November 5, 2024

Chicago Latino Theater Alliamce

Years ago, under the leadership of Henry Godinez ( Goodman Theatre Associate Director) and the local Latino theater companies, LatinoFest became summer theater fare in Chicago. While the years have passed, we find that the population of Chicago ( and surrounding area) enjoys the theater that the Latino community adds to the mix and many of our local venues have joined in with the CLTA ( Chicago Latino Theater Alliance) to bring us what is now called “The Chicago International Latino Theater Festival”. It is exciting and educational. This year ( the 2nd Festival) is entitled “Destinos”, bringing us plays from Mexico, Argentina and Los Angeles.

The Goodman played host to “Mendoza” Los Colochos Teatro’s radically imagined adaptation of “Macbeth”. It was only during October 2nd thru the 7th and it was in Spanish with screens and sub-tiles visible for all. The play was done in the-round ( so to speak) with the actors using the audience members from time to time ( they never had to speak, but they did get to enjoy a Corona, during the almost 2 hours ( no intermission) and after.

“Macbeth” deals with ambition, blood and power and so does Mendoza”. The story is now interwoven with Mexican History set against the backdrop of the Mexican Revolution and the events that many know of from the 2014 Ayotzinpapa massacre. Mendoza is told by a witch that he will one day lead the army, and so , in order to make this come true and inspired by his wife, Mendoza begins to kill off those who might stand in his way. I was caught up in this production and in no way was bothered by the fact that this was a different language. I understood the message and the story and the brilliance and power of this theatrical company.

Destinos will continue thru November 4th- the full schedule can be found at www.clata.org or you can call 312-631-3112

 

 

 


