heredada de un padre inmigrante a su hija lesbiana. Mezclando nostalgia y humor, Gomez se retrata a sí misma como la hija adulta impulsada de un artista cubano, así como algunos personajes inolvidables, desde Washington Heights en la década de los 60’s hasta un bar de drag queens latinos en San Francisco en 2012. Latin Standards se estrenó Off-Broadway en el Under The Radar Festival del Public Theater y ha tenido presentaciones en Los Ángeles, Miami, Tucson y San Francisco. El New York Times lo nombró Critic’s Pick por su “ increíble humor y mucho corazón”.
Cast
Production team
Production Assistant: Fernando Rosales
Sound and Light Board Operator: Richie Shiraldi
Lighting Supervisor: Daphne Agosin*
Production Assistant: Fernando Rosales*
About the company/artist:
Marga Gomez (she/her) is the writer/performer of 15 solo plays which have been produced nationally and in New York at La MaMa ETC, Dixon Place, The Public Theater, and internationally at the Edinburgh Fringe and Montreal’s Just For Laughs Festival. Her awards include the GLAAD Media Award for Theatre, The San Francisco Arts Council Individual Artist Grant, The Center for Cultural Innovation Grant, and the 2022 United States Artists Fellowship. She was an original member of the Latiné performance ensemble Culture Clash. Her acting credits include Fefu and Her Friends, American Conservatory Theater, and a guest role on Netflix Sense8. She is also a stand up comedian with appearances on Comedy Central, LOGO, HBO’s Comic Relief, Showtime’s Latino Laugh Festival and PBS. She was recently voted 2024 “Best Comedian” by readers of the San Francisco Bay Guardian. Her website is margagomez.com *CLATA Production Team
CHICAGO PREMIERE ALL PERFORMANCES 8PM OCT 04 THROUGH OCT 05
75 MIN 16+ ENGLISH CENTER ON HALSTED
3656 N. HALSTED ST TICKET PRICE
$25-$30 PURCHASE TICKETS
Marga Gomez
El Piélago de las Calamidades
El Piélago de las Calamidades
Written by: Alejandro Licona | Artistic Director: Karla Galvan
Synopsis
El Piélago de las Calamidades is the unwritten story of what happened to the nomadic actors who were hired by Hamlet to represent the murder of his father.
El Piélago de las Calamidades es la historia no escrita de lo que ocurrió a los actores trashumantes que fueron contratados por Hamlet para representar el asesinato de su padre.
Cast
Jose Manuel Aguayo
Victor Mallari
Daniela Aranda Nancy Mata Esteban Pantoja Manuel Duarte Patricia
Production team
Technical Directors: Saul Arce, Xochitl Raigoza
Stage Manager: Esteban Pantoja, Xochitl Raigoza
Front of House: Nicolas Raigoza, Esmeralda Sanchez
Master Carpenter: Saul Arce, Nicolas Raigoza
Set Design/Escenografia: Saul Arce, Nicolas Raigoza, Jennifer Garcia
Lighting Designer: Saul Arce, Victor Mallari
Vestuario/Costume: Jennifer Garcia
Wardrobe Mistress: Jennifer Garcia
Sound Designer: Saul Arce, Victor Mallari
Sound Engineer: Saul Arce, Victor Mallari
Props Master: Jennifer Garcia
Subtitles: Sofia Villareal
Graphic Design: Karla Galvan, Bryan Tims
About the company/artist:
Teatro Tariakuri, founded in 2004 in Chicago, is dedicated to offering affordable performing arts classes and professional training. Serving the Chicago Lawn community and beyond with bilingual dance, theater, and Spanish-language productions tailored for our Spanish-speaking audience.
SPANISH WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES
PURCHASE TICKETS
Galvan
(LOS ANGELES, CA)
THE MAGIC PARLOUR PRESENTS Siegfried Tieber
The Goodman Theatre in collaboration with The Chicago Latino Theater Alliance presents:
THE MAGIC PARLOUR PRESENTS
Siegfried Tieber
(LOS ANGELES, CA)
Synopsis
Originally from Ecuador, Los Angeles-based magician Siegfried Tieber headlines at The Magic Parlour for 12 performances only. Combining sleight-of-hand, psychology, and humor, Siegfried Tieber is one of Dennis Watkins’ favorite magical entertainers. Following the main show, guests can also add-on an Encore Room experience for even more mind-boggling magic and an opportunity to get to know Siegfried through a short Q&A.
Originalmente de Ecuador, el mago Siegfried Tieber, radicado en Los Ángeles, encabeza The Magic Parlour con solo 12 presentaciones. Combinando ilusionismo, psicología y humor, Siegfried Tieber es uno de los artistas de magia favoritos de Dennis Watkins. Después del espectáculo principal, los asistentes podrán agregar la experiencia de la Sala Encore para disfrutar de más magia y la oportunidad de conocer a Siegfried a través de una breve sesión de preguntas y respuestas.
3 Card Monte
Join us on Wednesday, October 9th and Wednesday, October 16th for 3 Card Monte! For two nights only, experience world-class magic with Siegfried Tieber and local magicians Luis Carreon and Mago Gozner. Sit around the table with each of these highly-acclaimed magical artists for a round-robin night of miracles right in front of your eyes.
Por sólo dos noches, experimenta magia de clase mundial con Siegfried Tieber y los magos locales Luis Carreón y Mago Gozner. Siéntate alrededor de la mesa con cada uno de estos aclamados artistas en una noche de milagros que sucederán justo frente a tus ojos.Estándares Latinos) compuestas por su difunto padre Willy Chevalier: un comediante, productor, empresario y compositor de canciones para bailar, que revelan celos y obsesiones.
