OUR LADY OF THE UNDERPASS Returns to 16th Street Theatre, 4/1-5/1

Our Lady of the Underpass by Teatro Vista resident playwright Tanya Saracho will be remounted at 16th Street Theater, marking the 5-year anniversary of the Holy sighting under the bridge. The return of this critically-acclaimed, Jeff-Nominated 2009 production directed by Sandra Marquez (Teatro Vista Ensemble Member) is a collaboration between 16th Street Theater and Teatro Vista...Theatre with a View. The production will run at 16th Street Theater in the Berwyn Cultural Center, 6420 16th Street in Berwyn April 1 - May 1, 2010 with Press Opening: Saturday, April 3 @ 5:00 PM

Our Lady of the Underpass: The same week that Rome announced a new Pope, a woman driving home from work spotted an image of the Virgin Mary on a discolored wall of the Fullerton Avenue underpass. Inspired by real life interviews, playwright Tanya Saracho renders the voices of those who were drawn to that wall, exploring issues of faith and desire in present day Chicago. The play features original cast members: Charin Alvarez (Teatro Vista Ensemble and seen in 16th Street's Kita y Fernanda also by Tanya Saracho), Chris Catelmi (seen in 16th Street's The Last Barbecue by Brett Neveu), Suzette Mayobre (Fernanda in 16th Street's Kita y Fernanda), Rosie Newton, and Juan Gabriel Ruiz (Teatro Vista Junior Ensemble). Running time 90 minutes. No intermission.

NOTE: Our Lady of the Underpass begins during the second and final week of 16th Street's co-production of Unveiled with Victory Gardens Fresh Squeezed in the new Richard Christiansen Theater at the Biograph.

Tanya Saracho

Tanya Saracho (Playwright) Tanya Saracho was born in Sinaloa, México and moved to Texas in the late 80's . She is Co-Founder and former Artistic Director of Teatro Luna, and a resident playwright at Chicago Dramatists and Teatro Vista. Tanya's writing has been featured in most of Teatro Luna's productions including "Generic Latina," "Dejame Contarte," "The Maria Chronicles," "SOLO Latinas," "SOLO Tú," "S-E-X-Oh!" and "Lunatic(a)s." Her plays include: "Our Lady of The Underpass" with Teatro Vista (2009), "Surface Day" with Chicago Children's Humanity Festival (2008), "Kita y Fernanda" for 16th Street, and "Quita Mitos" and "Jarred (A Hoodoo Comedy)" with Teatro Luna (2008). Awards include: The Ofner Prize given by the Goodman Theatre, Finalist for the Christopher B. Wolk Award at Abingdon Theatre in NYC, nominee for the Wasserstein Prize and winner of the Khan Award. Tanya is working on a fellowship in a collaboration between The Goodman Theatre and the Institute for Women and Gender Studies at Columbia College on an interview-based piece titled "27" where she will interview one woman from each of the 27 countries that make up the Latin Diaspora. She is working with About Face on a historical drama titled "The Good Private" about a transgendered civil war soldier. Tanya is also under commission from Steppenwolf Theatre for two upcoming projects after a sold out run of her adaptation of Sandra Cisnero's "The House on Mango Street" which opened October of 2009 at SYA. Directing/co-directing credits include: "Jarred (A Hoodoo Comedy)", "SOLO Tú," "S-E-X-Oh!" and both productions of "Lunatic(a)s." the remount of "Generic Latina," "The Maria Chronicles," and "SÓLO Latinas." Tanya's performing credits include: Neil Labutte's "Fat Pig" with Renaissance Theatreworks in Milwaukee, Migdalia Cruz' "Another Part of the House" with Teatro Vista, "Living Out" with American Theatre Co./Teatro Vista, "Electricidad" at Goodman Theatre and "La Casa De Bernarda Alba" with Aguijon Theater. Tanya's voice can be heard around the country in radio and television commercials.

Sandra Marquez (Director) has been a proud ensemble member of Teatro Vista, the mid-west's only Equity Latino theater company, since 1997 and served as the company's Associate Artistic Director from 1998-2006. In 2005 she made her main stage directorial debut with Teatro Vista's production of Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner by Luis Alfaro. Previously she had conceived and directed an ensemble studio piece for Teatro Vista called Vampiros y Bebes. Other directing credits include student productions at various venues as well as her work with Yollocalli, the Theater Summer Outreach Program under the auspices of The Mexican Fine Arts Center Museum and The Goodman Theater, which served the youth of Chicago's Pilsen neighborhood. Teatro Vista acting credits include Icarus, Another Part of the House, Santos and Santos, Living Out (for which she was Jeff nominated). Other credits include The Oregon Shakespeare Festival (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner), Victory Gardens (Anna in the Tropics); The Goodman Theater (Mariela in the Desert, Electricidad, Massacre, Zoot Suit & A Christmas Carol); Steppenwolf Theater (Sonia Flew, One Arm, A Streetcar Named Desire, and The Boiler Room); Madison Repertory Theater (Our Town). Ms. Marquez is a member of AEA, AFTRA, and SAG and has worked in many industrial films and national commercials. Film and TV credits include Timer, Stranger than Fiction, Early Edition, Prison Break, Women's Murder Club and Big Bang Theory. Ms. Marquez has been on faculty at Loyola University, Eastern Michigan University and Columbia College of Chicago.

Teatro Vista...Theatre with a View is at the forefront of the Latino theatre movement in the U.S. Chicago and ensemble based Teatro Vista is universally redefining the American landscape through the use of new, provocative and unique voices that reflect the Latino experience in the U.S. After 18 years of existence it has empowered and encouraged "first voice" among the community and its artists.

16TH STREET THEATER exists to tell the stories of ALL in our community. Recognized by the Chicago Reader as Chicago's Best Emerging Theater 2009, 16th Street Theater is located 17 minutes from downtown Chicago at the Berwyn Cultural Center, 6420 16th Street, Berwyn, IL 60402. Just west of Ridgeland, the theater is one mile southwest of the Austin exit off the Eisenhower Expressway/290 and the Austin Blue line. There is free parking in the lot one block west at 16th and Gunderson. Go to www.16thstreettheater.org to subscribe to Season Three, purchase tickets or for more information.

16th Street Theater and Teatro Vista...Theatre with a view presents

OUR LADY OF THE UNDERPASS
by Tanya Saracho
Directed by Sandra Marquez
Featuring Charin Alvarez, Chris Catelmi, Suzette Mayobre, Rosie Newton, and Juan Gabriel Ruiz.
Scenic: Brian Sidney Bembridge. Lights: Jesse Klug. Costumes: Christine Pasqual. Video: Mike Tutaj
RUNNING TIME: 90 minutes. No intermission.
WHEN: April 1 - May 1, 2010
Thursdays & Fridays @ 7:30 PM, Saturdays @ 5:00 & 8:00 PM
Press Opening: Saturday, April 3, 2010 @ 5:00 PM
Thursday and Friday performances are followed by post-show dialogues.
WHERE: Berwyn Cultural Center, 6420 16th Street, Berwyn, IL 60402
TO PURCHASE TICKETS: $16 Tickets now on sale.
Online - www.16thstreettheater.org
In Person - at North Berwyn Park District, 1619 Wesley Ave., Berwyn
Ticket and Information Hotline - (708) 795-6704
HOW MUCH: General Admission: $16, $12 for groups 8 and more

 

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