Espejos: Clean Study Guide

SEASON SPONSORS

SPONSOR

MEDIA SPONSORS

COMMUNITY PARTNER

SCENIC DESIGN

Mariana Sanchez

IN ASSOCIATION WITH HARTFORD STAGE PRESENTS

WRITTEN BY Christine Quintana

SPANISH TRANSLATION AND ADAPTATION BY Paula Zelaya Cervantes

DIRECTED BY Melissa Crespo

COSTUME DESIGN

Lux Haac

PROJECTION DESIGN

Lisa Renkel

LIGHTING DESIGN

Colleen Doherty

PRODUCTION

STAGE MANAGER

Laura Jane Collins*

SOUND DESIGN AND ORIGINAL MUSIC

Daniela Hart & UptownWorks

Robert Hupp

Artistic Director Jill A. Anderson Managing Director

Associate Artistic Director Kyle Bass Resident Playwright

Melissa Crespo

Espejos: Clean received a rolling world premiere production in March 2022 between South Coast Repertory Theatre (Costa Mesa, CA, USA) and Neworld Theatre (Vancouver, BC, Canada). Clean-Espejos was developed and workshopped with the support of The Lab at South Coast Repertory Theatre (2021 Pacific Playwrights Festival), Neworld Theatre (Vancouver), Theatre Aspen (Solo Flights Festival), and Tarragon Theatre (Urjo Kareda Residency, Toronto), and received additional support from Aluna Theatre (Toronto), the Playwrights Lab at the Banff Centre the Canada Council for the Arts and the BC Arts Council (Canada). Espejos: Clean was dramaturged by Daniela Atiencia. Espejos: Clean is produced by permission of the Playwrights and Marquis Literary (Colin Rivers) www.MQlit.ca

This program is made possible by American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding from the City of Syracuse Arts & Culture Recovery Fund Program, a regrant program of the City of Syracuse administered by CNY Arts.

February 15 - March 5, 2023

TableofContents

DearEducators,

Thebestwayoflearningislearningwhileyou’rehavingfun.Theatreprovidestheopportunityforus toconnectthroughperformanceandstories,allowsustofindourselvesinotherpeople’slives,and growbeyondourownboundaries.Weareevermoreexcitedtosharethesenewtheatricalpieceswith yourstudentsastheyshapeanddefineus.Givingstudentstheopportunitytowatchstoriescometo life,aswellasthepowertocreatetheirown,ispartofourlastingimpactontheworld.Comingtosee aperformanceasapartofalargercommunitybringsustogetherasone.LivetheatreisSyracuse Stage'sconnectiontotheworldandeachother.Weinviteyouandyourstudentstoengagewiththe storieswetellasastartingpointforyouandthemtocreatetheirown.

Sincerely,

JoannYarrow,KateLaissle,andTheorriLondon CommunityEngagement&EducationTeam

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2022/2023EducationalOutreachSponsors

SyracuseStageiscommittedtoprovidingstudentswithrichtheatreexperiencesthatexploreandexamine whatitistobehuman.Researchshowsthatchildrenwhoparticipateinorareexposedtotheartsshow higheracademicachievement,strongerselfesteem,andimprovedabilitytoplanandworktowardafuture goal.

ManystudentsinourcommunityhavetheirfirsttasteoflivetheatrethroughSyracuseStage’soutreach programs.Lastseasonmorethan21,000studentsfromacrossNewYorkattendedorparticipatedintheBank ofAmericaChildren’sTour,artsEmerging,theYoungPlaywrightsFestival,Backstory,YoungAdultCouncil, and/orourStudentMatineeProgram.

SyracuseStage5

BeforetheShow

Synopsis

WrittenbyCommunityEngagement&EducationInternErinKeith

PerformedinEnglishandSpanishwithsupertitlesinbothlanguages, Espejos:Clean takesplaceataresortin Cancún,México.ThestoryfeaturesAdriana,themanagerofthehousekeepingstaff,andSarah,aguestfrom Vancouver,Canada,andmaidofhonorforhersister’swedding.TheplaystartswithAdrianatellinghowshelefther homeinChetumal,México,toescapeherabusivefatherandworkattheresortinCancún.Wethenmeetadrunk Sarah,whoalsohasatumultuousrelationshipwithherfamily.AdrianaandSarahthenmeetforthefirsttimewhen SarahwalksinonAdrianacleaningherroom.Aftertheirbriefinteraction,Adrianalearnsthatherfatherhaspassed away.Adrianahasnotreturnedhomesinceshelefteightyearsagoanddidnotplanto,sosheattemptstoforget aboutherfatherandreturntowork.

