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

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), onstage Oct. 19-Nov. 11, 2012 at Milagro Theatre (525 SE Stark St., Portland); for information/tickets: 503-236-7253 or www.milagro.org. Photo by 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

• 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. Free.

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.

Portland Timbers Call for Volunteers to “Stand Together” and Support Nonprofits Oct. 8-14.

Portland Timbers Call for Volunteers to “Stand Together” and Support Nonprofits Oct. 8-14.

PORTLAND, Ore. – With the help of local partners and the city of Portland, the Portland Timbers are organizing the first Stand Together Week, a comprehensive, citywide initiative to support dozens of nonprofit projects and volunteer opportunities across the city from Oct. 8-14.
Stand Together Week, with the help of Hands On Greater Portland, will consist of 40 projects benefiting more than 30 nonprofit organizations focused on youth and the environment in the Portland metro area. Fans are invited to join the volunteer efforts and team up with Timbers players, ambassadors, mascot Timber Joey and staff members on the various efforts throughout the city.

“Stand Together Week is a way to bring the city of Portland and the extended Timbers family together to make a meaningful impact on dozens of local non-profits and highlight the spirit of service and giving back that characterizes our city,” said Timbers COO Mike Golub.
Supported by partners adidas, Alaska Airlines, Fred Meyer, JELD-WEN Windows & Doors and KPTV, Stand Together Week kicks off Monday, Oct. 8, with the painting of classrooms and hallways at the Portland YouthBuilders campus. A complete schedule of activities and events is listed below.
The volunteer opportunities affiliated with Stand Together Week range from leading youth activities to outdoor/garden maintenance and construction projects. In total, Stand Together Week, named after the Timbers’ community outreach platform Stand Together, aims to generate the support of 1,000 volunteers over the course of the week.
All Timbers players have volunteered their time to at least one project during the week.
To sign up as a volunteer for one of the Stand Together Week projects or for more information on the overall initiative, please visit www.portlandtimbers.com/standtogetherweek.
2012 Stand Together Week Schedule

Date Time Organization Activity Timbers Player/Rep.
Monday, Oct. 8 8 a.m. to 12 noon Portland YouthBuilders Painting classrooms Steven Smith & Donovan Ricketts
10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Playworks Lead youth activities Jack Jewsbury & Timber Joey
1-4 p.m. Community Cycling Center Clean, fix donated bikes Rodney Wallace
4-6 p.m. GROWINGGARDINS Youth garden maintenance at Ockley Green School. Kris Boyd
6-8 p.m. The ReBuilding Center Sort, organize donated items Darlington Nagbe
Tuesday, Oct. 9 8 a.m. to 12 noon Portland YouthBuilders Campus cleanup Hanyer Mosquera & Timber Joey
8:15 a.m. to 12 noon Habitat for Humanity Assist with house-build project Joe Bendik & Kosuke Kimura
9:30 a.m. to 12 noon Children’s Book Bank Clean, repair donated books Bright Dike
10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Playworks Lead youth activities Jake Gleeson
12 noon to 3 p.m. Open Meadow Working with students Ryan Kawulok
12:30-4 p.m. Habitat for Humanity Assist with house-build project Freddie Braun & Timber Joey
Wednesday, Oct. 10 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Hillsboro Parks & Recreation Community park maintenance Timber Joey
1-5 p.m. Native American Youth Family Center Facility cleanup and lead family activities TBA
4-6 p.m. SCRAP Sort, organize supplies, prep material for art kits Brent Richards
Thursday, Oct. 11 9 a.m. to 12 noon American Red Cross Prepare supplies for blood drives Alumni Ambassador Bernie Fagan
9:30 a.m. to 12 noon Children’s Book Bank Clean, repair donated books Alumni Ambassador or Timber Joey
9:30 a.m. to 12 noon Schoolhouse Supplies Sort donated supplies, stock store Alumni Ambassador or Timber Joey
2-4 p.m. Portland Police Bureau Sunshine Division Sort food and supplies at community pantry Eric Brunner
2:30-4:30 p.m. AC Portland Academic and Sports Field Day David Horst & Mike Fucito
5:30-8 p.m. Big Brothers Big Sisters Columbia Northwest Fall Harvest Festival Andrew Jean-Baptiste & Timber Joey
Friday, Oct. 12 8:15 a.m. to 12 noon Habitat for Humanity Assist with house-build project Alumni Ambassador Scot Thompson & Timber Joey
9:30 a.m. to 12 noon Friends of Portland Community Gardens Tidy up community garden Alumni Ambassador Mick Hoban
12:30-4 p.m. Habitat for Humanity Assist with house-build project Alumni Ambassador & Timber Joey
12:30-4:30 p.m. OMSI Lead youth activities Steve Purdy
1:30-3:30 p.m. Oregon Food Bank Packing and preparing donated food for delivery Alumni Ambassador & Timber Joey
3-6 p.m. Volunteers of America Lead soccer
activities for low-income families
Danny Mwanga
Saturday, Oct. 13 8:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friends of Trees Tree planting and habitat restoration Charles Renken & Timber Joey
9 a.m. to 12 noon Portland Parks & Recreation Springwater Corridor Trail cleanup Alumni Ambassador John Bain
9 a.m. to 12 noon Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District Clean up at scenic nature park Futty Danso
9 a.m. to 12 noon Portland Parks & Recreation Outdoor work party Eric Alexander
10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Zenger Farm Farm work party Lovel Palmer
10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Hartley SUN Courtyard cleanup and prep materials for classroom Kalif Alhassan
10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Beaverton’s Giving Gardens Garden work Sal Zizzo
1-4 p.m. Supa Fresh Youth Farm Help youth-led organic farm Jose Valencia
Sunday, Oct. 14 9 a.m. to 12 noon Hillsboro Public Library Set up for annual book sale Sebastián Rincón
1-4 p.m. Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District Clean up at scenic nature park Alumni Ambassador Lee Morrison
1-4 p.m. Friends of Tryon Creek Plant clean-up, removal Franck Songo’o & Timber Joey
1-5 p.m. Harrison SUN Indoor painting at school Diego Chara

Note: Player appearances during Stand Together Week are subject to change. ABOUT STAND TOGETHER “Stand Together” represents the relationship between the Portland Timbers and their fans, and signifies the strong commitment the team has to supporting and standing by the community both on and off the field. The mission of “Stand Together” is to harness the power of sport to improve the lives of children and families in the region through targeted programs, deep partnerships and philanthropic giving.

— visit www.portlandtimbers.com