Featuring Luis Carreon and Mago Gozner Wednesday, October 9th and October 16th All performances at 7:30pm Ticket Price: $70
About the company/artist:
Siegfried Tieber is a Los Angeles-based performer and sleight-of-hand magician. Born and raised in Ecuador, his first international appearance was in 2011 in Bogotá, Colombia. In 2015, Siegfried headlined at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, the largest arts festival in the world, where his performance was highly praised by reviewers and critics. 2017 saw the premiere of his show See/Saw in Los Angeles and in 2018 the project was taken to New York, where Time Out NY listed it as #1 in its “The best magic shows in New York City.” Siegfried has been featured in prominent media outlets such as The Huffington Post, The Los Angeles Times, and Forbes. Most recently he was invited to be part of Penn & Teller: Fool Us, a television series featuring the legendary performance duo (yes, he did fool them).
Click here for information about The Magic Parlour.
THU 7:30PM FRI 7PM AND 9:30PM SAT 4:30PM AND 7:30PM SUN 2PM OCT 09 THROUGH OCT 20
$95 INCLUDES AN ENCORE ROOM EXPERIENCE FOLLOWING THE SHOW
Que Te Vaya Bien
Que Te Vaya Bien
Written by: Omar Vicente Fernandez
Directed by:
Octavio Montes De Oca
Synopsis
Set in Wrigley Field during a Cubs game, Que Te Vaya Bien tells the story of Elias, a young man on a journey toward reconciliation with his father Mario. After learning that his wife is pregnant, Elias is plagued by doubts about his ability to be a good father. He goes to Wrigley Field to face his fears and finally talk to his father about the childhood experiences that followed him into adulthood. Told with humor and heart, Que Te Vaya Bien is a universal story that illustrates that no matter where you are from, all families share the same discordant expectations and disconnects.
Ambientada en el Wrigley Field durante un partido de los Cubs, Que Te Vaya Bien cuenta la historia de Elias, un joven que emprende un viaje hacia la reconciliación con su padre Mario. Después de enterarse de que su esposa está embarazada, Elias se ve acosado por dudas sobre su capacidad para ser un buen padre. Va al Wrigley Field para enfrentar sus miedos y finalmente hablar con su padre sobre las experiencias de la infancia que lo siguieron hasta la edad adulta. Narrada con humor y corazón, Que Te Vaya Bien es una historia universal que ilustra que, sin importar de dónde seas, todas las familias comparten las mismas expectativas discordantes y desconexiones.
Cast
Production team
Assistant Director: Paloma Lozano
Scenic Designer: Harrison Ornelas
Light Designer: Zuzel Garcia
Sound Designer: Gina Montalvo
Properties and Costume Designer: Jean Gottlieb
Fight/Intimacy Director: Gaby Labotka
Casting Director: Maria Arreola
Stage Manager: Oriol Velez Marimon
Translation by: Isabel Quintero
Production Manager: Jean Gottlieb
About the company/artist:
Subtext Studio Theatre Company prides itself on producing new work that generates thought-provoking and groundbreaking art reflective of all cultures, peoples and ideas. It produces new plays by diverse playwrights, plays that center the voices of marginalized communities and peoples. Our goal is to express the ideas, voices and experiences of all people to better understand ourselves, our culture and our community. Subtext Studio Theater Company endeavors to provide a safe space for the creation of new theatrical works, following a production model that honors and promotes equity, diversity and inclusion on all levels.
*No 2:30pm performance on October 12
FRI 7:30PM SAT 2:30PM AND 7:30PM SUN 2:30PM*
Fabian Guerrero
Adriel Irizarry
Nelson Rodriguez
Ruth on the Rocks
Ruth on the Rocks
Written by: Ruth Guerra | Developed and Directed by: Ricardo Gamboa
Synopsis
Ruth on the Rocks is a kinetic, immersive, and autobiographical one-woman show performed by Chicago Mexican American actress, comedian, and storyteller Ruth Guerra. Guerra invites audience members to make a mixtape with her while she shares stories that span from hilarious to heartbreaking and range from coming-of-age tales on the Southside to experiences about looking for love at 50-years-old. Although deeply personal, Latinos, women, and Chicagoans will see themselves in Ruth’s stories that make up this everchanging show that is performed in the Back of the Yards storefront where her late father repaired refrigerators.
Production team
Environmental and Set Design: Ricardo Gamboa
Assistant Director & Environmental and Set Design: Eliseo Real Stage Manager, Sound Design, Choreography and Movement: Gina Montalvo Lighting Design: Conchita Avitia Muralist: Eduardo Lopez
About the company/artist:
Concrete Content was founded by Chicago artists Ricardo Gamboa, Sean Parris and Katrina Dion to create radical performance and media work that is accessible, dynamic, and aims to provide transformative aesthetic and cultural experiences for Chicago’s communities of color and working class communities.
Ruth Guerra
y Las Mariachis
GIRL’S
Jocey
Jocey y Las Mariachis
Created by: Jocey Villa | Written by: Jocey Villa and Flavia Pallozzi
Directed by: Yajaira Custodio
Synopsis
From the heart of Chicago, a one-woman musical unfolds in an hour-long exploration of culture, love, and self-discovery, set to the vibrant sounds of Mariachi music.
From the heart of Chicago, a one-woman musical unfolds in an hour-long exploration of culture, love, and self-discovery, set to the vibrant sounds of Mariachi music.
Cast
Jocey Villa
Production team
Artistic Director: Xavier Custodio
Set Designer: Shayna Patel
Lighting Designer: Sebastian Medina
Sound Designer: Kyle Anthony Cortes
Stage Manager: Anika Flores
About the company/artist:
Vision Latino Theater Company, Latinos with a Vision, was founded in August of 2014 by Xavier Custodio, Yajaira Custodio and Johnathan Nieves to break down racial boundaries and to open the minds of audiences to Latino struggles and perseverance through theatre.
