Chicago’s Visión Latino Theatre Company (VLTC) makes its Destinos Festival debut with the world premiere of Y Tu Abuela, Where is She? Part 1: Cuando me Muera, through October 24th at The Den Theatre, 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago’s Wicker Park community.
Performances run through October 24: Thursdays through Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., and Sundays at 4:30 p.m. Tickets are $30-$60. For tickets and information, visit thedentheatre.com.
Visión Latino Theatre Company’s world premiere Y Tu Abuela, Where is She? features (from left) Gabriela Castillo, Gino Marconi, Angela Townsend and Adriel Irizarry. Image courtesy Visión Latino Theatre Company.
Y Tu Abuela, Where is She?, written by New York-based playwright, Nelson Diaz-Marcano, and directed by VLTC Artistic Director, Xavier M. Custodio, is a contemporary play celebrating the language, culture, and music of Puerto Rico. It tells the story of Adalina and Xavier, an interracial Puerto Rican couple who have been accepted into a program that allows them to modify the genes of their unborn child. Excitement over their child’s prospective life helps them forget the issues plaguing their relationship, until they get stuck on a question: what color skin should their child have? As they navigate the answer, larger problems are exposed, and divine intervention may be needed for the whole family to survive.
“This story is the culmination of a multi-year collaboration with Diaz-Marcano, who has Puerto Rican roots himself, and it’s the first play he has written since the passing of his mother,” said Custodio, director and VLTC Artistic Director. “Tackling racism, history, and identity from a very personal place, his play offers a deeper look at the meeting point of cultures. It also features the supernatural, which helps audiences see the depths of seemingly simple questions as Adalina and Xavier navigate their future together.”
VLTC, a company that celebrates Latinx stories and artists, has assembled an all-Latin and Afro-Latin cast and production team for the company’s Destinos debut.
Y Tu Abuela, Where is She? stars (from left) Wanda Baez, Gabriela Castillo, Adriel Irizarry, Gino Marconi, Angela Townsend, and Xavier Marrero.
The cast features Adriel Irizarry as Xavier, Angela Townsend as Xamaris, Gabriela Castillo as Adalina, Gino Marconi as Carlos, Wanda Baez as The Figure, and Xavier Marrero as El Primo.
The creative team is led by Nelson Diaz-Marcano (Playwright), Xavier M. Custodio (Director), with a mostly Latina design team, Diamantina Sanchez (Scenic Design), Yajaira Custodio (Costume Design), Liz Gomez (Lighting Design), Yariana Baralt Torres (Choreography), Arik Vega (Fight Choreography), with Andres DeLeon (Assistant Stage Manager), and Amy Delgado-Swanson (Production Stage Manager).
Note: This production is recommended for ages 14 and up due to themes of racism and substance abuse.
Visión Latino Theatre Company’s world premiere Y Tu Abuela, Where is She? features (top image, top, from left) Gabriela Castillo, Adriel Irizarry (bottom, from left) Gino Marconi, and Angela Townsend.
Behind-the-scenes of Y Tu Abuela, Where is She? Part 1: Cuando me Muera
“As an astute reviewer and popular author, Diaz-Marcano looks at possibly one of the most life-changing events of this [new] century from a very intimate point of view.” Quoted Natasha Dawsen, Outer Stage
Nelson Diaz-Marcano (Playwright) is a Puerto Rican NYC-based theater maker, activist, and community leader whose mission is to create work that challenges and builds community. He currently serves as the Literary Manager for the Latinx Playwright Circle as well as the Community Outreach Coordinator for Atlantic Theater Company. His plays have been developed by Clubbed Thumb, The Lark, Visión Latino Theatre Company, The Orchard Project, The William Inge Theatre Festival, Classical Theatre of Harlem, and The Parsnip Ship among others. Recent credits include When the Earth Moves, We Dance (Clubbed Thumb), Flor: A Podcast Series (Braata Productions), The Diplomats (Random Acts Chicago), Paper Towels (INTAR), Misfit, America (Hunter Theatre Company), I Saw Jesus in Toa Baja (Conch Shell Productions) and Revolt! (Visión Latino Theatre Company).
Xavier M. Custodio (Director) is one of the Co-Founders and Artistic Director of Visión Latino Theatre Company. His directing credits include Fame, In The Heights, Yellow Eyes, Revolt, Parachute Man (Teatro Vista, Assistant Director) and Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery (Metropolis Theater).
