Saludos
Beloved Teatristas:
Bienvenidos to Destinos: 8th Chicago International Latino Theater Festival! Each year, we come together to center and uplift stories that celebrate the legacy of Latines in what is perhaps the greatest theater city in the U.S.
I know that this year has been faced with challenges for our community. We continue to see families from our communities being separated, ICE raids in our neighborhoods as a new norm, DEI initiatives have quickly disappeared, the corporation for public broadcasting is shutting down, our media and arts are being censored. Government systems once designed to protect balance and accountability feel fragile. People are afraid to leave their homes. All of this and so much more in just the last nine months.
So, what does this have to do with theater? For me, it is deeply personal. My parents lived undocumented until the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. I grew up with the constant fear that they might be deported and that our family could be torn apart. That fear is one no child should carry, yet today, countless families live with it daily. In fact, Some of the performers in this year’s festival have relatives who will not attend because they are afraid they too might be separated from their loved ones. These artists will take the stage knowing their loved ones cannot sit in the audience. Imagine how many others will not be able to attend because of the fear of being deported? How will fear affect this year’s Destinos Festival? We just don’t know.
Now let’s talk about the impact Latinos have made in Chicago. Last year alone, Destinos generated an economic impact of $1.2 million for Chicago’s neighborhoods. Since its inception, more than 82,000 people have attended the festival. Latinos now represent the majority of children in Chicago Public Schools, and it was because of Latinos that both Chicago and Illinois gained population in the last census, helping the city remain the third most populous in the U.S. when many predicted it would fall to fourth. Today, Latinos make up nearly one-third of Chicago’s population. Yet of all arts funding in the region, only about 6% goes to Latino arts organizations (UIC Great Cities Institute, 2025). These inequities force us to ask the obvious: why do we continue to see such underinvestment in our stories, and where does that leave Latino theater companies?
That is why your presence matters. This year, we are asking you to show up for those who cannot. Use your privilege as citizens, residents, and theater supporters to help our beloved Latino theater companies fill those seats. Now more than ever, our stories matter—and now more than ever, your presence matters. This is your call to action.
Hoy más que nunca el teatro tiene que resistir.
Un abrazo,
Jorge Valdivia Executive Director Chicago Latino Theater Alliance
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
Melissa Flores Board Member
Doris Salomón Board Member
Carlos Tortolero Vice Chair and Co-Founder
Antonio Guillen Board Member
Roche Schulfer Board Member
Omar Diaz Treasurer
Jose Melendez Board Member
Mony Ruiz-Velasco Secretary
Ydalmi Noriega Board Member
Staff
Jorge Valdivia Executive Director
Flores Bookkeeper
Christine A. Pérez Managing Director
Schemberg Production Manager
Mary Regalado Communications Coordinator
Destinos Festival Staff
Charlie Malave
Joe Valenzuela Graphic Designer DBO Films Videographer
Creative Public Relations
C1 Revolution LLC
Accounting
Afable Consulting LLC
Sheikh Osher Scott Auditor
Martha
Esteban
Venues
1. Aguijón Theater 2707 N Laramie Ave Chicago, IL 60639
2. The Athenaeum Center for Thought & Culture 2936 N. Southport Ave Chicago, IL 60657
3. Center on Halsted 3656 N Halsted St Chicago, IL 60613
4. Chicago Dramatists 1105 W. Chicago Ave Chicago, IL 60642
5. Chicago Shakespeare Theater 800 E Grand Ave Chicago, IL 60611
6. Citlalin Gallery and Theater 2005 S Blue Island Ave Chicago, IL 60608
7. Free Street Theater 4625 S. Ashland Ave Chicago, IL 60609
8. Indiana University Northwest, School of the Arts Arts & Sciences, 3415 Broadway (corner of 34th and Broadway), 2025, Gary, IN 46409
9. National Museum of Mexican Art 1852 W 19th St Chicago, IL 60608
10. Rivendell Theater 5779 N. Ridge Ave Chicago, IL 60660
11. Theater Wit 1229 W. Belmont Ave Chicago, IL 60657
12. UrbanTheater 2620 W. Division St Chicago, IL 60622
13. Wirtz Center Chicago 710 N. Lake Shore Drive Chicago, IL 60611
Schedule
Contra Ritmo Oct 1-11
Dulcci Oct 2-26
Saving Myself Oct 2-19
(Un)Documents (El Paso, TX) Oct 3-4
Queer Quentos Oct 6
La Jaula de Oro Oct 9
CHiSME: Todo Latine, Todo Queer Oct 10
Upacking Home Oct 15
No Trailer Oct 17-Nov 15
Las Borinqueñas Oct 18-Nov 9
Scratch Night Oct 20
Unpacking Home Oct 25
La Osa Menor Oct 26
No Hay Ladrón Que Por Bien No Venga Oct 28-Nov 16
80 Minutes Around the World: Immigration Stories Oct 29
Nada Del Amor Me Produce Envidia (Argentina) Oct 30-Nov 2
Uz, El Pueblo Oct 31-Dec 14
2025 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:
Saturday, October 4th, 12-2pm
Papeles que no me matan: writing for performance, writing against documents
Jesus I. Valles (El Paso, TX)
National Museum of Mexican Art 1852 W. 19th St. Chicago, IL 60608
In English
Saturday, October 25th, 10:30am-12pm
Dramaturgia en los Tiempos de Hielo
Raul Dorantes of Colectivo el Pozo
NEIU “El Centro” 3390 N Avondale Ave. Chicago, IL 60618
In Spanish
Monday, October 27th, 6-8pm
From Vision to Stage: How to Build a Nonprofit Theater Company
Jose Rochel of Teatro Inovarte
Theater Wit 1229 W. Belmont Ave. Chicago, IL 60657
In English
Saturday, November 1st, 12-2pm
Entrenamiento Vocal
Maria Merlino (Buenos Aires, Argentina) Wirtz Center Chicago
710 N. Lake Shore Dr. Chicago, IL 60642
In Spanish
Sunday, November 2nd, 12-2pm
Mentir con Estilo: Comedia con Enredos
Samantha Ante of Teatro Inovarte
Citlalin Gallery and Theater 2005 S Blue Island Ave Chicago, IL 60608
In Spanish
TEATRO INOVARTE
Contra Ritmo
Written by: José Rochel & Pachy Félix | Directed by: José Rochel & Dangel Nava
Synopsis
Contra Ritmo is an original musical that portrays the encounter of two contrasting worlds through love, dance, and music. Emilio, a passionate mariachi musician, and Alarii, a gifted ballet dancer with folkloric roots, must confront their fears and prejudices while searching for harmony. Guided and challenged by two female spirits —Ixchel, moon goddess and protector of classical dance, and Adela, a traditional Oaxacan spirit tied to the Guelaguetza—, they struggle between tradition and modernity, masculinity and femininity. Featuring original choreography and live music, the play takes the audience on an emotional journey that celebrates cultural diversity and questions the true boundaries of love. The ending, both open and poetic, leaves a lingering question: Can love truly flourish when two hearts beat… OFF BEAT?