the 2nd Chicago International Latino Theater Festival
debuts Ricardo Gamboa’s all-ages, sci-fi thriller set in Chicago’s South Side, WET: A DACAmentedJourney about DREAMERs from Dallas, and Luna de Cristal,
a riveting family drama from Puerto Rico
CHICAGO, October 5, 2018 – Chicago playwright Ricardo Gamboa’s new sci-fi thriller about a 13-year-old boy in Chicago’s Little Village, WET: A DACAmented Journey chronicling the uncertainty of DREAMers, direct from Dallas, and a dark drama about a dysfunctional family from Puerto Rico will be the productions creating big buzz during week 4 of DESTINOS– the 2nd Chicago International Latino Theater Festival, presented by CLATA (Chicago Latino Theater Alliance):
The Real Life Adventures of Jimmy de la Rosas
byRicardo Gamboa(World Premiere)
Free Street Theatre, in collaboration with CLATA, presents a new imagining of The Real Life Adventures of Jimmy de las Rosas by Free Street Artist-in-Residence Ricardo Gamboa. This new, all-ages thriller runs October 11-27 at Free Street Theater, Pulaski Park,
1419 N. Blackhawk St. in in Noble Square. Show times are Thursday and Friday at 8 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets are $20. For tickets and information, visit clata.org.
Mutant Chihuahuas are snatching people off the streets of Chicago! Will Jimmy de las Rosas turn up the heat on his own mutant abilities to fight them? Don’t miss this story of a boy superhero, an evil supervillian, and mutant Chihuahuas. Clever special effects, humor, battle scenes and puppets are used to create a one of a kid experience. The Real Life Adventures blends comic books, telenovelas, sci-fi, chisme, and samurai stories to tell a tale of extraordinary things happening just around the corner. It’s a show for all ages, set right here in Chicago, with a story anyone can relate to.
Ricardo Gamboa is an award-winning Chicago artist, activist and academic creating radically politicized work. The production is directed by Ana Velazquez. It is performed in English with sprinkles of Spanish.
Chicago playwright Ricardo Gamboa
WET: A DACAmented Journey (Midwest Premiere)
A co-presentation with the Latino Policy Forum
Alex Alpharaoh
WET: A DACAmented Journey (Midwest Premiere) by Alex Alpharaoh via Cara Mía Theatre and Ignite/Arts Dallas chronicles the desperation and limitations DREAMers feel navigating a broken U.S. immigration system. This co-presentation with Latino Policy Forum runs October 11-14 in the Richard Christiansen Theater at Victory Gardens, 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue, Chicago. Show times are Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m., and Sunday at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $25/$20 students and seniors. For tickets and information, visit victorygardens.orgor call (773) 871-3000.
WET: A DACAmented Journey is a story of what it means to be an American in every sense of the word except for one: on paper. It chronicles Anner Cividanis’ journey living his whole life in the United States as an undocumented American. The production is written and performed by Alex Alpharaoh, an award-winning stage and film actor, writer, director producer, spoken word artist, solo performer and teaching artist. The director is Brisa Areli Muñoz. It is performed in English with sprinkles of Spanish.
WET: A DACAmented Journey is co-presented with Latino Policy Forum, latinopolicyforum.org.
WET: A DACAmented Journey - An award winning show and experience
Watch an excerpt from WET: A DACAmented Journey
Luna de Cristal/ Crystal Moon (U.S. Premiere)
Luna de Cristal/ Crystal Moon (U.S. Premiere), from Puerto Rico’s Cuarzo Blanco, tells the story of a family of three confronting the realities of their lives and the unexpected event that unites them. Performances are October 11-14 at Steppenwolf’s 1700 Theatre, 1700 N. Halsted St., Chicago, presented as part of the LookOut Series. Show times are Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m., Sunday at 3:30 p.m.
Luna de Cristal is about a dysfunctional family of three whose secrets, appearances and deceptions are the daily norm. There is always a reason and an excuse to not face the truth, to not assume responsibilities, but there is an unexpected situation, fortuitous and fatal, that suddenly manages to surface everything hidden – the passions, the truths and the “who’s who.” An event eventually reunites them…but it’s too late for amendments, forgiveness or apologies.
Luna de Cristal is written, directed and produced by Adriana Pantoja. Cuarto Blanco is an artistic non-profit organization from Puerto Rico, celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2019. This production is presented in Spanish with English supertitles.
Luna de cristal, excerpt - Adriana Pantoja/Cuarzo Blanco, marzo 2018 (Puerto Rico)
Watch the trailer for Luna de Cristal
Still to come
New plays from Aguijón Theater Teatro Vista, two of Chicago’s top Latino theater companies, plus a wildly celebrated circus production from Colombia are still on tap for the final weeks of Chicago’s DESTINOS festival, running through November 4. Visit clata.orgto purchase tickets to:
American Jornalero / American Day Laborer (Midwest Premiere) by Ed Cardona Jr., a drama about a collision between immigrant day laborers and white power vigilantes, is a Teatro Vista presentation in the Richard Christiansen Theater at Victory Gardens,
2433 N. Lincoln Ave., October 18-21. Show times are Thursday, Friday and Saturday at
8 p.m., and Sunday at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $25/$20 students and seniors.
Note: Immediately following its run at Victory Gardens, American Jornalero will transfer to UrbanTheater, 2620 W. Division St. in Humboldt Park, for performances October 24-November 18.
Casa Propia / A House of My Own (Midwest Premiere) by Dolores Prida, a lighthearted yet poignant comedy about a woman’s tireless quest for her American Dream, will run October 18-November 25 at Aguijón Theater, 2707 N. Laramie Ave. in Belmont Cragin. Show times are Thursday, Fridays and Saturday at 8 p.m., and Sunday at 6 p.m. Tickets are $10-$25.
Acéléré (North American Premiere) bycelebrated Colombian circus troupe Circolombia, culminates the DESTINOS festival. Acéléré is a high-energy spectacle that features jaw-dropping circus feats from aerialists, acrobats, and contortionists – interwoven with the troupe’s signature live music and dance performances, spanning genres from hip-hop and reggaeton to drum and bass. Performances are October 23–November 4, 2018 at The Yard at Chicago Shakespeare Theater on Navy Pier, 800 E. Grand Ave. Show times are Tuesday through Friday at 7:45 p.m., Saturday at 4 p.m. and 7:45 pm., and Sunday at
4 p.m. Tickets are $30-$45/$20 for anyone under age 35.
Still running
Not For Sale (World Premiere) by Guadalís Del Carmen tackles issues of gentrification and displacement in Humboldt Park. With new neighbors looking to make changes west of Western Avenue in a community rich with decades of culture, the question persists who gets to lay claim to the neighborhood? This production, “blissfully free of the divisive rancor so prevalent in our time” (Chicago Reader), is Reader recommended and Jeff recommended. Performances continue at UrbanTheater Company, 2620 W. Division St. in Humboldt Park. Through October 20: Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 3 pm. Tickets are $15-$25.
There’s a Coqui in My Shoe! (World Premiere) by The Miracle Center’s Playwright, Roberto J. Negron, an adaptation of Marissa de Jesus Paolicelli’s children’s book about Puerto Rico’s national mascot, the Coquí (little tree frog) continues at The Miracle Center,
2311 N. Pulaski Rd. in Logan Square/Hermosa, through October 13: Friday at 7:30 p.m., and Saturday at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $25.