Presented in partnership with the Chicago Latino Theater Alliance
Port of Entry
Created by: Albany Park Theater Project and Third Rail Projects
Directed by: David Feiner, Devika Ranjan, Edward Rice, Jennine Willett, Maggie Popadiak, Marissa Nielsen-Pincus, Miguel Angel Rodriguez, Roxanne Kidd and Steph Paul
Synopsis
Port of Entry invites you to step inside the real-life stories of immigrants and refugees from all parts of the world living side by side in a single apartment building in one of the country’s most diverse immigrant communities: Chicago’s Albany Park. Each performance of Port of Entry welcomes just 28 audience members into an iconic courtyard apartment building meticulously recreated in a 12,000 square foot warehouse. With each step through this 3-story immersive world, guests experience the struggles, joys, and triumphs of people from around the globe forging new lives alongside one another. Co-created by Albany Park Theater Project and Third Rail Projects and performed by APTP’s youth ensemble, Port of Entry will take you on a journey through time and across cultures.
Port of Entry te invita a adentrarte en las historias reales de inmigrantes y refugiados de todas partes del mundo que viven en un edificio de apartamentos en una de las comunidades más diversas del país: Albany Park en Chicago. Solo 28 personas pueden acceder a cada función de Port of Entry que se sitúa en un en un almacén de 12,000 pies cuadrados recreando un icónico edificio de apartamentos. En este mundo inmersivo compuesto de 3 pisos, el público experimentará las luchas, alegrías y triunfos de personas de todo el mundo que forjan nuevas vidas. Co-creado por Albany Park Theater Project y Third Rail Projects y protagonizado por el elenco juvenil de APTP, Port of Entry te llevará en un viaje a través del tiempo y las culturas.
Cast
Susana Acevedo, Jaylynn Aguilar, Osleydi Aguilar, Lesly Aguirre, Maidenwena Alba, Jasmine Avila, Anthony Bautista, Nida Baig, LeTorria Bell, Emily Cardona, Baneet Chawla, Julissa Contreras, Viktoria Cruz, Carlos DeSantiago, Aylin Esquivel, Isabella Fiscal, Samantha Gallegos, Tamara Gallegos, Lesleigh Garcia, Xytlaly Garcia, Bryan Garduno, Beatriz Gigante, Nely Gonzalez, Cristina C. Hernandez, Zadie Jackson, Alice Heemang Kim, Tyler Lackey, Berenice Marín, Ruben Marín, Eric Martinez, Octavio Montes De Oca, Aileen Moreno, Dani Oblitas, Alyanna Parajado, Aster Reyes, Oliver Reyes, Sara Romero, Latoriana R. Smith, Gabriella Sophia, Abby Thompson, Lulu Torres, Jacqueline Vargas, Jada Carter Williams, Craig Daniel Ymsom
Production team
Immersive Experience Designer: Jennine Willett
Scenic Designer: Scott C. Neale*
Costume Designer: Izumi Inaba*
Lighting & Projections Designer: Elizabeth Mak*
Composer & Sound Designer: Mikhail Fiksel*
Props & Immersive Aesthetics Designer: Ellie Terrell
Producers: David Feiner
Associate Lighting & Projections Designer: Nicole Lang McDonald*
Associate Sound Designers: Noel Nichols, Stefanie Senior
Associate Props & Immersive Aesthetics Designer: Paloma Locsin
Director of Production: Trina McGee
Production Stage Manager: Monica M. Brown
Graphic Designer & Rehearsal Photographer: Kelly Hisaji Rickert
Lobby Designer: Paul Millman
Company Manager & Audience Services Associate: Carlos DeSantiago
Assistant Production Manager: Lucy Whipp
Assistant Stage Manager: Amanda Blanco
Assistant Stage Manager (Costumes): Sarah James
Assistant Stage Manager (AV): Clare Roche
Click here for full list of credits.
About the company/artist:
Albany Park Theater Project devises original theater that amplifies the voices of immigrant and first-generation Americans. On stage and off, APTP creates transformative experiences that forge an inclusive community of youth artists, adult artists and audiences united in making the world more just, equitable and joyful.
Third Rail Projects has been hailed as one of the foremost companies creating site-specific, immersive, and experiential performance. The company is led by Artistic Directors Zach Morris, Tom Pearson, and Jennine Willett, and is dedicated to re-envisioning ways in which audiences engage with contemporary performance.
Content Advisory: Port of Entry is an experiential performance that surrounds and engages guests. Please keep in mind the following when booking your tickets: Port of Entry involves standing, walking, and climbing stairs - please notify us in advance if you or one of your guests use a wheelchair or have difficulty climbing stairs. Purses and bags of any size must be stored at the box office during the performance. Guests will be separated from others in their group for some or all of the performance.
(NEW YORK, NY)
Desaparecidas
(NEW YORK, NY)
Directed by: Florencia Cuenca
Synopsis
Rising musical theater composer and 2023 Jonathan Larson Award winner Jaime Lozano comes to the American Music Theatre Project (AMTP) to continue development of this new state-fair concert musical about stories of disappeared women from the borderlands. Told through the lens of Mexican folklore and music, writers Jaime Lozano, Florencia Cuenca, and Georgina Escobar explore the strategic erasure of female voices in the fight to end gender-based violence and the disappearance of women and girls. From the missing, to the socially invisible, to the forgotten, Desaparecidas takes place in a classic and timeless Mexican state fair (a Palenque) where the audience will experience a special appearance by some stories of the missing.
El compositor de teatro musical, ganador del Premio Jonathan Larson 2023, Jaime Lozano, llega al American Music Theatre Project (AMTP) para continuar el desarrollo de este nuevo musical sobre la feria estatal, que aborda las historias de mujeres desaparecidas en las regiones fronterizas. Contado a través de la lente del folklore y la música mexicana, los escritores Jaime Lozano, Florencia Cuenca y Georgina Escobar exploran el borrado estratégico de las voces femeninas en la lucha contra la violencia de género y la desaparición de mujeres y niñas. Desde las desaparecidas, las socialmente invisibles y las olvidadas, Desaparecidas se desarrolla en una clásica y atemporal feria estatal mexicana (un Palenque), donde el público experimentará una aparición especial de algunas historias de las desaparecidas.
