Mixed Blood Theater Presents 'Sweet 15' (QUINCENERA)

Written by one of TV and stage's top Latino comedians, Mixed Blood Theatre's eleventh bilingual production is a crazed comedy about a quinceañera: the definitive event in The Life of a young Latina, when families celebrate their daughters' arrival into womanhood. Eddy Valderama wants to throw the ultimate "Quince" for his daughter Sonora, ten years too late. Three generations of women respond his belated generosity in this hysterical play, replete with all the trappings and traditions of a quinceañera. Sweet 15 (Quinceañera ) opens March 13th and runs through March 22 at the History Theatre in downtown St. Paul. It will be performed in English and Spanish (with English supertitles). Purchase tickets at 612.338.6131 or mixedblood.com.

Father-daughter relationships can be tricky. The dealings of dads and daughters run the spectrum from knockdown, drag-out power struggles to tender moments. Playwright Rick Najera knows all of this too well. The producer, director, comedian and award-winning comedy writer of shows such as MadTV, In Living Color and the brilliant if short-lived Culture Clash, Najera explores this classic tension along with all the strife it can cause the rest of the family, but with a funny and culturally relevant twist, in his new play Sweet 15 (Quinceañera).

"I wanted to do a father-daughter relationship story that explored forgiveness and showcased that the real living happens between the ceremonies we have of weddings and funerals," he says.

Najera's play tells the story of the fictitious Valderama family of National City, whose patriarch returns from Mexico after a 10-year unexplained absence that began on his daughter's 15th birthday. He comes home with "unexplained riches" and promises to get the family back on its feet under one condition: that they allow him to throw his now 25-year-old daughter Sonora a Sweet 15 or quinceañera party. Quinceañeras, the coming of age debut celebrations for girls on their 15th birthday, are much more than parties. For many they are cultural mainstays, celebrating womanhood as much as the link to traditional customs. Girls are dolled up like princesses in fluffy gowns and tiaras, and the parties can be as grand as mini-weddings complete with a church service, a catered and DJ'ed reception and limousine service. It's all darling and touching for a teenage girl, but for a 25-year-old woman, it might be an exercise in humiliation.

Rick Najera also authored and starred in Latinologues, a show directed by Cheech Marin. In addition to a new stand-up show and play, Najera, a graduate of The American Conservatory Theatre and Warner Bros. Comedy Writing Program, is also created The Homies Hip Hop Show. Based on the two-inch, plastic Homies figurines-depicting funny if stereotypical Hispanic caricatures and which have a huge cult following-the show is stop-motion animation and will premier as a one-hour comedy sometime this fall on LATV. Najera was recently named as the network's vice president of Development for the California-based, bilingual television network. Najera continues to hone in on his sketch comedy writing as one of the writers and executive producer of the CBS Multicultural Sketch Comedy Talent Showcase, which the CBS network's Diversity Institute created as a way to identify and develop diversity in writing, directing and talent.

Pure Confidence stars Raul Ramos, Camila Borriro, Brian Sostek, Lisa Suarez, Adlyn Carreras, Dario Tangelson, Joe Minjares, Pedro Bayon and Erik Pearson.

Tickets for Sweet 15 are on sale at (612) 338-6131 or www.mixedblood.com.

Price run $11-$30, discounts are available for students, seniors, and groups of 10 or more. All performances are at the History Theatre at 30 East 10th St, St Paul, MN 55101.

MIXED BLOOD THEATRE
The Mixed Blood Theatre Company, founded 31 years ago by artistic director Jack Reuler, is dedicated to the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s dream. The

professional, multi-racial company promotes cultural pluralism, individual equality and artistic excellence in its main stage, touring and customized corporate productions.

 

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