Contra Ritmo es una obra musical original que explora el encuentro de dos mundos distintos a través del amor, la danza y la música. Emilio, un apasionado músico de mariachi, y Alarii, un talentoso bailarín de ballet con raíces folclóricas, se enfrentan a sus propios miedos y prejuicios mientras buscan un ritmo común. Guiados y desafiados por dos espíritus femeninos —Ixchel, diosa de la luna, y Adela, espíritu oaxaqueño ligado a la Guelaguetza—, los protagonistas se debaten entre lo tradicional y lo contemporáneo, lo masculino y lo femenino. Con coreografías originales y música en vivo, la obra celebra la diversidad cultural y cuestiona los límites del amor.
Emmanuel Ramírez
Gonzalo (Chalo) Aguirre
Alma Pauleth
Stephany Anaya
Production team
Musical and Vocal Director: Timothy Johnson
Guitar Player: Juan Garcia
Understudies: Pachy Félix, Elena Avila
Assistant Director: Elena Avila
Lighting Design: Juan Garzon Barrera
Set Design: Dangel Nava, Pachy Félix, José Rochel
Sound Design: Andres Garzon Barrera
Video Design: Dangel Nava
Art Design: Dangel Nava, Pachy Félix, José Rochel
Costume Design: Pachy Félix, José Rochel
Original Music and Scores by: Timothy Johnson
Lyrics by: Pachy Félix
Music Direction: Timothy Johnson
Movement & Choreography: Alma Pauleth, Emmanuel Ramirez
Voice Training: Timothy Johnson
Set Construction: Dangel Nava, Pachy Félix, José Rochel
Graphic Design & Photography: Juan Garzon Barrera
Media Relations: Joy Boggio, Kirsten Hair, Ali Hair
Casting: Teatro Inovarte
Stage Manager: Elena Avila
Production Assistant: Andrew Spaulding, Pachy Félix
Production Manager: José Rochel, Dangel Nava
About the company/artist:
Teatro Inovarte is a Chicago-based 501(c)(3) Spanish-language theater company celebrating Hispanic culture through innovative productions, community engagement, and authentic storytelling. Serving as a cultural bridge, we showcase traditions alongside contemporary voices, fostering inclusivity, creativity, and artistic excellence. Through performances, workshops, and collaborations, we make theater accessible, inspiring audiences to connect, reflect, and embrace the transformative power of the arts. teatroinovarte.org IG: @ inovarte64
OCT 01 OCT 11 THROUGH
TUE, WED, THUR, FRI, AND SAT 7PM SUN 5PM
LGBTQ+ DRAMAMUSICAL 90 MIN ALL AGES SPANISH WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES AGUIJÓN THEATER
2707 N. LARAMIE AVE
TICKET PRICE
$30
PURCHASE TICKETS
COLECTIVO EL POZO
Dulcci
Written by: Raúl
Synopsis
After a chance encounter with Don Quixote, a young woman, a high school student in Chicago, decides to give away her legal identity to her best friend, Dulce. Dulce is undocumented and unable to continue on to college. This decision impacts the lives of her family and friends. Throughout the play, the protagonist attempts to explain her decision. The play Dulcci is about certainties and disagreements in individuals and within a community.
Una joven de Chicago, estudiante de secundaria, luego de un encuentro con Don Quijote, toma la decisión de regalar su identidad legal a su mejor amiga, Dulce, quien se encuentra indocumentada y sin posibilidades de seguir estudiando. Dicha decisión impacta la vida de su familia y amigos. En el transcurso de la obra, la protagonista intenta explicar las razones de su decisión. Esta obra trata sobre los encuentros y desencuentros del individuo y la comunidad.
Dorantes and Emily Masó | Directed by: Mark Litwicki
Cast
Estefanía Mena
Daisy Valdez
J. Christian Hill
Juanjo Lopez
Armando Villegas
Aida Palma Carpio
Production team
Lighting Design: Max García
Scenic Design: Mark Litwicki
Video Design: Christian Aguilar
Costume Design: Roxana Pereira
Set Construction: Daniel Patiño
Intimacy Choreography: Carly Belle “CB” Cason
Make-up Design: Camila Allison Díaz
Graphic Design & Photography: Maya Piña
Stage Manager: Christian Aguilar
Translation/Subtitles Operator: Raúl Dorantes and 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. IG: @ _colectivoelpozo
THUR, FRI, AND SAT 7:30PM SUN 3PM
DRAMA 75 MIN ALL AGES ENGLISH AND SPANISH WITH
SUBTEXT STUDIO THEATER COMPANY
Saving Myself
Written by: María Arreola | Directed by: Omar V. Fernández
Synopsis
Seeking an ever-elusive God, Idalia attends the annual Saint Barbara Young Women’s Retreat for the first time ever. Instead of finding peace, however, she finds herself caught in the crossfire between fellow participants, pious Elena and rebellious Hana. They both promise Ida their own version of salvation, but lo and behold this salvation comes at a cost. The question is what price is Idalia willing to pay? And this is totally random, but does God care about premarital sex, I mean s-e-x? (Asking for a friend).
