Water People Theater, the resident theater company at the Instituto Cervantes of Chicago since 2019, is delighted to announce its upcoming production in collaboration with its host institution. The play, titled "The Delicate Tears of the Waning Moon" ("Las delicadas lágrimas de la luna menguante"), is penned by Rebeca Alemán and directed by Iraida Tapias. Performed in English with Spanish subtitles, the production will run at 7 p.m. on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from Sept. 11 to Oct. 4. For tickets, visit waterpeople.org.
Inspired by true events, “The Delicate Tears of the Waning Moon,” addresses the issue of the relentless violation of human rights against journalists who strive to report the truth.
This moving play follows Paulina, a dedicated Latin American journalist and advocate for victims of femicide and Indigenous communities, as she emerges from a coma after a brutal attack. She needs to recover her memory and reveal the truth to achieve justice. The only thing she remembers is that she has a mother and a daughter. Rodrigo, an American journalist, by her side, makes unimaginable efforts to assist her.
The cast features Rebeca Alemán (Paulina) and Erik K. Roberts (Rodrigo). The director is Iraida Tapias. The design team includes Marisabel Muñoz Rodriguez (Set, Props, and Costume Design), Karen Wallace (Lighting Design), and Stephanie Rodrigues (Projection Design).
“I hope this production, rooted in real events, profoundly moves the audience. I want them to leave the theater with a powerful realization: behind every statistic lies a human story. History often shows us where we must stand; it’s up to us not to falter,” says playwright/actor Alemán.
“The play humanely reveals the horrific cruelty of abuse of power and the far-reaching consequences of corruption” adds director Tapias. “It doesn’t just take lives—it shatters families and impacts everyone who fights to tell the truth. Justice, freedom and democracy need all our voices.”
“The Delicate Tears of the Waning Moon” premiered to critical acclaim at the Steppenwolf 1700 Theater in Chicago in 2019. Said Chris Jones of the Chicago Tribune, “…any journalist seeing this show is going to have a visceral reaction, as well as admiration for its exploration of the compromises and deficiencies of courage that often beset even the best newsrooms.” Kerry Reid of the Chicago Reader says, “Playwright and actor Rebeca Alemán has written an often poetic script about a horrific story of violence against women and, in particular, against women journalists, in a Latin American country.” This past July, the play was presented as part of Repertorio Español in New York City.
Tickets:
Tickets are $30; $25 for Instituto Cervantes members, seniors and students. Seating is general admission. For tickets visit waterpeople.org. Please note: this play contains adult language and themes. This 90-minute drama is presented in English with Spanish subtitles.
Art Installation: “Victims in Search of Justice”:
As an integral part of the play, the audience will engage with an art installation, conceived and produced by Water People Theater and curated by Marisabel Muñoz in the gallery of Instituto Cervantes of Chicago. Diverse faces, poems, videos, phrases, and statistics come together, forming a powerful image that highlights the urgent need for justice for the thousands of journalists who have lost their lives for simply doing their job. Many of them died for daring to expose government corruption and abuses of power. Others paid the ultimate price for courageously giving a face and a name to the vast statistics on violations and femicides around the world—killed simply because they were women. It will also be open to the public during the following hours: Monday to Thursday, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Friday, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.; and Saturday, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Admission to the installation is free.
About Water People Theater
Water People Theater is a Latina and immigrant-led nonprofit organization that believes in the transformative power of theater. For over two decades, they have been dedicated to producing socially inclusive bilingual theater for diverse audiences. Their mission is to leverage the power of high-quality performances and educational offerings to advance social values and defend human rights. We aim to inspire diverse audiences to become changemakers contributing to more equitable, just, and inclusive communities. Water People Theater is the resident theater group of Instituto Cervantes of Chicago.
About Instituto Cervantes
Founded in 1991 by the Government of Spain, Instituto Cervantes is a global institution operating in over 90 cities across 45 countries that is dedicated to the promotion of the Spanish language and Hispanic cultures. As an agency of the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union, and Cooperation, Instituto Cervantes collaborates with prestigious national and international organizations, both public and private. Its mission is to ensure the quality of Spanish-language products and services and to foster cultural exchange between the Spanish-speaking world and other global cultures.
In Chicago, Instituto Cervantes has established itself as a vital cultural hub since its inception in 1996. The center showcases innovative work from international and local Hispanic artists across various fields, including art, design, architecture, literature, theatre, music, dance, photography, cinema, and science. Its state-of-the-art facility in the vibrant River North neighborhood features a 145-seat auditorium, an art gallery, modernized classrooms, and one of Illinois' largest Spanish-language libraries. It serves as a crucial resource for both local and international artists and supports the broader Midwest arts and culture community.
The Instituto Cervantes offers Spanish language instruction for children and adults in-person, online, and at schools and corporate offices, along with DELE and SIELE certification. Its accredited workshops for Spanish teachers enhance professional development in the field.
As a distinguished institution, Instituto Cervantes plays a pivotal role in facilitating artistic and cultural exchange between Hispanic countries and the European community, notably through its membership in the EUNIC Chicago Cultural Cluster (EU National Institutes for Culture) (https://www.facebook.com/eunicchicago/). The center promotes cultural dialogue and connections across Illinois, the Midwest, Chicago, the U.S., the EU Latin America and Spain, celebrating and integrating diverse cultures.
Instituto Cervantes is committed to offering most of its events free and open to the public, benefiting artists, students, educators, and cultural enthusiasts. Instituto Cervantes of Chicago upholds inclusivity and non-discrimination while actively fostering global connections through residencies, cultural exchanges, and innovative programming.
BIOGRAPHIES
Rebeca Alemán (Paulina/Playwright/Founder and Executive Artistic Director of Water People Theater) is a Venezuelan actress, writer, pianist, and journalist. She was featured as Paulina in the 2019 premiere at Steppenwolf Theatre and has played leading roles in over 38 theatrical productions, soap operas, and films including those as Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, Frida Kahlo, Adela, Martirio, Yerma, and Camila O’Gorman. Alemán has written six plays, four short films, and one children’s book. She has produced 23 plays and directed and produced four short films focused on denouncing violence.
Eric K. Roberts (Rodrigo) is an American actor and film photographer. He has played Valmont in Christopher Hampton’s “Les Liaisons Dangereuses,” Cadmus in Euripedes’s “The Bacchae,” Oberon in Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”, and Edgar Allan Poe in “North & Sur”. This marks his second performance with Water People Theater. Roberts is a permanent Theatre Y ensemble member since 2016
Iraida Tapias (Director, Producer, Scriptwriter, Venezuelan Playwright and Artistic Producing Director of Water People Theater) is a Jeff Award Nominee for Best Director. With over 51 years of experience in theater, she has specialized in producing and directing plays by Spanish and Latin American authors, with a particular emphasis on Venezuelan playwrights including the 2019 debut of Alemán’s “The Delicate Tears of the Waning Moon.” Iraida has authored seven plays and produced over 30 theatrical performances.