Raices Theatre Company to Present 2nd Annual DESDE EL PUENTE One-Act Festival

On Friday, May 26th, Raíces Theatre Company will open its 2nd annual production of Desde el Puente. The show will feature a bilingual series of 10 one-act plays which offer stories that are culturally specific and relevant to the Latinx culture.

These one-acts encompass the Latinx experience in this country including issues of struggling with Latinx identity, the importance of traditions, finding empowerment by overcoming struggle and religious influences on family dynamics. Desde el Puente will feature works that are dramatic, comic and seriocomic with language ranging from mostly English with light Spanglish up to full Spanish dialogue.

This version of Desde el Puente will be entirely produced by members of the Raíces Theatre Company ensemble, including all playwrighting, directing and acting. Much like last year's one-act festival, this celebration of Latino stories is being offered in tribute to Rafael Pérez, a local community leader and writer who passed away in 2006. "Rafael Pérez kept our culture and tradition alive here in the States by continuing to celebrate our stories," said Victoria Pérez, Raíces' Artistic Director and Rafael's daughter; multiple members of the Pérez family are in the Raíces ensemble. "It's an honor to keep crossing that bridge."

"As a Latinx theatre company, we have a responsibility to tell our stories and to develop the skills of our talented ensemble," Pérez said. "It brings us great pride that Desde el Puente is completely produced, written, directed and acted by the ensemble. That in itself is a great feat!" Pérez notes that the theatre is a powerful vehicle for self-reflection. "And the power of seeing ourselves on stage in a positive light is priceless," she said.

Desde el Puente will open on Friday, May 26th and run for three weekends until Sunday, June 11th. Friday, Saturday shows are at 8 PM, Sunday at 6 PM. There will also be Pay-What-You-Can performances on two Thursdays, June 1st and June 8th at 7:30 PM, followed by a talkback with the ensemble. Performances take place at the Manny Fried Playhouse, 255 Great Arrow Ave., third floor.

Desde el Puente stars Alejandro Gómez, Rolando Martín Gómez, Smirna Mercedes-Pérez, Dewel Pérez, Maria Pérez-Gómez, Marta Aracelis and Steve Brachmann. Most of these ensemble members, as well as Raíces' Artistic Director Victoria Pérez, will also serve as directors for the series of one-acts.

General admission tickets are $20 each while student tickets are $15 each. Tickets can be reserved by calling 716-381-9333 or by visiting raicestheatrecompany.com.