Milagro Theatre’s RAÍZ Offers Celebration of the Day of the Dead

For more than 28 years, the Miracle Theatre Group has been dedicated to bringing  Latino theatre to the Northwest. Now the group’s world premiere of Raíz, a bilingual celebration of Día de los muertos (Day of the Dead), is onstage through November 11th. The production is directed by Arturo Martinini.(Photo Credit, Russell J. Young)

Here’s more information about the play: Every year, the dead are commemorated in Portland’s longest-running Día de los muertos celebration. This season, a cabal of Aztec gods, having fallen out of favor in the modern world, seek to revive their relevance by reuniting a young clown with his departed partner, Augustina. Time turns backward as we unearth the interwoven roots of pre-Hispanic customs and traditions found at the juncture of life and death. Are we but dreaming and awake only when we die? Through music, dance and legend, we explore that thin veil that separates our world from the realm of our indigenous ancestors.

SPECIAL EVENTS: • Los Porteños writers group will present original stories and poetry written for the Day of the Dead prior to the matinee on Sunday, Nov. 4, beginning at 11:30 a.m. Free.

ENSEMBLE (in alphabetical order)

Enrique E. Andrade

Sara Fay Goldman

Nurys Herrera

Ed Lyons

Juan Antonio Martinez

Alberto Romero

Zoe Rudman

Maria Sanchez

 

PRODUCTION TEAM

Arturo Martinini … Director

Mark Haack … Scenic Designer

Katelan Braymer … Lighting Designer

Carolyn Baker … Costume Designer

Gerardo Calderón … Composer

Kelly Carlos … Choreographer

Nicki D’Amico … Prop Master

Adrienne Shelnutt … Assistant Director/Stage Manager

Collin Lawson … Master Carpenter

Julie Rosequist … Sound Board Operator

Estela Robinson … Production Manager

Jesus Kobe … Artcard Artist

Russell J. Young … Photographer

Olga Sanchez … Artistic Director, Miracle MainStage

José E. González … Executive Director

ABOUT THE DIRECTOR

Arturo Martinini began his career at a very young age as actor, director and filmmaker. He has directed and toured with several theatre companies (performing works from Lorca, Pasolini, Shakespeare and Barry), and has worked as an independent filmmaker for notable organizations in Europe. Most recently he acted in Romeo Castellucci’s latest work, Attore, il tuo nome non è esatto. The writings of Antonin Artaud are lately his strongest influence regarding the relationship between the public and the reality of the play. This is Arturo’s first production with Miracle Theatre Group, and his U.S. debut.

ABOUT THE SPONSORS

This production is sponsored by The Oregonian.

Miracle Theatre Group’s 2012-2013 season is supported in part by Regional Arts & Culture Council and Work for Art, Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, Oregon Arts Commission, Collins Foundation, Ronni Lacroute, Oregon Community Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts, Kinsman Foundation, Shubert Foundation, Juan Young Trust, PGE Foundation, US Bancorp Foundation, KeyBank Foundation, Multnomah County Cultural Coalition, Rose Tucker Charitable Trust, Carpenter Foundation, Jackson Foundation, Hoover Family Foundation, Templeton Foundation, Portland Timbers, El Centinela, and El Hispanic News/PQ Monthly.

ABOUT MIRACLE THEATRE GROUP

In addition to its national tours, Miracle provides a home for Spanish and Latin American arts and culture at El Centro Milagro, where it enriches the local community with a variety of community outreach projects and educational programs designed to share the diversity of Latino culture. For more information about the Miracle Theatre Group, visit www.milagro.org or call 503-236-7253.