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)
Miracle Theatre Group’s world premiere of Raíz, a bilingual celebration of Día de los muertos (Day of the Dead), at Milagro Theatre (525 SE Stark St., Portland); Photo by Russell J. Young
In addition to the production, an exhibit of Day of the Dead altars created by local Latino artists will be on display one hour prior to each performance in El Zócalo, a community space adjacent to the theatre lobby.
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.