Performers
Production team
Music by: Jaime Lozano
Lyrics by: Jaime Lozano, Florencia Cuenca
Book by: Georgina Escobar
Original Concept by: Jaime Lozano, Florencia Cuenca, Rachel M. Stevens
Directed by: Florencia Cuenca
Music Direction by: Ronnie Kuller
About the company/artist:
The American Music Theatre Project (AMTP) at Northwestern University supports the development of new musicals through uniquely tailored processes. AMTP’s goal is to provide artists and their works with the proper time, space, and resources to realize their intended vision and shepherd them through the next step of their developmental journey. By inviting artists and pieces to our campus, we allow Northwestern students to engage with new work in a rewarding and illuminating way through performance opportunities, assistantships, and observation.
Content Advisory: Violence, mention of femicide and harm against women, compulsory machismo, memory of murder, abstract representation of rape, internalized and externalized misogyny.
Jaime Lozano Florencia Cuenca
Georgina Escobar
Minutes Around the World:
80 Minutes Around the World: IMMIGRATION STORIES
Curated by: Nestor Gomez
Synopsis
80 Minutes Around the World: Immigration Stories is a show that features the stories of Immigrants, refugees, asylum seekers, their descendants and allies. This show is about US immigration and all things related: national identity, culture, family and borders. Created, produced and hosted by 80+ time Moth slam winner Nestor “the Boss” Gomez.
80 Minutes Around the World Immigration Stories es un espectáculo que presenta las historias de inmigrantes, refugiados, solicitantes de asilo, sus descendientes y aliados. El show trata sobre la inmigración en Estados Unidos y todo lo relacionado con la identidad nacional, la cultura, la familia y las fronteras. Creado y presentado por Néstor ‘The Boss’ Gomez, ganador de más de 80 Moth Slams.
Full Line-Up
Jasmin Cardenas
Jose Dominguez Magdaleno/Paloma
Eliana La Casa
Coya Paz
Karla Estela Rivera
Luis Tubens
Claudia Urbano
Storytellers
CLATA production team
Lighting Supervisor: Daphne Agosin
Sound Technician: Matt Reich
Lighting Technician: Abby Letshcer
Subtitles Operator: Daphne Agosin
Directed by: Florencia Cuenca
Production Assistant: Fernando Rosales
About the company/artist:
Nestor “the Boss” Gomez arrived from Guatemala at age 15 undocumented, with a stutter and no knowledge of the English language. He told his first story at a Moth slam in order to get over his fear of public speaking. He won the slam that night and has won over 80 slams since. He also created his own storytelling show 80 Minutes Around the World which features the stories of immigrants, refugees, their descendants and allies. Visit nestorgomezstoryteller.com for more information.
Jasmin Cardenas
Nestor Gomez
Karla Estela Rivera
Jose Dominguez Magdaleno/ Paloma
Luis Tubens
Claudia Urbano
Eliana La Casa
Coya Paz
Hay Comida en Casa
A COMEDY SHOW PA’ LA CULTURA
Hay Comida en Casa
A COMEDY SHOW PA’ LA CULTURA
Hosted by: Rudy Mendoza
Synopsis
In Hay Comida en Casa, you will get an opportunity to experience the diverse talents and unique perspectives of all the young latine comedians that makeup Antojitos. Featuring performances of stand-up, sketch, musical comedy and improv, this show tan sabroso can not be missed!
En Hay Comida en Casa, tendrás la oportunidad de experimentar los diversos talentos y perspectivas únicas de todos los jóvenes comediantes latines que forman parte de Antojitos. Con presentaciones de stand-up, sketches, comedia musical e improvisación, ¡este show tan sabroso no te lo puedes perder!
Full Line-Up
Stand-up from Angelica Davila, Rudy Mendoza and Aman Motazedian
Musical Comedy from David Zepeda
Sketch Comedy from Eduardo Esquivel
Solo Characters from Ruby Aviña
Improv from Antojitos
Cast
Eduardo Esquivel
Ruby Aviña
CLATA production team
Lighting Supervisor: Daphne Agosin
Sound Technician: Matt Reich
Lighting Technician: Abby Letshcer
Subtitles Operator: Daphne Agosin
Directed by: Florencia Cuenca
Production Assistant: Fernando Rosales
About the company/artist:
Antojitos Improv is honored to be showcased in Destinos 2024. Since 2022, this collective of up-and-coming bilingual latine comedians has produced the hit monthly variety show La Hora de Antojitos as well as Antojitos Fest, Chicago’s Latin American Comedy Festival.
Angelica Davila
Rudy Mendoza
Aman Motazedian
David Zepeda
Scratch Night
Curated by: Alice Da Cunha, Chio Cabrera
Synopsis
Scratch Night highlights original, contemporary, visual and physical theatre by different Chicago Latine artists to foster their development.
Scratch Night aims to provide a social space for community, conversation, and collaboration. This show is curated and hosted by Alice da Cunha and Chio Cabrera.
Scratch Night promueve el teatro contemporáneo, visual y físico de diferentes artistas latines de Chicago para fomentar su desarrollo.
Scratch Night tiene como objetivo proporcionar un espacio social para la comunidad, la conversación y la colaboración. Este espectáculo es curado y presentado por Alice da Cunha y Raquel Torre.
