Chicago Fusion Theatre's LAS HERMANAS PADILLA Closes

Chicago Fusion Theatre, in association with DCA Theater, presents the Chicago premiere of the award-winning work, Las Hermanas Padilla, by New York playwright Tony Meneses. Directed by Juan Castañeda of Urban Theater Company, Las Hermanas Padilla runs through April 1 at the DCA Storefront Theater, 66 E. Randolph St., in the heart of Chicago's downtown theater district. 

Las Hermanas Padilla (The Padilla Sisters) is a poetic and fantastical tale of ten sisters-in-law who, while their husbands are at war, find solace, humor and grace in their unexpected sisterhood. Chicago Fusion Theatre explores this Brechtian-inspired script through storyboards and snapshots of the sisters as they discover their own paths, test the limits of their strength and find the true meaning of family. Chicago Fusion Theatre has dedicated their 2011-12 season to producing Meneses' work.

"This deeply relevant script is not about politics, but about the strength of human connection – the unexpected communities that form in response to anxiety and loss, and how these communities endure with vivacity, humor and strength," said Juan Castañeda, Director of Las Hermanas Padilla.

Tony Meneses (Playwright) is a graduate of the MFA Playwrights Workshop at The University of Iowa. His work has been presented in Iowa, New York, Austin, San Diego and at the Williamstown Theatre Festival. Meneses is the winner of the 2010 KCACTF Latino Playwriting Award for Las Hermanas Padilla. He is adjunct faculty at Fordham University and Touro College in New York. Las Hermanas Padilla was first workshopped in the Playwright's Workshop at Iowa in the fall of 2009. It was subsequently produced in our annual New Play Festival. It was the winner of the 2010 KCACTF Latino Playwriting Award, and was presented as a main stage reading at the Regional KCACTF in Ames, Iowa this past January.

Juan Castañeda (Director) is a member of Urban Theater Company, where he co-directed Sonnets for an Old Century by Jose Rivera as part of the 2011 Steppenwolf Garage Rep Series; assistant directed Brain People by Jose Rivera; and Cuba and his Teddy Bear by Reinaldo Povod. He has worked with several companies as a director, assistant director, stage manager and actor including Steep Theatre, Halcyon Theatre, The Chicago Mammals, Chicago Dramatists, The People's Theatre Company of Chicago, NUFAN Ensemble, Speaking Ring Theatre, Brown Couch, Rubicon, AgitPop Productions, Bendsinister Theatre, Splitpillow Productions and La Molecula Artistica.

The cast features Natalie Turner-Jones (Mari); Natalie DiCristofano (Carmen); Erica Cruz Hernandez (Chave); Susan Myburgh (Alejandra); Jeanne T. Arrigo (Lucha); Emma Peterson (Marta); Jackie Alamillo (Lucy); Meghann Tabor (Fidela); Charlotte Mae Jusino (Cristina); and Nilsa Reyna (Blanca).

The crew includes Ashley Corbett (Stage Manager); Jason Feriend (Assistant Director); Jessica Kadish (Dramaturg); Noël Dominique Straley (Scenic Design); Christopher Kriz (Sound Design/Production Manager); Shana Hall (Costume Design); Michael Smith (Lighting Design); Liviu Pasare (Projection Design); Natalie Turner-Jones (Movement Director); David Mitchell (Properties Design); Rachel Goldberg (Assistant Stage Manager); Natalie DiCristofano (Managing Director); and Nilsa Reyna (Artistic Director).

Chicago Fusion Theatre (CFT) is a collective of community members whose personal and professional interests span a vast range of disciplines. Through the celebration of physical based theatre, CFT is committed to productions that fuse different genres, mediums and styles in an effort to foster a greater appreciation of the arts in the community.

The show runs Thursdays through Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. through April 1. 

Tickets are $25 for general admission; $15 for seniors and students with a valid ID. Tickets are $15 for preview on February 29. Military personnel tickets are $20 and ADA accessible tickets are available for $12.50.

All tickets are available by calling 312.742.TIXS (8497), visiting www.dcatheater.org, or stopping by the Chicago Cultural Center Ticket Office in the Chicago Cultural Center at 78 E. Washington St., open Tuesday through Saturday, noon to 6 p.m. and Sundays, noon to 4 p.m. When available, tickets go on sale one hour before each performance at the DCA Storefront Theater.

Additional discounts are available for theater industry affiliates and large groups. Discounted parking is once again available at Wabash Randolph Self Park (Interpark) at 20 E. Randolph. Patrons can receive the $12 rate by validating their ticket at the DCA Storefront Theater ticket office.

To post a comment, you must register and login.