En busca de un Dios siempre esquivo, Idalia asiste por primera vez al retiro anual para jóvenes de Santa Bárbara. Sin embargo, en lugar de encontrar la paz, se ve envuelta en el fuego cruzado entre las demás participantes, la piadosa Elena y la rebelde Hana. Ambas le prometen a Ida su propia versión de la salvación, pero he aquí que esta salvación tiene un precio. La pregunta es: ¿qué precio está dispuesta a pagar Idalia? Y esto es totalmente aleatorio, pero ¿le importa a Dios el sexo premarital, me refiero al s-e-x-o? (Pregunto por una amiga).
Angelina Davila Liam Bouza Diaz
Raquel ‘Rocky’ Nguyen
Production team
Assistant Director: Olivia Rog
Lighting Design: Zuzel Garcia
Set Design: Harrison Ornelas
Sound Design: Irma Gualpa
Art Design: Zuzel Garcia
Costume Design: Jean Gottlieb
Voice Training: Rafael Moreno Fracek
Set Construction: Harrison Ornelas
Graphic Design & Photography: Zuzel Garcia
Media Relations: Ayesha Ahmed
Casting: Maria Arreola, Omar V. Fernandez
Stage Manager: Leiny Vega
Production Assistant: Octavio Montes De Oca
Production Manager: Jean Gottlieb
About the company/artist:
Subtext Studio Theatre Company (SSTC) 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. subtextstudiotc.org IG: @subtextstudiotc
JESÚS I. VALLES
(Un)Documents
A CO-PRESENTATION BETWEEN THE CHICAGO LATINO THEATER ALLIANCE AND THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF MEXICAN ART (NMMA).
Written by: Jesús I. Valles | Directed by: Rudy Ramirez
Synopsis
With a single phrase, you can give up your country. With a single signature, you can tear a family apart. With a single word, you can learn to transform. In their first full-length solo show, (Un)Documents, award-winning actor and poet Jesús I. Valles journeys across both sides of a river with two names, moving between languages to find their place as a child, a lover, a teacher, and a sibling in a nation that demands sacrifice at the altar of citizenship. In doing so, they create a new kind of documentation written with anger, fierce love, and the knowledge that what makes us human can never be captured on a government questionnaire.
Con una sola frase, puedes renunciar a tu país. Con una sola firma, puedes fracturar una familia. Con una sola palabra, puedes aprender a transformarte. En su primer monólogo, (Un)Documents, galardonado actor y poeta Jesús I. Valles viaja a través de ambas orillas de un río con dos nombres, navegando entre idiomas para encontrar su lugar como hije, amante, maestre y hermane en una nación que exige sacrificio en el altar de la ciudadanía. Al hacerlo, crean un nuevo tipo de documentación escrita con ira, amor intenso y la certeza de que lo que nos hace humanos jamás podrá ser capturado en un cuestionario gubernamental.
Cast
Jesús I. Valles
Production team
Sound Design: Johann Mahler
Art Design: Elizabeth Barrett and Johann Mahler
Producing Artistic Director: Bonnie Cullum
Production Manager at NMMA: Jaime Lopez
Crew at the National Museum of Mexican Art (NMMA):
Production Manager: Jaime L. Ortega
Lighting Technician: Maria Gallardo
Production Associate: Kevin Rosas
Production Assistant: Diego Ramos
Production Assistant: Andres Delgado
About the company/artist:
(Un)Documents originally premiered in August 2018 at The VORTEX in Austin, Texas, and received its West Coast premiere in October of 2022 at The Los Angeles Theater Center, produced by The Latino Theater Co. B. Iden Payne Awards for Outstanding Original Script, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama, and Outstanding Direction of a Drama. Jesús I. Valles (they/them) is a queer Mexican immigrant, writer-performer from Cd. Juarez/El Paso. Here, Valles wishes to echo Rasha Abdulhadi’s call to you, dear reader, to refuse and resist the genocide of Palestinian people. Wherever you are, whatever sand you can throw on the gears of genocide, do it now. The elimination of the Palestinian people is not inevitable. We can refuse with our every breath and action. We must.” In memory of every writer and artist martyred in Gaza, in memory of our theater colleagues, Inas al-Saqa and Nour al-Din Hajjaj, in solidarity with the Freedom Theatre in Jenin, in longing for a free Palestine, from Palestine to Mexico, all the walls must crumble. Viva Palestina libre. IG: @ thejesucia MIDWEST
OCT 03 OCT 04
SOLO DRAMA
65 MIN 15+ ENGLISH NATIONAL MUSEUM OF MEXICAN ART 1852 W. 19TH ST TICKET PRICE $25 STUDENT & SENIOR
$12
Queer Quentos
A CO-PRESENTATION BETWEEN THE CHICAGO LATINO THEATER ALLIANCE AND THE CENTER ON HALSTED (COH)
Synopsis
Join us for Queer Quentos, an evening of storytelling that celebrates and uplifts the voices of queer, lesbian, and transgender Latines in Chicago. Inspired by the intimate, authentic vibe of Chicago’s OUTspoken! LGBTQ+ Stories and the emotional resonance of The Moth’s StorySLAM format, this Queer Quentos gathering is a community-building celebration. Queer Quentos offers a space where our stories take center stage. 6 powerful storytellers, each sharing a personal tale (4–5 min), 2 amazing drag performances, A resonant theme A welcoming, non-judgmental atmosphere—with space to connect, reflect, laugh, and feel seen
Acompáñanos en Queer Quentos, una noche de narración que celebra y eleva las voces de personas latines queer, lesbianas y transgénero en Chicago. Inspirada en el ambiente íntimo y auténtico de OUTspoken! LGBTQ+ Stories de Chicago y en la fuerza emocional del formato StorySLAM del programa The Moth, este encuentro de Queer Quentos es una celebración que fortalece a la comunidad. Queer Quentos ofrece un espacio donde nuestras historias se convierten en las verdaderas protagonistas de la vida. Te esperan…6 narradores poderoses, cada une compartiendo una historia personal (4–5 min), 2 increíbles presentaciones de arte drag, Un tema resonante, Un ambiente acogedor y sin prejuicios, con espacio para conectar, reflexionar, reír y sentirse reconocidos.