Full Line-Up
Sensations by Amanda Raquel Martinez
Felt Up by Daniela Kreidler
Afro Indigenous in My Veins by Dylan (DC) Wray
Persona by Jessica Prioste
Recuerdos by Wendy Madrigal
Game Show by Zoia Mendonza & Jailine Hernandez Cast
Scratch Night Destinos Spotlight
Production team
Sound and Lighting Operator: Henry Muller
Lighting Supervisor: Daphne Agosin*
Sound Technician: Matt Reich*
Lighting Technician: Abby Letshcer*
Subtitles Operator: Daphne Agosin*
Directed by: Florencia Cuenca*
About the company/artist:
Scratch Night is a curated theater showcase of works-in-progress featuring innovative local latine theatre makers. Scratch Night features 6 previews of original contemporary, visual, and physical theatre by different Latine Chicago artists to foster their development. Scratch Night aims to provide a social space for community, conversation, and collaboration. *CLATA Production Team
Amanda Raquel Martinez
Daniela Kreidler
Wendy Madrigal Zoia Mendonza
Jailine Hernandez
Dylan (DC) Wray
Jessica Prioste
Azira’i (BRAZIL)
A MUSICAL OF MEMORIES
Conception and Dramaturgy: Zahy Tentehar and Duda Rios
Directed by: Denise Stutz and Duda Rios
Synopsis
Azira’i is a biographical play that looks at Zahy Tentehar’s relationship with her mother, Azira’i, the first female Shaman from the Cana Brava reserve (MA), who held the rank of Supreme Shaman of the Tentehar peoples, which is only for people with extremely developed medicinal and spiritual knowledge. The relationship between mother and daughter takes place in a necessarily conflicting context, in an extremely patriarchal northeastern interior and in a culture torn between preserving its ancestral values and absorbing the dynamics and ills of a globalized civilization system. At the same time as Zahy is the daughter chosen by her mother to inherit the gifts of shamanism and communication with the Mairas, it is also in her that Azira’i unloads the frustrations of existing in a colonial and oppressive environment.
Azira’i é uma peça biográfica que examina a relação de Zahy Tentehar com sua mãe, Azira’i, a primeira xamã mulher da reserva Cana Brava (MA), que ocupava o cargo de Xamã Suprema dos povos Tentehar, reservado apenas para pessoas com conhecimento medicinal e espiritual extremamente desenvolvido. A relação entre mãe e filha ocorre em um contexto necessariamente conflituoso, em um interior nordestino extremamente patriarcal e em uma cultura dividida entre a preservação de seus valores ancestrais e a absorção das dinâmicas e males de um sistema de civilização globalizado. Ao mesmo tempo em que Zahy é a filha escolhida por sua mãe para herdar os dons do xamanismo e a comunicação com os Mairas, é também nela que Azira’i descarrega as frustrações de existir em um ambiente colonial e opressor.
Production team
Art Direction and Graphic Designer: Batman Zavareze
Production Direction and Artistic Production: Andréa Alves, Leila Maria Moreno
Production Coordination: Rafael Lydio
Executive Production: Matheus Castro
Costume Designer: Carol Lobato
Set Designer: Mariana Villas-Bôas
Lighting Designer: Ana Luzia Molinari de Simoni
Musical Direction and Original Soundtrack: Elísio Freitas
Sound Designer: Gabriel D’angelo
Sound and Light Board Operator: Richie Shiraldi
Production Assistants: Fernando Rosales, Johanna Vargas
Sound Technician: Matt Reich
Lighting Tech: Abby Letshcer
Lighting Supervisor: Daphne Agosin*
Sound and Light Board Operator: Richie Shiraldi*
Sound Technician: Matt Reich*
Lighting Technician: Abby Letshcer*
Production Assistant: Fernando Rosales and Johanna Vargas*
About the company/artist:
Sarau Cultura Brasileira, founded in 1992, has built up a strong track record in Rio’s cultural market, working on research and making projects viable for the recovery of the work of Brazilian artists, in a wide variety of formats, from the stage to the internet.
*CLATA Production Team
Content Advisory: Some explicit language
NORTH
OCT 24 THROUGH OCT 27
THU, FRI. SAT 7:30PM SUN 3PM
BIOGRAPHICAL MUSICAL SOLO SHOW 90 MIN 12+ PORTUGUESE AND ZE’ENG ETÉ WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES CHICAGO SHAKESPEARE THEATER 800 E. GRAND AVE
TICKET PRICE $30-$35 PURCHASE TICKETS
Zahy Tentehar
Juicio a una Zorra
Juicio a una Zorra
Written by: Miguel Del Arco
Directed by:
Sebastián Ligarde and Jorge Ligarde
Synopsis
A passionate and intense monologue where Helen of Troy, “the most reviled woman in history”, claims her dignity and tells us about the events that triggered the Trojan War by appealing to the true cause of her crime: “I only made one decision: to love a man above all else”. Un monólogo apasionado e intenso donde Helena de Troya, “la mujer más vilipendiada de la historia”, reivindica su dignidad y nos cuenta los acontecimientos que desencadenaron la Guerra de Troya apelando a la verdadera causa de su delito: “Yo sólo tomé una decisión: amar a un hombre por encima de todo.”
Cast
Mafer
Roussell
Production team
Set Design and construction: Roma Díaz
Lighting and Sound Effects Design: Juan Garzón
Lighting and Sound Effects Assistant: Deiter Duncker
Props, Costumes: Jessica Garzón
Translation by: Isabel Quintero
Production Team: Joaquín Catana, Dania Fernández, Cynthia Guerrero
About the company/artist:
With more than 20 theatrical productions in its history, among them The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams, The Maids by Jean Genet, Yepeto by Roberto Cossa, La Cantante Calva by Eugene Ionesco, and Orinoco, by Emilio Carballido, Repertorio Latino Theater has established a significant presence on the scene of the city and its suburbs. Its focus on the diversity of places in representation has made it possible to reach different age groups, social and economic levels, and nationalities.
DRAMA
PURCHASE TICKETS VISIT WEBSITE FOR SHOW TIMES
Más Dramáticas
Directed by: Esteban Pantoja
Synopsis
In this captivating story, the director of an acting school shares the history of her prestigious academy and unveils the intense drama behind the auditions of five extraordinary students. Each one is determined to achieve stardom and become the next leading star. With fierce competition, high stakes, and unwavering ambition, they are prepared to give it their all. Expect more music, more laughter, more wigs, and more drama than ever before as these talented young women chase their dreams.
