Teatro Paraguas Hosts Reading of LOLA'S LAST DANCE Today

Teatro Paraguas presents a staged reading of LOLA'S LAST DANCE, a play by Tony Mares for two performances only, today, February 27 at 7:30 pm and tomorrow, February 28 at 2:00 pm.

The evening will also include a dramatic arrangement of selected poems by Mares. Paola Vengoechea directs the play, while Dan Bohnhorst, who arranged and directed Teatro Paraguas critically acclaimed production of Word Over All: Walt Whitman and Pablo Neruda, directs the poetry reading.

Born in 1938 in Old Town in Albuquerque, Ernesto Antonio "Tony" Mares was a poet, actor, playwright, historian, professor, translator and activist. After completing a doctorate in European history at the University of New Mexico in 1973, Mares taught history, Spanish, and American literature at Colorado College, the University of New Mexico, the University of Arkansas, New Mexico Highlands University, the University of North Texas, and elsewhere. He died on January 30, 2015.

LOLA'S LAST DANCE was commissioned by Teatro Companía de Albuquerque and was produced in 1979. The play was inspired by several retired prostitutes whom Mares knew who lived in Old Town during his youth. His other plays include: Padre Antonio José Martinez de Taos (1983), El Corrido de Joaquin Murieta (1984), Santa Fe Spirit (1989), and Shepard de Pan Duro (1989).

His books include: The Unicorn Poem & Flowers and Songs of Sorrow West End Press); With the Eyes of a Raptor (Wings Press); and translations of Spanish poet Ángel González, (Wings Press, 2007). He co-authored, with Tomás Atencio and Miguel Montiel, Resolana: Emerging Chicano Dialogues on Community and Globalization (University of Arizona Press, 2009). His book of poetry, Conversations I Never Had With Patrociño Barela, was published in 2010 by University of New Mexico Press. Río del Corazón , his last book of poetry, was launched at the National Hispanic Cultural Center in Albuquerque April 1, 2011.

Tony Mares performed in Teatro Paraguas' original production of Para que yo me lame Angel Gonzalez, a dramatic tribute to the poet Angel Gonzalez. Mares worked closely with Gonzalez, a Spanish poet who taught at UNM, and translated much of his poetry. The production was part of Teatro Paraguas' ongoing series ¡Poesía Viva!, which celebrates Hispanic and Latino poets by presenting their works in dramatic form.

Teatro Paraguas will present a full production of LOLA'S LAST DANCE, together with selected poems, in January 2017 at the National Hispanic Cultural Center in Albuquerque, as well as in Santa Fe at Teatro Paraguas Studio.

THE DETAILS:

LOLA'S LAST DANCE

Staged reading of a play by Tony Mares

Saturday, February 27 at 7:30 pm, and Sunday, February 28 at 2:00 pm

At Teatro Paraguas Studio, 3205 Calle Marie

Free, donations gratefully accepted

For information, call 424-1601 or visit teatroparaguas.org.

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