Lineup
Nissa Konde (She/Her/Ella)
Liliana Macias (She/They)
Viviana Mendez (She/Her/Ella)
Reyna Ortiz (She/Her/Ella)
NORMA SELEDON
Julio Rodriguez (He/Him)
Mony Ruiz-Velazco (She/ Her/ Ella)
Production team
Storytelling Coach: Erika Latine (She/Her/Ella)
Crew from the Chicago Latino Theater Alliance (CLATA):
Production Manager: Charlie Malave
Production Assistant: Fernando Rosales
Lighting Technician: Richie Schiraldi
Lighting Technician and Board Operator: Mical Goldzweig
About the company/artist:
Kalpulli Strategies strengthens nonprofits, community groups, and grassroots movements by centering healing, equity, resilience, and cultural affirmation. Rooted in the Kalpulli model of shared leadership, we uplift first-voice storytelling, build capacity, and amplify community power. Norma Seledon, a Mexican immigrant and Chicago leader with 45+ years in grassroots development, has advanced gender equity, queer and youth leadership, education, violence prevention, and racial and environmental justice. A longtime nonprofit consultant and DEI trainer, she integrates art and storytelling as tools for justice and healing. Currently Director of Leadership Development at Equality Illinois and a 2016 inductee into Chicago’s LGBTQ Hall of Fame, Norma holds degrees from Loyola, Northeastern, and National Louis University.
ALLIANCE (CLATA)
TEATRO ZONA ROSA
La Jaula de Oro
A CO-PRESENTATION BETWEEN THE CHICAGO LATINO THEATER ALLIANCE AND THE CENTER ON HALSTED (COH)
Written & Directed by: Jose Manuel Duarte
Synopsis
In an old gay nightclub called La Jaula de Oro, a sanctuary for LGBTQ+ immigrants and outcasts, the community faces moments of deep anxiety as the country awaits the results of a decisive presidential election. The progressive candidate, Kandy Liberal, promises inclusive reforms, while the ultra-conservative Naranjo Supreme threatens mass deportations and concentration camps for the queer community. Libertad, the club’s owner, and her drag queen friends confront fear and uncertainty—especially those with precarious immigration status. But this community has weathered storms before, and though the fear is real... the show, as always, must go on.
En un viejo night club gay llamado La Jaula de Oro, refugio para inmigrantes LGBTQ+ y marginados, la comunidad vive momentos de angustia mientras el país espera los resultados de unas elecciones presidenciales decisivas. La candidata progresista Kandy Liberal promete reformas inclusivas, mientras el ultraconservador Naranjo Supreme amenaza con deportaciones masivas y campos de concentración para la comunidad queer. Libertad, la dueña del club, y sus amigas drag queens, enfrentan el miedo y la incertidumbre, especialmente aquellas con estatus migratorio incierto. Pero esta comunidad ya ha sobrevivido tormentas antes, y aunque el miedo es real…el show, como siempre, debe continuar.
Manuel Duarte
David Moreno Miranda Kherr
George Carrizales
Esteban Pantoja Jose Manuel Aguayo ONE NIGHT ONLY
Production team
Crew from the Chicago Latino Theater Alliance (CLATA):
Production Manager: Charlie Malave
Production Assistant: Fernando Rosales
Lighting Technician: Richie Schiraldi
Lighting Technician and Board Operator: Mical Goldzweig
Lighting Technician and subtitles op: Daphne Agosin
About the company/artist:
Teatro Zona Rosa is a queer and Latine theater collective from Chicago, founded with a simple yet powerful mission: to celebrate the immigrant experience through storytelling and queer artistic expression. We center the duality of Mexican-American identity, creating a platform where we can spark conversations about our culture in all its complexity. Rather than accept the notion that we are “ni de aquí, ni de allá”—neither from here nor there—we embrace the truth that we are “de aquí, y de allá”—from both. Through performance, we honor our roots and our present, blending tradition and transformation to tell stories that reflect who we are, in all our vibrant intersections. IG: @teatrozonarosa
DRAMEDY 75 MIN WITH 15 MIN INTERMISSION 18+ SPANISH CENTER ON HALSTED 3656 N. HALSTED ST TICKET PRICE $15
ALLIANCE (CLATA)
DAMA PRODUCTIONS
CHiSME: Todo Latine, Todo Queer
A CO-PRESENTATION BETWEEN THE CHICAGO LATINO THEATER ALLIANCE AND THE CENTER ON HALSTED (COH)
Written
by: Kendra Jamaica, Spencer Diaz Tootle, Hoja Lopez Directed by: Gina Castellanos | Hosted by: Kendra Jamaica and Spencer Diaz Tootle
Synopsis
Get ready for a night of laughter, glamour, and fabulous entertainment at Chisme, a queer Latine variety show hosted by the dynamic duo of Kendra Jamaica and Spencer Diaz Tootle. Join us for a night filled with hilarious comedy, stunning drag performances, and captivating music. Chisme celebrates Latine excellence and embraces the art of chisme (gossip) in a fun and empowering way. Prepare to be amazed by the incredible talent on stage and immerse yourself in the vibrant queer Latine community.