La directora de una escuela de actuación nos cuenta la historia de su academia y el drama detrás de las audiciones de cinco alumnas extraordinarias quienes buscan el éxito. Ellas están dispuestas a darlo todo por ser la próxima protagonista. Pero ser protagonista tiene su precio. Más música, más risas, más pelucas y más dramáticas que nunca.
Production team
Design support provided by: Teatro Tariakuri
Stage Management: Teatro Tariakuri
Graphic Designer: Joe Valenzuela
Production Manager: Jaime Lopez*
Lighting Technician: Maria Gallardo*
Sound Engineer: Kevin Rosas*
Production Assistant: Andrés Delgado*
About the company/artist:
Founded in 2015 by Esteban Pantoja, Cabaret Parodia was established with the mission of enriching Spanish-speaking theater for the LGBTQIA+ community. By incorporating premier Chicago Latine Drag performers, they offer comedic musical parodies inspired by everyday narratives. Cabaret Paraodia’s past productions, such as Ofelia La Princesa Fea, Cuna De Brujas, and Un Pozole Con La Frida, have garnered enthusiastic responses from audiences. In 2023, their musical revue Que Dramaticas formed part of the Destinos: 6th Chicago International Latino Theater Festival. As the only Latine LGBTQIA+ theatre company on Chicago’s South Side, they have established themselves as pioneers and changemakers. *National Musuem of Mexican Art Production Team
PURCHASE TICKETS
David Moreno
Esteban Pantoja
Miranda Kherr
Manuel Duarte
Aguayo
La Memoria de los Sésiles
La Memoria de los Sésiles (CHILE)
Written by: Nicolás Cancino Said | Directed by: Gabriel Contreras
Synopsis
La Memoria de los Sésiles takes place in a not-too-distant future where all the trees have been cut down by an uncontrolled real estate expansion. Sacha, an old hermit will embark on a journey deep underground in the face of the inevitable destruction of his home. Accompanied by Tujo, a rebellious young environmentalist, they will go in search of the last living roots to, through their memories, the path that will allow them to make the forest emerge again. The play, directed by Gabriel Contreras and written by Nicolás Cancino-Said, is the second installment of the so-called “Territorial Trilogy,” a series of works that began with the work Puerto Seco: Once upon a time the sea that seek to reflect on the relationship between communities, the territories they inhabit, companies, and the socio-environmental conflicts that arise from that relationship. Created in the key of family theatre, La memoria de los sésiles seeks, through songs, light games, and an attractive staging, to reflect on the persistence of the memory of territories at times when the destruction of ecosystems has expanded and naturalised.
La memoria de los sésiles se desarrolla en un futuro no muy lejano donde todos los árboles han sido talados por una descontrolada expansión inmobiliaria. Sacha, un viejo ermitaño, iniciará un viaje hacia las profundidades del subsuelo ante la inevitable destrucción de su hogar. Acompañado de Tujo, un rebelde joven ambientalista, irán al encuentro de las últimas raíces vivas para descubrir, a través de sus memorias, el camino que les permitirá hacer surgir nuevamente el bosque. La obra dirigida por Gabriel Contreras y escrita por Nicolás Cancino-Said, se configura como la segunda entrega de la denominada “Trilogía Territorial”, serie de trabajos iniciados con la obra “Puerto Seco: Érase una vez el mar” que buscan reflexionar en torno a la relación entre las comunidades, los territorios que habitan, empresas y los conflictos socioambientales que surgen de esa relación. Creada en clave de teatro familiar, La memoria de los sésiles busca, a través de canciones, juegos lumínicos y una atractiva puesta escena, reflexionar sobre la persistencia de la memoria de los territorios en momentos en donde se ha expandido y naturalizado la destrucción de los ecosistemas.
Cast
Vanessa Apablaza
Diego Rivera
Nicolás Cancino-Said
Diego Guzmán
Valentina Mora
NORTH
THU, FRI, SAT 7:30PM SUN 3PM OCT 31 THROUGH NOV 03
FAMILY THEATER
55 MIN
6+
SPANISH WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES CHICAGO SHAKESPEARE THEATER
800 E. GRAND AVE
Production team
Production: Astillero Teatro
Scenography: Diego Guzmán and Diego RIvera
Costume: Camila Cano
Sound Composer: Abelardo Pando
Assistant Director and Technical Head: Nicolás Allende
Photo: Rodrigo Saenz de Regadera
Lighting Supervisor: Daphne Agosin*
Sound Technician: Matt Reich*
Lighting Technician: Abby Letshcer*
Lighting Supervisor: Daphne Agosin*
Production Assistant: Fernando Rosales*
About the company/artist:
Astillero Teatro company was born with the aim of linking citizens with issues derived from the contingency, in an effort to revitalize the question of the community, questioning certain paradigms that have built a social life. Astillero Teatro nace con el objetivo de vincular a la ciudadanía con temas derivados de la contingencia, en un afán por revitalizar la pregunta por la comunidad, poniendo en tela de juicio ciertos paradigmas que han construido la vida social.
TICKET PRICE
$30-$35 PURCHASE TICKETS
Adverses
Written by: Rey Andujar
Directed
by:
Sándor Menéndez & Marcela Muñoz
Synopsis
Jealousy and intrigue run rampant in the city of Palacio. A mother and a daughter face off in a fight to the finish: The mother will do anything to hold on to power, and the daughter will stop at nothing to avenge her father’s murder. A contemporary take on the Electra myth, Adverses is a humorous yet poignant exploration of the corrosive nature of the pursuit of power and the often-complicated relationship between mothers and daughters.
Celos e intrigas abundan en una ciudad llamada Palacio. Una madre y una hija se enfrentan en una lucha sin límites: La madre es capaz de cualquier cosa por mantenerse en el poder, la hija no parará hasta vengar el asesinato de su padre. Un recuento contemporáneo del mito de Electra, Adverses es una divertidísima pero conmovedora exploración de la naturaleza corrosiva de la búsqueda del poder y la complicada relación entre madres e hijas.