Rainthenhitstheresort,causingpanic.SarahandAdrianabothdreadtheramificationsofarainydayattheresort andentertheirrespectivememories.Sarahrecallsamajordepressiveepisode,andAdrianarecallshermother’s fearofherfather.Theybothreenterreality,andAdrianarealizesthatsheandherstaffwillbestuckattheresortfor thenightduetofloodedhighways,sosheignorestheconstantcallsfromherfamilyandattendsthehotelstaffparty. Adrianaattemptstoloosenupbylettingherhairdownanddrinking.Whensheseesherex-boyfriendNicolas,they danceandleavethepartytogether.Stilllostinhermemories,Sarahleavesherroomandgoesintothepoolwhile AdrianaandNicolaskissnearby.Adrianastartstoinstigatemoreintimateactionsbeforeherfeelingsabouther fathererupt,andsheburstsintotears.SarahoverhearsAdriana’stearsandcallsout,thinkingthatAdrianaisbeing assaulted. Theplaythenentersfantasy,andweseehoweachcharacterimaginestheaftermathofthisallegedassault. Eventually,wesnapbacktoreality,andSarahtriestohelpAdriana,butAdrianaistoonervousaboutgettinginto troublewithhotelmanagementtoengagewithSarahfully.SarahisconcernedforAdriana,andAdrianafinallytells Sarahnottotellanyoneaboutwhatshesaw.

TheybothreenterfantasieswhereAdrianaimaginesreturninghomeforherfather’sfuneralandconfrontingher motheraboutstayingwithhim.Sarahimaginestellingherfamilyaboutherassaultandtheguiltshefeelsabout preventingitfromhappeningtoherlittlesister.

Backinrealityagain,SarahandAdrianareflectonthepreviousnight’sevents.SarahsendsamessagetoAdriana, askingthatshevisitherhotelroomsotheycantalk.AdrianashowsuptoSarah’sroom,andSarahtriestohelp Adriana,insistingthattheycallthepolice.Adrianainsiststhatshewasnotassaultedandwascrying“forsomeother thing.”Sarahreveals,"whathappenedtoyouhappenedtome,"andAdrianaassuresSarahthatsheis“sorryfor her,”butnothinghappenedandtopleaseleaveitalone.TheybothgothroughtheconversationwithclarityasSarah vowstocommunicatewithhersister,andAdrianareturnshometoburyherfatherandreunitewithhermother.

Pre-ShowDiscussionQuestions

HaveyoueverbeenonvacationoutsideoftheUnitedStates?Wheredidyougo?Whatdiditfeelliketobe immersedinacultureoutsideofyourown?Whatsimilaritiesanddifferencesbetweenculturesdidyou observe?

Howdoyoufeelaboutyourhometown?

Pre-ShowActivity

NoOne,Everyone

Inthisactivity,eachpersoninthegrouptakesaturnsayingsomethingtheythinkeveryonehasdone andthentheysaysomethingthattheythinknoonehasdone.Theotherpeopleinthegroupeithernod theirheadsyesorshaketheirheadsnoinresponsetothestatements.Ifsomeoneshakestheirheadno, othersinthegrouptrytoguesswhichstatementisfalse.Thepersonwhosaidnocanchooseto elaborateontheirexperiencewithastory.Afterthisactivity,writeareflectiononwhatyoulearnedabout yourselfandhowyouviewothers.

ExampleStatements:

Everyonehaseatenicecreambefore Noonehaseverrun300miles

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AftertheShow

Post-ShowDiscussionQuestions

Whatwasyourfavoritemomentintheplay?

Weretheactorsbelievable?Whatperformersweremostsuccessfulintheirroles?Whatmadethem successful?

Didthereseemtobeaunifyingideabehindtheproduction?Whatisthatidea?Howwasitconveyedtoyou throughtheproduction?

Whatwasyouropinionoftheset?Howdiditcontributetotheperformance?

Whatwasyouropinionofthecostumes?Whatinformationdidthecostumestellyouabouttheplayand characters?

Howdidthelightingaffectthemoodoftheperformance?

Didthisplayhaveanyobservationsaboutpeople,society,relationships,oranythingelse? Wouldyourecommendsomeoneelsetoseethisplay?Whyorwhynot?

ReadingList

LivingBeyondBorders:StoriesAboutGrowingUpMexicaninAmerica

Twentystand-aloneshortstories,essays,poems,andmorefromcelebratedand award-winningauthorsmakeupthisYAanthologythatexplorestheMexicanAmerican experience.WithworksbyFranciscoX.Stork,GuadalupeGarciaMcCall,DavidBowles, RubénDegollado,e.E.Charlton-Trujillo,DianaLópez,XavierGarza,TrinidadGonzales, AlexTemblador,AidaSalazar,LupeRuiz-Flores,SylviaSanchezGarza,Dominic Carrillo,AngelaCervantes,CarolynDeeFlores,RenéSaldañaJr.,LauraPerez,Justine Narro,DanielGarcíaOrdáz,andAnnaMeriano.