Prepárate para una noche de risas, glamour y entretenimiento fabuloso en Chisme, un espectáculo de variedades queer latina presentado por el dúo dinámico de Kendra Jamaica y Spencer Diaz Tootle. Únete a nosotros para una noche llena de comedia divertidísima, impresionantes actuaciones drag y música cautivadora. Chisme celebra la excelencia latina y abraza el arte del chisme (cotilleo) de una manera divertida y empoderadora. Prepárate para sorprenderte con el increíble talento en el escenario y sumergirte en la vibrante comunidad queer latina.
Lineup
Kendra Jamaica Spencer Diaz Tootie Hoja Lopez Jose Alfredo
Production team
Crew from the Chicago Latino Theater Alliance (CLATA):
Production Manager: Charlie Malave
Production Assistant: Fernando Rosales
Lighting Technician: Richie Schiraldi
Lighting Technician and Board Operator: Mical Goldzweig
About the company/artist:
DAMA Productions, founded by Kendra Jamaica, is a Chicago-based company specializing in creating elevated experiences for the Latine, Sapphic, and Fem communities. With an innate gift for transforming ideas into reality, the team handles every detail from conception to execution. The company is committed to uplifting its community by collaborating with and featuring local businesses in all of its events.
Mariachi Sirenas
Louise Gore
RAÍCES TO ROOTS
Unpacking Home
Written by: Maria Luisa Torres and Luis Tubens | Directed by: Rocky Quiñones
Synopsis
“Unpacking Home” follows The Poet, a character in search of home, who receives a suitcase from their ancestors filled with items that unlock memories and guide their journey. Dancers embody these memories—giving form to identity, love, struggle, and resilience. From Abuela’s kitchen to the snowy streets of Chicago, and the domino table, each vignette reveals a layer of belonging. The performance culminates in an invitation for the audience to reflect and share, completing the search for home as a collective act of remembrance.
“Desempacando el Hogar” sigue a El Poeta, un personaje en busca de su hogar, quien recibe una maleta de sus antepasados llena de objetos que desvelan recuerdos y guían su viaje. Los bailarines encarnan estos recuerdos, dando forma a la identidad, el amor, la lucha y la resiliencia. Desde la cocina de la abuela hasta las calles nevadas de Chicago y la mesa de dominos, cada viñeta revela una capa de pertenencia. La actuación culmina con una invitación al público para completar la búsqueda del hogar como un acto colectivo de remembranza.
Performers
Maria Luisa Torres Luis Tubens
Alyssa Harlston
Yariana Baralt Torres
Edward Andino Jr
Performers cont’d
Peter Vale Brenden Cabrera
Production team
Crew at Indiana University Northwest - School of Arts: Technical Director and Production Manager: Tim O’Donnell, MFA
Lighting Designer: John Kick
Sound Operator: Cameron Bianco
Stage Manager: Abby Corman
House Manager: Abigail Svitko
FOH: Autumn Oliver
BOH: Jen Hayden
About the company/artist:
Raíces to Roots is a multidisciplinary performance company blending dance, poetry, and live music to explore the Chicago Puerto Rican experience. From our Raíces in Puerto Rico to our Roots in Chicago. IG: @raicestoroots
(CORNER OF 34TH AND BROADWAY), 2025, GARY, INDIANA
CONCRETE CONTENT
No Trailer
Written by: Ensemble Devised | Directed by: Ricardo Gamboa
Synopsis
No Trailer is an immersive and elevated sketch show. However, every sketch in No Trailer is a trailer for a movie that does not exist. In this high energy show, the movie trailer becomes a means to confront social, political and cultural realities as well as imagine alternative empowering realities. This ensemble-devised sketch show of “fake trailers” draws from the aesthetics and histories of movie trailers and Chicano, Latin American and Latino cinema. The title No Trailer is a nod to Chicano performance art collective ASCO and their No Movie (Stars) series.
Cast
Angelica Davila
David Zepeda
Cielo Santiago Munoz
Elizabeth Nungaray
Dani Suarez
Production team
Assistant Director: Jessi Realz
Lighting Design: Conchita Avitia
Set Design: Ricardo Gamboa
Sound Design: Jaquelyn Carmen Guerrero, aka Cqqchifruit
Set Construction: Peter Wilde
Graphic Design & Photography: Joe Valenzuela
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. IG: @concretecontentchi
Content Advisory: NO TRAILER is a sketch show that uses comedy to address pressing social, political and cultural issues. If you’ve seen an issue on the news, online or you’ve talked about one while high with your friends, it’s probably in the show. This sketch show isn’t just sharp in its critique but also irreverent in its comedy and includes profanity, sexual content, and violence. We hope this helps.
IMMERSIVE SKETCH SHOW
75 MIN 18+ ENGLISH AND SPANISH SUBTITLES FREE STREET THEATER 4625 S. ASHLAND AVE TICKET PRICE SLIDING SCALE DONATION
VISIÓN LATINO THEATRE COMPANY
Las Borinqueñas
Written by: Nelson Díaz-Marcano | Directed by: Xavier M. Custodio
Synopsis
It’s the 1950s in Puerto Rico, and María, Fernanda, Yolanda, Rosa, and Chavela are fighting to live full lives in a country caught between tradition and imposed progress. As a new U.S.backed government promises freedom and prosperity, the women face crushing societal rules and limited choices over their bodies and futures. This is the story of the birth control pill and the Puerto Rican women who risked everything for the chance to decide their own lives.