About Visión Latino Theatre Company
Visión Latino Theatre Company, Latinos with a Visión, located in Chicago, was founded in August of 2014 by the brother-sister team, Xavier and Yajaira Custodio, and Johnathan Nieves. The company was created when the co-founders were working on a production of In The Heights and they saw there was a need for Latino artists to be able to celebrate their culture and share the struggles and perseverance of Latinos.
Now opening their seventh season, with Flavia Pallozzi joining the company as new Associate Artistic Director, Visión Latino Theatre Company brings awareness to Latino’s past, present, and future through storytelling and seeks to break down racial boundaries to open the minds of audiences to Latin struggle and perseverance through theater.
For more information, visit visionlatino.com or follow the company on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.
Now Playing and Still to Come at the 2021 Destinos Festival
We're only two weeks in to Destinos. In addition to Visión Latino Theatre's Y Tu Abula? Where is She?, visit clata.org to learn more and purchase tickets to these rich, diverse, Latino-themed shows still on tap at marquee venues downtown, neighborhood theaters and cultural institutions large and small throughout the city through October 24:
Chicago productions:
American Mariachi
- Midwest Premiere
- A co-presentation with Goodman Theatre
- 170 N. Dearborn Ave. in downtown Chicago
- September 18-October 24
- Tickets: $25 at goodmantheatre.org/Mariachi
- Use promo code CLATA25 to unlock this exclusive Destinos discount
Meet Lucha, who spends her days caring for her ailing mother, but longs to shake up her 1970s home life. When a forgotten record album sparks her mother’s memory, Lucha and her cousin strike upon a radical idea: to create an all-female mariachi band. Infused with live mariachi music, this “big-hearted, musical tug at the heartstrings” reveals how music and love can make just about anything possible (Denver Post). American Mariachi is written by José Cruz González, directed by Henry Godinez and features Chicago's Sones de México Ensemble. Presented in English with sprinkles of Spanish.
American Mariachi, courtesy Goodman Theatre
La manera como luces esta noche
- World Premiere
- Teatro Tariakuri
- 3117 W. 63rd St. in Marquette Park
- Opens Saturday, September 25 at 8 p.m.
- Runs through October 17
- Saturdays at 8 p.m.; Sundays at 8 p.m., except Sunday, October 17 - 3 p.m. matinee
- Tickets: $30
Once upon a time, in a faraway land, there lived a King whose precious daughter Beatriz needed to be betrothed. But the king’s wish is suddenly shattered by an invasion of a peculiar handmaiden/soldier. Ubaldo the welder falls in love with the princess, but being not of noble blood, seeks the help of a wizard to meet the princess. Hilarious entanglements ensue as Ubaldo discovers how to win the princess and not to be hanged in the process. This comedic fairy tale, for adults only, is written by Alejandro Licona and directed by Karla Galván. Presented in Spanish.
Jose Fresh plays Ubalda in La manera come luces, premiering September 25-October 17, 2021 at Teatro Tariakuri, 3117 W. 63rd St. in Marquette Park, as part of Destinos - 4th Chicago International Latino Theater Festival. Photo courtesy Teatro Tariakuri.
Brujaja
- World Premiere
- UrbanTheater Company
- at the National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture
- 3015 W. Division St. in Humboldt Park
- Opens Saturday, October 23 at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.
- Also Sunday, October 24 at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.
- Tickets: $30
After living above her mother's botánica her whole life, Ifé, an accidental witch, finally finds her purpose by tapping into her ancestral power to fight the larger fight against oppression and wellness. Written by Melissa DuPrey and directed by Miranda González, Brujaja is a filmed theatrical experience, presented in English with sprinkles of Spanish.
Brieann Jasmine in UrbanTheater Company's Brujaja, a filmed theatrical experience, debuting October 23 and 24 as part of Destinos. Screen capture courtesy UrbanTheater.
Futurology presents: The Fifth World
- a World Premiere live listening party experience from Teatro Vista
- at Chopin Theatre, 1543 W. Division St. in Wicker Park
- Opens Saturday, October 10 at 7 p.m.
- Second show: Sunday, October 11 at 4 p.m.
- Tickets: $10
At the beginning of the pandemic, Sebastian Reyes arrives in the small desert town of Palomas, Arizona to make his name producing a true crime story about a missing child in the desert. His search fatefully entangles him in a horrifying myth as old as the world. The Fifth World chronicles a desperate need to find and connect with another human being when the future of the world depends on it. Destinos audiences will be the first to hear the first two episodes of this new serial audio play before its official premiere on October 28. In addition to the listening party, the new co-artistic directors of the company, Lorena Diaz and Wendy Mateo, will be announcing the new season of work for Teatro Vista along with the exciting future on the horizon for this 30-year company.
