Chicago's All Latina Theatre company returns to Chicago Dramatists after the popular 12 week run of Lunatic(a)s to kick off to their 10th anniversary season celebration with a brand spankin' new work: GL 2010 (NOT YOUR GENERIC LATINA). This summer, the Lunáticas take on the question: What has changed for Latinas over the past 10 years? GL 2010 plays June 5 - July 11, 2010 at Chicago Dramatists, 1105 W. Chicago Ave., Chicago. Directed by Founding Ensemble Member Miranda Gonzalez, featuring a brand new crop of Latina talent. Tickets are currently on sale at www.teatroluna.org for $12, $15, & $20.
In honor of Teatro Luna's inaugural production (created & produced 10 years ago, titled Generic Latina), and Luna's first ever examination of Latina Identity and dominating mainstream stereotypes, the ladies of Luna challenge you to confront old stereotypes and break down new ones through original music, spoken word, and new autobiographical stories reflecting the diverse lives of Latina women: from one young woman's legal battle to change her name, to an intimate portrait of a Brazilian's first time wax (you mean to say that Brazilians don't really wax that way?), to a woman's surprise discovery that the only internationally understood reference to her own culture is West Side Story.
"With everything that is currently going on in this country regarding immigration, the Arizona fiasco and human rights debates raging on everywhere you look, we knew the timing was right for this ensemble to create a show like GL 2010, which reflects the conversations, questions, and struggles our own community--along with those around the nation--is having right now, today!", says director Miranda Gonzalez. She goes on to say, "Fundamentally, what Luna aims to accomplish through all of our events and programming is community building; we hope to build awareness--and it's my hope that this production will be another step forward in doing exactly that." Managing Director, Alex Meda adds, "This is one of our most timely productions to date. We only started writing this piece in mid March, and so much of what has been going on around isinfused into each of the pieces. What better way to use our process than to engage the community in a live dialogue on social justice issues that are getting wide-spread attention. But this production isn't just about those issues either, it really is a take on what has and hasn't changed for Latinas throughout this roller coaster of a decade we just lived."
On the heels of some hefty leadership and organizational changes, Luna is excitedly looking toward the future, and GL 2010 serves as a launchpad for what's to come. Says Meda, "We are shifting from a founder and personality driven organization to a mission driven one. Small changes started even with how we are approaching the development of our work. For example, we approached this piece a bit differently than we have other shows in the past: we put together a writing team comprised of individuals from our ensemble, our artistic associates, and participants in our Luna PlayLab, and these ladies worked together to write the script, led by director Miranda Gonzalez. Only two members from the team are actors in the show, which is a big change for Luna--an exciting change! This is one of the first times we have walked into the first rehearsal for a new piece with a full script. Of course we reworked that script like crazy through our intense rehearsal process, but I am excited to see our Playlab and other Latina writers in action like this." (The Luna PlayLab is one third of the exciting Incubation Series Luna Launched spring of 2009.)
GL 2010 is presented in English with a sprinkle of Spanish.WHEN: Previews: June 5, 6, 7, & 9, 2010 at 7:30 pm
Opening: June 10, 2010 at 7:30 pm
Runs: June 10 - July 11, 2010
Thursdays - Saturdays at 7:30 pm and Sundays at 3:00 and 6:00 pm
WHO: Directed by: Miranda Gonzalez, Ensemble Member of Teatro Luna. Created by: El Teatro Luna
Featuring a whole new crop of Latina Talent: Marilyn Camacho (Co-Artistic Director of Urban Theatre Company), Artistic Associate Marie Antoinette Flores (Jarred), Andrea Morales, Maria A. Ortiz, Jessi Perez and new Ensemble Member Lauren Villegas (Solo Tu (performing understudy), Machos: The Tour)
Writing Team: Liza Ann Acosta (Ensemble Member), Desiree Castro, Petrucia Finkler, Marie Antoinette Flores, Miranda Gonzalez (Ensemble Member, Diane Herrera (Ensemble Member), Dawn Herrera-Terry, & Lauren Villegas (Ensemble Member).
Production Team: Producer: Alex Meda for Teatro Luna; Stage Manager: Patrick Murphy; Production Manager: Patrick Fries; Composer: Tamara Roberts (Artistic Associate); Set Design: Dan Matthews; Sound Design: Ashley Turner; Costume Design: Christine Pascual; Lighting Design: Mac Vaughey (Artistic Associate)
HOW MUCH? PREVIEWS: $12.00. GENERAL: $15.00 on Thursdays & Sundays and $20 on Fridays and Saturdays. (See website for ticket specials).
TO PURCHASE TICKETS:
Tickets now on sale online at www.teatroluna.org and http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/107150
For Group Sales call (773) 878-LUNA (5862) (not a reservation line)
Please visit www.teatroluna.org for more information.
TEATRO LUNA is Chicago's first and only all-Latina theater ensemble dedicated to creating original work that honors Latina lives and showcases the talents of Latina/Hispana artists. Founded in 2000, Teatro Luna is dedicated to expanding the range of Latina/Hispana roles visible on the Chicago stage and beyond. Previous shows include Generic Latina, Dejame Contarte, Kita y Fernanda, The Maria Chronicles, SÓLO Latinas, S-e-x-Oh!, Quita Mitos, Lunatica(s), MACHOS, SÓLO Tú and JARRED (A Hoodoo Comedy). Teatro Luna tours colleges and festivals across the country with a blend of ensemble-created performances, visit www.teatroluna.org for more information or email info@teatroluna.org
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