Es la década de 1950 en Puerto Rico, y María, Fernanda, Yolanda, Rosa y Chavela luchan por vivir plenamente en un país atrapado entre la tradición y el progreso impuesto. Mientras un nuevo gobierno respaldado por Estados Unidos promete libertad y prosperidad, las mujeres se enfrentan a normas sociales abrumadoras y a opciones limitadas sobre sus cuerpos y su futuro. Esta es la historia de la píldora anticonceptiva y de las puertorriqueñas que lo arriesgaron todo por la oportunidad de decidir sobre sus propias vidas.
Kidany Camilo
Daniela Martinez
Alyssa Corigan-Cuadrado
Audrey Romero
Cast
Katherine Schwartz
Nelson A. Rodriguez Kyle Anthony Cortés
Production team
Lighting Design: Sebastian Medina
Set Design: Shayna Patel
Sound Design: Kyle Anthony Cortes
Costume Design: Yajaira Custodio
Stage Manager: Amy Delgado-Swanson
Casting: Xavier Custodio & Yajaira Custodio
Graphic Design & Photography: Yajaira Custodio
About the company/artist:
Visión Latino Theatre Company (VLTC), founded in Chicago in 2014, brings awareness to Latino history, struggles, and perseverance through storytelling. Co-founded by Xavier Custodio, Yajaira Custodio, and Johnathan Nieves, VLTC was created to give Latino artists a platform to celebrate their culture. Since its inaugural 2015 production of Yellow Eyes by Migdalia Cruz, VLTC has continued to break down racial boundaries, inspire audiences, and, since 2016, operate as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. visionlatino.com IG: @visionlatino
Synopsis
Scratch Night highlights original, contemporary, visual and physical theatre works in progress by different Chicago Latine artists to give them the opportunity to perform a 10 minute work in progress in front of an audience to help with its development. Scratch Night aims to provide a social space for community, conversation and collaboration. This evening is curated and presented by Alice da Cunha and Isabella Diaz.
Scratch Night promueve la presentación de obras originales y contemporáneas creadas por artistas latines de Chicago, y se apoyan en el teatro físico. El objetivo se centra en brindar la oportunidad de presentar un work-in-progress de 10 minutos frente a una audiencia abierta al intercambio. Scratch Night busca ofrecer un espacio social para el diálogo y la colaboración. La curaduría de esta iniciativa está a cargo de Alice da Cunha y Isabella Diaz.
Curated by: Alice da Cunha and Isabella Diaz
Ruby Aviña
Laura Murillo Hart
Ruby Vallejo
Paula Sousa
Production team
Crew from the Chicago Latino Theater Alliance (CLATA):
Production Manager: Charlie Malave
Production Assistant: Fernando Rosales
Lighting Technician: Anastar Alvarez
Lighting Technician and Sound & Light Op: Richie Schiraldi
About the company/artist:
Scratch Night (SN) is a curated theater showcase of worksin-progress featuring innovative local Latine theater makers. Presented throughout the year, SN is an ongoing program developed by Physical Festival in Chicago and embodies the festival’s spirit of experimentation, community, and bold new performance. This evening is curated by Alice da Cunha and Isabella Diaz. physicalfestival.com IG: @physicalfestival
MULTIDISCIPLINARY 80 MIN WITH AN INTERMISSION 16+ ENGLISH AND SPANISH THE ATHENAEUM CENTER FOR THOUGHT & CULTURE
RAÍCES TO ROOTS
Unpacking Home
Written by: Maria Luisa Torres and Luis Tubens | Directed by: Rocky Quiñones
Synopsis
“Unpacking Home” follows The Poet, a character in search of home, who receives a suitcase from their ancestors filled with items that unlock memories and guide their journey. Dancers embody these memories—giving form to identity, love, struggle, and resilience. From Abuela’s kitchen to the snowy streets of Chicago, and the domino table, each vignette reveals a layer of belonging. The performance culminates in an invitation for the audience to reflect and share, completing the search for home as a collective act of remembrance.
“Desempacando el Hogar” sigue a El Poeta, un personaje en busca de su hogar, quien recibe una maleta de sus antepasados llena de objetos que desvelan recuerdos y guían su viaje. Los bailarines encarnan estos recuerdos, dando forma a la identidad, el amor, la lucha y la resiliencia. Desde la cocina de la abuela hasta las calles nevadas de Chicago y la mesa de dominos, cada viñeta revela una capa de pertenencia. La actuación culmina con una invitación al público para completar la búsqueda del hogar como un acto colectivo de remembranza.
Performers
Maria Luisa Torres Luis Tubens
Alyssa Harlston
Yariana Baralt Torres
Edward Andino Jr
Production team
Crew from the Chicago Latino Theater Alliance (CLATA):
Production Manager: Charlie Malave
Production Assistant: Fernando Rosales
Lighting Technician: Anastar Alvarez
Lighting Technician and Sound & Light Op: Richie Schiraldi
About the company/artist:
Raíces to Roots is a multidisciplinary performance company blending dance, poetry, and live music to explore the Chicago Puerto Rican experience. From our Raíces in Puerto Rico to our Roots in Chicago. IG: @raicestoroots
Peter Vale Brenden Cabrera
Natalie Lande
ISABEL QUINTERO
La Osa Menor
UNDER THE LIGHT OF MY FATHER’S POEMS
Written by: Isabel Quintero | Directed by: Esteban Arevalo Ibañez
Synopsis
“What if everything you’ve ever wanted to be was already written in the stars?” A daughter explores her father’s poetry through a Latin American musical journey, revealing an unforgettable adventure of love, loss, culture, family, and self-discovery. Original music with Colombian rhythms from the album La Osa Menor (Isabel Quintero/Gonzalo Córdova/ Oscar Quintero).