Inthismixed-mediacollectionofshortstories,personalessays,poetry,andcomics, thiscelebratedgroupofauthorssharetheborderstheyhavecrossed,thestrugglesthey havepushedthrough,andthetwoculturestheycontinuetonavigateasMexican American.LivingBeyondBordersisatonceaneye-opening,heart-wrenching,and hopefulloveletterfromtheMexicanAmericancommunitytotoday’syoungreaders.Goodreads.com

MeetthePlaywright

BorninLosAngelestoaMexican-Americanfather andaDutch-British-Canadianmother,Christineis nowagratefulvisitortotheuncededlandsofthe Musqueam,Squamish,andTsleil-Waututhpeople (alsoknownasVancouver).Creation/Performing highlightsinclude Espejos:Clean (translatedand adaptedbyPaulaZelayaCervantes),premierewith NeworldTheatreandSouthCoastRepertory; Never TheLast (co-createdwithMollyMacKinnon), producedbyDelinquentTheatre,recipientof5 JessieRichardsonTheatreAwardnominationsand winnerofSignificantArtisticAchievement; Selfie (GovernorGeneral’sAwardnominee,winnerofthe DoraMavorMooreAwardforOutstandingTYAPlay, theSydneyRiskPrizeforOutstandingScriptbyan EmergingPlaywright,andtheTomHendryawardfor TYA).Herwritinghasbeentranslatedandperformed inSpanish,French,ASL,andGerman.Shewas honouredwiththe2017SiminovitchProtégéPrize forPlaywritingfromMarcusYoussef,andholdsa BFAinActingfromtheUniversityofBritishColumbia.

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MeettheDirector

MelissaCrespoisadirectorofnewplays,musicals, andopera.ShewilldirecttheupcomingOffBroadwayworldpremiereof BeesandHoney by GuadalísdelCarmenatMCCTheater.Asa playwright,herplay Egress,co-writtenwithSarah Saltwick,receivedtheRoeGreenAwardat ClevelandPlayhouseandhassincebeenproduced byAmphibianStageandSaltLakeActingCompany. Fellowshipsandresidenciesinclude:TimeWarner Fellow(WPTheatre),UsualSuspect(NYTW),The Director’sProject(DramaLeague),VanLier DirectingFellow(SecondStageTheatre),andthe AllenLeeHughesDirectingFellow(ArenaStage). MelissareceivedherM.F.A.indirectingfromThe NewSchoolforDrama.Sheisafoundingeditorof 3ViewsonTheaterandwasfeaturedinthe2020 BroadwayWomen’sFund“WomentoWatchon Broadway”.

Inthe1960s,Cancúnwasanondescripttownof100peopleinoneof thepoorestregionsin México.ThatisuntiltheMexicangovernment underwentahugeprojecttoexpandtourisminthecountry,attemptingto boostthenationaleconomy.Thegovernmentcomparedsuccessful resorts'climatesandamenitieswithsitesalong México’s coastline.Outof around6,000milesofcoastline,Cancúnwasspecificallychosenforits whitesandbeaches,blueseas,andperfect,year-roundweather.

Additionally,Cancún'shighpovertyratesmeantthatitwasacheap placefortheMexicangovernmenttobuildrealestateandtransformintoa resorttown.

In1974,thefirsthotelopenedinCancún.Inayear,morehotels poppedupand100,000touristsvisited.Today,Cancúnwelcomesaround twomillionvisitorseveryyearandmakesupfor25%ofthetourismforthe entirecountry.In2016,tourismin México reachedover$13.3billion,21% ofthecountry'sentireincome.

35%ofthejobsinCancúnareintourism,andabouthalfofthemoney thecitymakescomesfromtourism.ManyMexicanpeoplelivinginand aroundCancúnfindworkintheserviceofforeignpeople.Meanwhile,its transformationfromasmall,impoverishedtowntoanexpensiveresort destinationmeansalotoflocalscannotaffordtoliveinCancúnandhave tolivefaroutsideofit.

Thelargeamountoftourismalsohasenvironmentalimpacts.Sewage fromallthehotelshasoverpoweredthecity'streatmentfacilities, overflowingintotheseaanddamagingtheoceanlife.Similarly,garbage hasincreased,whichisoftensenttoillegalgarbagedumps.Morehotels beingbuiltandextratrafficonbeacheshaveledtoerosion,threatening localreefsandcoralsystems.Increasedproductionhasalsodestroyed mangroveecosystems.Mangrovesareresponsibleforprotectingagainst erosion,capturingcarbonfromtheatmosphere,andprovidingvitalfish habitats.In2009,Cancúnspent$20milliontoshipinsandtorestore beachesthathadbeenerodedduetomangroveloss.