La Gran Tirana: Descarga dramática
- World Premiere
- Aguijón Theater
- 2707 N. Laramie in Belmont-Cragin
- Opens Friday, October 15 at 8 p.m.
- Runs through November 21
- Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m.; Sundays at 3 p.m.
- Tickets: $30 Regular; $15 students, teachers and seniors;
- $10 for 60639 residents; Free on Sundays
This exciting new work is inspired by the incomparable Afro-Cuban legend Lupe Victoria Yolí Raymond, better known as La Lupe, the Queen of Latin Soul. This love letter to Caribbean rhythms and sounds explores the journey of Ana Morgana, an immigrant, a castoff, but, above all, an artist, who transcends her everyday reality by imagining herself a star: La Lupe. La Gran Tirana was conceived and is directed by Sándor Menéndez, written by Rey Andújar, and features Ana Santos Sanchez, Sándor Menéndez and pianist Adrian Ruiz. Presented in Spanish with English subtitles.
Ana Santos Sanchez, courtesy Aguijón Theatre
National and international productions:
Mal de Amores
- Midwest Premiere
- Casa de Teatro, Dominican Republic
- Presented at The Den Theatre
- 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Wicker Park
- Opens Friday, October 8 at 7:30 p.m.
- Runs through October 10: Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m.; Sunday at 3 p.m.
- Tickets: $26-$31
An old man tells his love stories as a woman with a wonderful, powerful voice sings boleros, baladas and rancheras. Mal de Amores is a fusion of storytelling, song and two talented artists: Freddy Ginebra, whose true life experiences transform into beautiful stories, and Diomary Castillo, who takes audiences breath away with her energy and alluring voice. Mal de Amores is written and directed by Ginebra. Presented in Spanish.
Mal de Amores features Freddy Ginebra (right, both photos) whose true life experiences transform into beautiful love stories, and Diomary Castillo (left), who takes audiences breath away with her energy and alluring voice. Photo credit: Pedro Bonilla
Corazón de Papel
- Chicago Premiere
- Agua, Sol y Sereno, Santurce, Puerto Rico
- A co-presentation with the Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center
- Presented at Chopin Theatre, 1543 W. Division St. in Wicker Park
- Opens Thursday, October 14 at 7:30 p.m.
- Runs through October 17: Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m.; Sunday at 3 p.m.
- Tickets: $20-$25
Corazón de Papel is a powerful new depiction of post-Hurricane Maria Puerto Rico told through contemporary puppetry. This 11-member, multigenerational Puerto Rican theater collective is internationally acclaimed for its deep social and human commitment and its dynamic brand of popular, experimental performances featuring colorful and iconic costumes, set pieces and “cabezudos,” or giant papier mâché heads. Presented in Spanish with English subtitles.
Corazón de Papel by Puerto Rico's Agua, Sol y Sereno is a powerful new depiction of Puerto Rico, post-Hurricane Maria, told through contemporary puppetry. Credit: George Riveron
CLATA is thrilled to return to a live, multi-week, international festival in 2021, and gratefully acknowledges generous support from The Paul M. Angell Family Foundation, The Joyce Foundation, The Ford Foundation, The Walder Foundation, The Arts Work Fund, The Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelly Foundation, Illinois Humanities, The Shubert Foundation, a CityArts grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, Illinois Arts Council Agency, National Endowment for the Arts, Wintrust, Allstate, ComEd and Comcast/Xfinity.
Note: CLATA and its partner venues will adhere to all COVID-19 safety precaution protocols as mandated by the state of Illinois throughout the festival. Specific Covid policies for each venue will be shared with ticket buyers prior to their performances.
About Destinos – the 4th Chicago International Latino Theater Festival
Now entering its fourth year, Destinos is the signature program of the Chicago Latino Theater Alliance (CLATA), a transformative cultural engine helping drive the city’s local Latino theater community to a more prominent level.
CLATA’s goal is to create the country’s leading international Latino theater festival with an emphasis on showcasing Chicago Latino theater artists and companies. Additionally, CLATA provides local groups ongoing organizational, marketing and financial support, and works diligently to create a permanent home for Chicago’s Latino theater artists. Ultimately, CLATA strives to underscore Chicago’s reputation as one of the most exciting and culturally diverse theater cities in the world.
CLATA was founded in 2016 as a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization by Myrna Salazar and Chicago’s three most prominent Latino arts organizations: National Museum of Mexican Art (NMMA), International Latino Cultural Center (ILCC), and Puerto Rican Arts Alliance (PRAA), with the generous support of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.
For more, visit clata.org or call (312) 631-3112.