“¿Será que todo lo que siempre hemos querido ser ya está escrito en las estrellas?” Una hija explora la poesía de su padre a través de un viaje musical latinoamericano, revelando una aventura inolvidable de amor, pérdida, cultura, familia y autodescubrimiento. Música original con ritmos colombianos del álbum La Osa Menor (Isabel Quintero/Gonzalo Córdova/Oscar Quintero)
Cast
Isabel Quintero
Production team
Original Music: Gonzalo Cordova and Oscar Quintero
Crew from the Chicago Latino Theater Alliance (CLATA):
Production Manager: Charlie Malave
Production Assistant: Fernando Rosales
Lighting Technician: Anastar Alvarez
Lighting Technician and Sound & Light Op: Richie Schiraldi
About the company/artist:
Isabel Quintero is a radio, television, film and stage actor based in Chicago. She self-produced the Latin American music album La Osa Menor in 2015, performing the songs at Steppenwolf’s LookOut Series in 2019. It premiered as La Osa Menor: Poesía original hecha en canción, a cabaret-style show with storytelling. She is honored and grateful to be the recipient of the City of Chicago’s DCASE Esteemed Artist Award 2022. The award allowed her to learn and explore her craft more deeply and to partner with Colombian director Esteban Arévalo Ibáñez to create a musical titled La Osa Menor (or Ursa Minor/the Little Bear) which had a staged reading at Steppenwolf’s LookOut Series 2023. She has appeared on a number of Chicago stages (Goodman, Steppenwolf, Porchlight), Regional theater credits include Twenty50 (TheaterSquared) Nuncrackers the Nunsense Christmas Musical (Milwaukee Rep) Mojada: A Medea in Los Angeles (Indy Shakes) Quixote Nuevo (Roundhouse Theater) The Roommate (Renaissance Theaterworks) as well as television (The Chi, Chicago P.D.) and independent feature-length and short films (Holy Trinity, L.A.I.D: Life as It’s Dealt, A Handful of Dirt, Lunch in Lima, Little Sparrow, Under the Skyway). She is a member of SAG-AFTRA and the Actor’s Equity Association and proudly represented by DDO Chicago. laosamenoralbum.com
REPERTORIO LATINO THEATER COMPANY
No Hay Ladrón Que Por Bien No Venga
Written by: Dario Fo | Directed by: Joaquin Catana
Synopsis
The play revolves around a husband and wife cheating on each other. What they don’t know is that their respective lovers are also married, and all of this comes to light when a thief and his wife appear in their lives, and she unravels the story. Endless misunderstandings, hilarious and converging, accumulate as more and more characters enter the scene in situations where the characters blame each other to avoid being caught, underscoring an absurd and everyday situation.
La obra gira en torno a una pareja en la que marido y mujer se engañan. Lo que ellos no saben es precisamente que sus respectivos amantes son también matrimonio, y todo esto sale a la luz cuando en sus vidas aparece un ladrón y su esposa, siendo ella quien desmenuza la historia. Un sinfín de malentendidos, hilarantes y convergentes, se acumulan a medida que más y más personajes van entrando en escena en situaciones en las que los personajes se van culpando unos a otros para no ser descubiertos, subrayando una situación absurda y cotidiana.
Manny Casique
Armando Reyes
Cinthya Saldana
Claudia Sanchez Alma Pauleth
VengaQue
Production team
Understudies: Paula Aguirre
Stage Manager: Laura Rocha
Lighting Design: Juan Garzon
Set Design: Jessica Garzon
Sound Design: Juan Garzon
Video Design:Juan Garzon
Set Construction: Joaquin Catana, Roma Diaz
Graphic Design & Photography: Juan Garzon
Media Relations: Samantha Ante
About the company/artist:
Repertorio Latino Theater Company exists to produce high-quality theater in Spanish that celebrates, preserves, and amplifies Latinx stories and culture. Since our founding in 1998, we’ve brought together artists, audiences, and communities through powerful productions that resonate with our experiences while inviting broader audiences to connect with our heritage. Without a permanent venue, we thrive as a mobile stage—bringing the magic of theater to diverse spaces across Chicago and beyond. IG: @repertoriolatino
Samantha Ante Juan Jasso Aboytes
NESTOR GOMEZ
80 Minutes Around
IMMIGRATION STORIES
Curated and hosted 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’ Gómez, ganador de más de 80 Moth Slams.
Line-up
Alonda Correa
Veronica Llerena
Franklin Salvador
Celene Julieth Luna Garcia
Emily Pabon
Miguel Salazar
Nestor Gomez
Around the World
Production team
Production Manager at Chicago Shakespeare Theater: Alexa Berkowitz
About the company/artist:
Nestor “the Boss” Gomez arrived from Guatemala at age 15, 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 90 slams since. He also created his own storytelling show 80 Minutes Around the Worlds which features the stories of immigrants, refugees, their descendants and allies. To learn more about Nestor visit his web site: https://www.nestorgomezstoryteller.com/
FLOR DE UN DÍA (ARGENTINA)
Nada Del Amor Me Produce Envidia
THIS PRODUCTION IS PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY OUR SPONSORING PARTNER,
Written by: Santiago Loza | Directed by: Diego Lerman
Synopsis
Nada del amor me produce envidia, which translates to Nothing about Love Makes me Envious, is a musical melodrama anchored in the world of Argentine female singers of the 1930s. Taking as its starting point the legendary slap that Libertad Lamarque apparently gave Eva Perón, a theatrical/musical show was created centering on the plight of a neighborhood seamstress who one day is visited by Libertad and Eva, who order the same dress.