Cast
Tori*
Stefanie Jara*
Production team
Production Manager: Marcela Muñoz*
Stage Manager: Nancy Romo
Haydée Delgado Oswaldo Calderón*
Assistant Stage Manager: Carlos García Servín*
Production Assitant: Ingrid Valdez
Lighting Design: Augusto Yanacopulos*
Set Art & Design: Augusto Yanacopulos*
Sound Design: Marcela Muñoz*, Sándor Menéndez*
Voice Training & Musical Arrangements: Ana Santos*
Costume Design: Marcela Muñoz*
Movement & Choreography: Olivia González Raga
Media Relations: Elio Leturia*
Graphic Design & Photography: Carlos García Servín*
Show Image Design: Carlos Garcia Servin*, Marcela Muñoz*
About the company/artist:
Founded in 1989 by actor/director Rosario Vargas, Aguijón Theater Company recently celebrated its 35th anniversary, marking a significant milestone in its journey of cultural enrichment and theatrical excellence. A cornerstone of the city’s vibrant arts scene, Aguijón specializes in presenting Spanishlanguage plays to diverse audiences. Since its inception, the company has been committed to showcasing the richness and diversity of Latino culture through compelling and impactful productions.The theater’s name, ‘Aguijón,’ meaning ‘sting’ or ‘stinger’ in Spanish, reflects its mission to provoke thought and stimulate dialogue through the power of theater.
*Denotes Aguijón Theater ensemble member. **No show on November 29th
Ana Santos*
Ramón Smith*
NY)
came here to weep (BROOKLYN,
YANIRA CASTRO
I came here to weep (BROOKLYN,
NY)
Created and performed by: Yanira Castro
Synopsis
First presented at Brooklyn’s Chocolate Factory Theatre in 2023, I came here to weep is a performance installation led by Bessie-Award winning choreographer and interdisciplinary artist Yanira Castro and co-created with the public. It is a multimodal, interactive project made up of participatory scores with corresponding materials and a built audio environment designed by NU faculty member and sound artist Stephan Moore. This iteration of the participatory performance is the culmination of a 2-week artist residency at Northwestern focused on design. I came here to weep examines U.S. territorial possession, Puerto Rican sovereignty, and invites the audience into a collective exorcism.
Presentada por primera vez en el Chocolate Factory Theatre de Brooklyn en 2023, I came here to weep es una instalación performática dirigida por la coreógrafa galardonada con el Premio Bessie, y artista interdisciplinaria, Yanira Castro, y co-creada con el público. Es un proyecto multimodal e interactivo compuesto por partituras participativas con materiales y un entorno de audio diseñado por Stephan Moore, miembro de la facultad de NU y artista sonoro. Esta performance participativa es la culminación de una residencia artística de dos semanas en Northwestern enfocada en el diseño. I came here to weep examina la posesión territorial de los Estados Unidos, la soberanía puertorriqueña, e invita al público a un exorcismo colectivo.
Cast
Yanira Castro
Production team
Interactive Sound Design by: Stephan Moore
Installation Design by: Kathy Couch
Production Manager: LD DeArmon
Creative Producer: Ariel Lembeck
About the company/artist:
The Wirtz Center Chicago is the School of Communication’s space for new innovative work by local, national, and international artists, many of whom are performing in Chicago for the first time. The center opened in 2021 with the Chicago premiere of Native Guard, co-produced with Atlanta’s Alliance Theatre and the Black Arts Consortium. Under the artistic leadership of Tanya Palmer, Assistant Dean and Executive Artistic Director, it has subsequently been home to the Chicago premieres of award-winning performances and partnerships with Chicago-based ensembles. One of Chicago’s newest performance venues, the Wirtz Center Chicago features two black box theaters, an expansive lobby and gathering space overlooking Lake Michigan. wirtz.northwestern.edu/chicago
ALL PERFORMANCES AT 7:30PM NOV 15 THROUGH NOV 16
PERFORMANCE INSTALLATION 16+
ENGLISH WIRTZ CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS (ROOM 203) 710 N. LAKE SHORE DRIVE TICKET PRICE $15
PURCHASE TICKETS
Where Did We Sit on the Bus?
Where Did We Sit on the Bus?
Written by: Brian Quijada | Directed by: Matt Dickson
Synopsis
During a third grade history lesson on Rosa Parks, a Latina child raises her hand to ask, “Where did we sit on the bus?” What follows is a theatrical mixtape of Bee’s life. It’s a one-person show that immerses the audience in elaborate, layered soundscapes by fusing Latin rhythms, hip-hop, and spoken word poetry. And it’s all made in-person, in real time, through the magic of live music and storytelling. A high-octane, tour-de-force theatrical experience, examining what it means to be Latiné in America, capturing both the innocence of youth and the pressures that come with being the child of immigrants, Where Did We Sit on the Bus? builds from the ground up, one step at a time, taking audiences on a soulful musical journey as its hero finds hope and meaning through art.
Durante una lección de historia de tercer grado sobre Rosa Parks, una niña latina levanta la mano para preguntar: “¿Dónde nos sentábamos en el autobús?” Lo que sigue es una mezcla teatral de la vida de Bee. Es un espectáculo unipersonal que sumerge al público en complejos paisajes sonoros, fusionando ritmos latinos, hip-hop y poesía. Y todo se crea, en persona, en tiempo real, a través de la magia de la música en vivo y la narración. Una experiencia teatral intensa y con ritmo, que examina lo que significa ser Latiné en Estados Unidos, capturando tanto la inocencia de la juventud como las presiones de ser hijo de inmigrantes. Where Did We Sit on the Bus? se construye desde cero, paso a paso, llevando a la audiencia en un viaje musical lleno de alma, mientras su protagonista encuentra esperanza y significado a través del arte.