ComparingandContrastingChetumalandCancún

WrittenbyCommunityEngagement&EducationInternErinKeith

Chetumal, México andCancún, México areboth locatedontheEastCoastofthecountryonthe YucatánPeninsula.Chetumalislocatedjustnorthon theBelizeborder,andCancúnislocatedonthe northeastcoastofthepeninsula.Bothcitiesareinthe stateofQuintanaRoowithChetumalservingasthe capital,althoughmanythinkCancúnisthecapital. BothcitiesareonthesitesofformerMayan settlements.ThelandofChetumalismadeupof tropicalrainforestswithforestproductssuchas lumberandchicleservingasmajorexports historically.Recently,Chetumalbecameamajorsite fortradebetween México andBelizeaswellasa tourismsite.Cancúnwasasmalltownthatfocused onfishingandgatheringuntil1970whentheMexican governmentchosethelocationtobedevelopedfor internationaltourists.Currently,Cancúnisalmost exclusivelyatouristtownwithamuchlarger populationofaround890,000peoplecomparedto Chetumal’sroughly170,000people.Theentirecityis madetoservetheresortsonCancúnIslandthatare rightontheshoreoftheCaribbeanSea.Money madefromtourismaccountsforalmosthalfofthe city’sentireGrossDomesticProduct,makingCancún themosttourist-dependentcityintheworldin2018.

ThecharacterAdrianain Espejos:Clean livedinChetumal, México before movingtoCancún, México wherethestorylargelytakesplace.

Chetumal, México

YoungAdultCouncil(YAC)

TheYoungAdultCouncilisaplaceforteens tomeetotherCNYstudentswithaninterest intheatre,haveavoiceintheprogramming designedforthem,andexplorehowtheatre impactstheirlives.Theprogramfocuseson peerleddiscussionandeventsinadditionto advocatingfortheatreandartsparticipation tofellowstudents.YACmembersalsogeta freetickettoeachshowinthecurrent SyracuseStageseason.

YoungPlaywrightsFestival

EveryyearSyracuseStageinvitesCentralNewYorkhigh schoolstudentstowriteoriginalten-minuteplaysandother performancepiecesforentryintoourannualYoung PlaywrightsFestivalcontest.Ourpaneloftheatreandliterary professionalsevaluateseachstudent'splay.Semifinalistsare invitedtoattendawritingworkshopwithSyracuseStage wheretheirplayswillbereadandcritiqued.Finalistswillsee theirplaysperformedasstagedreadingsbySyracuse UniversityDramaStudents.

Sources

“Course:GEOG352/2019/EnvironmentalImpactsofTourisminCancún-UBCWiki.”Wiki.ubc.ca,2019, www.wiki.ubc.ca/Course:GEOG352/2019/Environmental_Impacts_of_Tourism_in_Canc%C3%BAn. “LivingbeyondBorders.”www.goodreads.com, www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/48920181-living-beyond-borders.

Patel,Kasha.“HowCancúnGrewintoaMajorResort.”Earthobservatory.nasa.gov,24Jan.2020, www.earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/146194/how-cancun-grew-into-a-major-resort.

TheEditorsofEncyclopaediaBritannica.“Cancún|Mexico.”EncyclopediaBritannica, www.britannica.com/place/Cancun.

---.“Chetumal|History&Facts.”EncyclopediaBritannica, www.britannica.com/place/Chetumal.

YucatánMagazine.“Report:CancunIsWorld’sMostTourist-DependentCity.”YucatánMagazine,16Nov.2018, www.yucatanmagazine.com/report-cancun-is-worlds-most-tourist-dependent-city/.

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EAST COAST PREMIERE

FEB 15 – MAR 5

CLEAN: ESPEJOS

BY CHRISTINE QUINTANA

SPANISH TRANSLATION AND ADAPTATION BY PAULA ZELAYA

CERVANTES

DIRECTED BY MELISSA CRESPO

MAR 29 – APR 16

OUR TOWN

BY THORNTON WILDER DIRECTED

BY ROBERT HUPP

WORLD PREMIERE

MAY 3 - 21

TENDER RAIN

BY KYLE BASS DIRECTED

BY RODNEY HUDSON

SEASON SPONSORS

7 - 25

CLUE

BASED ON THE SCREENPLAY BY JONATHAN LYNN

WRITTEN BY SANDY RUSTIN

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL BY HUNTER

FOSTER AND ERIC PRICE

BASED ON THE PARAMOUNT PICTURES MOTION PICTURE BASED ON THE HASBRO BOARD GAME CLUE

ORIGINAL MUSIC BY MICHAEL HOLLAND

DIRECTED BY BEN HANNA