Es un melodrama musical cuyo anclaje es el mundo de las cancionistas argentinas de los años 30. Tomando como punto de partida el mítico cachetazo que aparentemente Libertad Lamarque le habría dado a Eva Perón, se creó un espectáculo teatral/musical centrado en el drama de una costurera de barrio al que un buen día se le aparecieron Libertad y EVA para encargarle el mismo vestido.
Cast
Maria Merlino
This production is proudly supported by the Consulado General Argentino en Chicago and Copa Airlines.
Production team
Lighting Design: Fernanda Balcells
Set Design: Flor de un día
Costume Design: Valentina Bari, Pablo Ramirez
Original Music: Sandra Baylac
Movement & Choreography: Maria Merlino
Voice Training: Maria Merlino
Set Construction: Flor de un día
Graphic Design & Photography: Leandro Allochis
Media Relations: Maria Merlino
Production Assistant: Sonia Riobo
Production Manager: Maria Merlino
Crew from the Chicago Latino Theater Alliance (CLATA):
Production Manager: Charlie Malave
Production Assistant: Fernando Rosales
Lighting Technician: Anastar Alvarez
Supertitles Operator: Carmen Kingsley
Special thanks to Valerie Tu, Production Manager, and Dylan Reyno, Technical Coordinator, at the Wirtz Center Chicago, for their support and collaboration.
About the company/artist:
Flor de un día is a company founded in 2008 in Buenos Aires, Argentina by María Merlino and Diego Lerman. Its first theatrical production was Nada del amor me produce envidia, written by Santiago Loza. This show became a landmark in the Buenos Aires theater scene and continues to be performed to this day. In 2010, they premiered Qué me has hecho, vida mía, a solo performance written by Merlino, Lerman, and Pitrola, based on the life of the “cursed” actress Fanny Navarro. ¿Cómo vuelvo?, based on the stories of Hebe Uhart and adapted by María Merlino, was created in 2012 along with La Dama del mar, a free adaptation of Henrik Ibsen’s work. In 2024, Merlino artistically produced and starred in the show Ese Bow-Window no es americano, directed by Mariana Oberztern. Her new solo project, La viva voz premiered in August at the Teatro Nacional Cervantes in Buenos Aires.
7:30PM SUN 3:00PM
AGUIJÓN THEATER
Uz, El Pueblo
Written by: Gabriel Calderón | Directed by: Marcela Muñoz
Synopsis
Grace and her family lead a perfect life in the quiet town of Uz. Everything seems in order until she loses her job at the church. With two children to care for, her world begins to fall apart. But in the midst of despair, Grace receives an unexpected message: God Himself speaks to her! What first appears to be a sign of hope soon unleashes a whirlwind that plunges the entire town into a delirious frenzy. Uz, the Town, by Gabriel Calderón, is a sharp and provocative comedy that blends dark humor, irony, and biblical myths to push us to the limits of our convictions. An experience that will make you laugh, squirm, and reflect on what happens when faith turns into fanaticism.
Grace y su familia llevan una vida perfecta en el tranquilo pueblo de Uz. Todo parece en orden, hasta que ella pierde su trabajo en la iglesia. Con dos hijos a su cargo, su mundo parece venirse abajo. Pero, en medio de la desesperación, Grace recibe un mensaje inesperado: ¡Dios mismo le habla! Y lo que al inicio parece una señal de esperanza, pronto desata un torbellino que transforma a todo el pueblo en un caos delirante. Uz, el pueblo, de Gabriel Calderón, es una comedia afilada y provocadora que mezcla humor oscuro, ironía y mitos bíblicos para llevarnos al límite de nuestras convicciones. Una experiencia que hará reír, incomodar y pensar qué sucede cuando la fe se convierte en fanatismo.
Stefanie Jara*
Nydia Castillo*
Carlos Garcia Servín*
Production team
Assistant Director: Wendy Madrigal
Lighting Design: Marcela Muñoz* and Augusto Yanacopulos*
Sound Design: Marcela Muñoz*
Set Design: Rosario Vargas* and Augusto Yanacopulos*
Set Work: Augusto Yanacopulos*
Set Building: Keith Werner
Set Dressing and Props: Rosario Vargas*
Costume Design: Caridá Cira Diaz
Titlist: Isabella Wener
Show Image Design: Carlos García Servín* and Marcela Muñoz*
Graphic Design & Photography: Carlos García Servín*
Media Relations: Elio Leturia*
Community Outreach: Stefany Jara*
Social Media: Stefany Jara* and Carlos García Servín*
Stage Manager: Nancy Romo
Assistant Stage Manager: Isabella Werner
Production Manager: Rosario Vargas*
*Denotes Aguijón Theater Ensemble Member.
About the company/artist:
Aguijón Theater creates dynamic theatrical experiences through Spanishlanguage and bilingual works, fostering cultural exploration, dialogue, and performance. By producing classic, contemporary, and original plays, Aguijón highlights social issues impacting the Latino community and beyond, promoting diversity, pride, and cross-cultural understanding. Through collaborations and adaptations, the company builds bridges among generations and exposes audiences to the richness of Spanish-language theater. Aguijón strives to increase creative and economic opportunities for actors, directors, and theater workers of diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds, providing a forum in which to showcase their talents. aguijontheater.org IG: @aguijontheater
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Get Involved with CLATA in 2026!
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.
9th Chicago International Latino Theater Festival Fall 2026
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 TBA.
Call for local theater companies will begin TBA.
Inicios: 3rd Chicago Latine Playwright Festival
2026
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 2026 in Chicago.
Call for playwrights TBA.
2nd Latine Theater Artist Week
Spring 2026
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 2026 Follow us @latinotheater to stay updated!
Destinos Sponsors
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