Musician
Production team
Lighting Designer: Matthew Chapman
Sound Designer: Satya Chavez
Stage Manager: Jennifer Aparicio*
About the company/artist:
Satya Chávez, (They/She/He) is a Chicago-based, queer, Latiné, multidisciplinary artist. As a COMPOSER their work includes, their border play, Refuge, co-created with Andrew Rosendorf, produced at (Curious Theatre; True West Award, Theo; Non-Equity Jeff Awards, Unicorn Theatre, and Theatre Lab FAU); music and lyrics for TYA musicals Brighter Futures (Paramount Theatre) and Seattle History Remix (Seattle Children’s Theater); and original scores for ¡Bernarda! (Teatro Vista); Corduroy (Chicago Shakespeare Theater); and Where Did We Sit On The Bus? (Actors Theatre of Louisville, Cleveland Playhouse, Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center, Marin Theatre Company, and The Denver Center for Performing Arts). As an ACTOR they’ve worked with Goodman Theatre, American Repertory Theatre, The Denver Center for Performing Arts, Dallas Theater Center, Cleveland Playhouse, The Kennedy Center, Eugene O’Neill Theater Center, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Marin Theatre Company, South Coast Repertory, Arizona Theatre Company, Arvada Center, Curious Theatre, Colorado Shakespeare Festival, and more. COMMISSIONING INSTITUTIONS include: Goodman Theatre, Paramount Theatre, TheatreSquared, Denver Center for the Performing Arts, Seattle Children’s Theater, and Curious Theatre. Chávez is an inaugural recipient of the Jeff Impact Fellowship. Follow @escuchala.satya or satyachavez.org
*Member of Actors’ Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers.
Satya Chavez
New to Destinos
This year, CLATA introduced two new programs to Destinos: Chicago International Theater Festival.
Intercambios
A series of panel discussions and workshops open to the public and featuring Destinos artists, span multiple dates throughout the festival. Read on to learn more about workshops and register to participate.
Workshop details:
Friday, October 4th 12pm-2:30pm
Construcción de Nuevas Dramaturgias
by Emiliano Dionisi, Playwright & Director from El Brote The Den Theatre.
1331 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL Free workshop. Click here to register. Hosted in Spanish with the assistance of an English translator.
Saturday, October 26th 1pm-3pm
Azira’i - Navigating the Creative Process by cast and crew of Azira’i
Shakespeare Theater > Upstairs Studio. 800 E Grand Ave, Chicago, IL
Free workshop. Click here to register.
Hosted in Portuguese with the assistance of an English translator.
Saturday, November 2nd 12pm-2pm
Building a Framework for the Development of Family Theater by cast and crew of La Memoria de los Sésiles
Shakespeare Theater > Upstairs Studio. 800 E Grand Ave, Chicago, IL
Free workshop. Click here to register. Hosted in Spanish with the assistance of an English translator.
Alianzas
In alignment with CLATA’s mission to amplify Chicago’s Latine theater, Alianzas (October 21-27) welcomes national and international festival producers to attend Destinos and meet with local theater companies during the festival. Follow CLATA on social media and join our email list to hear about upcoming opportunities to connect!
CLATA welcomes:
Carolina del Pilar Torrealba Millar, Santiago OFF (Chile)
Karina Salguero-Moya, Teatro Nacional de Costa Rica (Costa Rica)
Ruben Perez, Gobierno de Canarias (Spain)
Freddy Ginebra, Festival Internacional de Teatro (Dominican Republic)
Angel Gil Orrios, Teatro Fest NYC (New York)
Octavio Arbelaez, Circulart/Festival Internacional de Artes Vivas (Colombia)
Frederic Poty, La Manufacture Collectif Contemporain (France)
Jorge Zabaraín Castillo, Festival Brujala (Colombia)
TO OUR CLATA SUPPORTERS Thank You
We thank the many individuals and organizations who enrich our community by championing CLATA’s mission
CLATA is supported by: Ford Foundation
John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
Joyce Foundation
Arts Work Fund
Paul M. Angell Family Foundation
National Latinx Theater Initiative Driehaus Foundation
Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelly Foundation Excellerator Fund
Shubert Foundation
City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events Illinois Arts Council
Destinos is supported by:
National Endowment for the Arts
Allstate Wintrust Bank
Choose Chicago Arts Midwest GIG Fund
Individual Supporters
Cory Anderson
Laura Castañeda
Michael Hartnett
Avany G. Penaherrera
Viviana Ploper
Carlos Tortolero
Your donation will help amplify Latine voices on Chicago stages, foster emerging talent, and preserve the richness of our cultures. Join us in celebrating the power of our collective storytelling: Donate today and make a difference! Click to make a gift
Get Involved with CLATA in 2025!
Want to be a part of next year’s Destinos Festival? Know an up-and-coming Latine playwright with a play in the works? Dare to audition for Chicago’s premier theater companies? There’s an opportunity at CLATA for you! Read more about our signature programs below and mark your calendar for submission and sign-up deadlines.
8th Chicago International Latino Theater Festival Fall 2025
CLATA’s flagship program will return in 2025! Destinos platforms international and national Latine theater productions alongside Chicago’s renowned Latine theater companies. Performances take place in venues across the city.
Call for International and National Theatre Companies are now open! (Click here to apply)
Call for local theater companies will begin in Fall 2024.
Inicios: 3rd Chicago Latine Playwright Festival
Spring 2025
CLATA is seeking original, full-length plays that have not been produced before. All submitted scripts will be reviewed and selected by a panel of renowned Latine theater artists. Three plays, each with a $1,000 award, will be selected and presented at free staged readings at Inicios 2024 in Chicago.
Call for playwrights will begin in Fall 2024.
Latine Theater Artist Week
Spring 2025
CLATA continues to boost its support for Latine artists with a week of free activities, which will include photo sessions, workshops on how to prepare for an audition, a virtual meeting with experts on contracts for independent artists, and ending with an open casting call for Latino artists.
Additional details to be in announce in early 2025. Follow us @latinotheater to stay updated!
Sponsors
