Rehearsals are well underway for the revival of one of our most popular touring shows, Frida, un retablo. But who’s in the cast? Well, thanks for asking. Let us tell you!

Dañel Malán, Artistic Director & Playwright, co-founded Miracle Theatre Group with her husband, José E. González and in 1989 created the bilingual touring program, Teatro Milagro.  Under her artistic direction, Ms. Malán has created and produced over 20 original bilingual plays that have toured throughout the U.S., Mexico and Canada.  As a playwright her recent works include El Último (2009) a bilingual ecodrama, ZAPATISTA (2008) the story of SubComandante Marcos and FRIDA, un retablo (2007), a surrealist vision of one of Mexico’s greatest artist.  In addition to researching and writing several plays, Ms. Malán has also written and produced four books of bilingual curriculum for English-as-a-Second Language instructors.

Daniel Moreno, Performer & Workshop Instructor, has performed in Milagro productions for several years, which include The Shrunken Head of Pancho Villa and Miracle’s Día de los muertos festivals: La Carpa Calavera, La Carpa del Ausente and La Carpa del Maestro. Teatro Milagro’s touring productions include El Último, American Sueño and Duende de Lorca.  His recent performances in Portland area theatres have included CRT’s critically acclaimed Oklahoma!, PAC’s showing of Big Love and Pelú Theatre’s A Suicide Note from a Cockroach.  In addition to working in the tour, he has been instrumental in the design and execution of Milagro’s new CDS program and works in the Milagro office as a production assistant, house manager and volunteer coordinator.

Tricia Castañeda-Gonzáles, Performer and Workshop Instructor, is from Portland, where she received a degree in Theatre Arts from Linfield College.  While she has been engaged in theater since her early years, she also has a strong background in education and works as a pre-school teacher.  In addition to acting with Milagro, Tricia has also worked in Portland with Defunkt Theatre, Willamette Shakespeare, Portland Playhouse and CoHo Productions.  When she is not teaching you may find her building a set or stage managing.  This is Tricia’s second year as a company member of Teatro Milagro.

Ajai Terrazas-Tripathi, Performer & Workshop Instructor, is originally from Corvallis, Oregon, where he graduated from Oregon State University with a degree in Theatre Arts.  During his time at OSU he performed many memorable roles in such plays as Picasso at Lapin Agile, Much Ado about Nothing, Woyzek, The Silent Woman, and An Adult Evening of Shel Silverstein.  Ajai has also directed Bringing it all Back Home, No Exit and Doric Wilson’s Street Theatre. He has also recently produced Stories of Discrimination: The Death Rattle, an original play based on real-life stories for the nonprofit Rainbow Health Resources based in Corvallis.  In addition to beginning his third year of touring with the company, he also assists with grant writing and development of Milagro’s community outreach efforts.

And as guest director/choreographer …

Gabriela Portuguez, Director/Choreographer, recently founded Latin Groove PDX Productions to develop and produce artistic projects that highlight the Latino and Chicano culture of the Northwest.  Gabriela has brought to Portland, from the Los Angeles area, her combined expertise in Jazz, Modern, Tap, Hip Hop, Ballet, African and Folk dance traditions.  Her performance career includes live stage, television and film.  In Portland, Oregon, Gabriela’s performance credits include television and radio spots for Univision, Lara Spanish Media, Leverage, Portland Timbers and various community partners.  Her teaching career has spanned from Switzerland to the United States, specifically for such groups as Millennium Dance Complex and the Edge in Los Angeles, MVP Dance Elite Studios and Groove Nation Dance Academy in Portland.   In the last year Gabriela has been recognized for her work in producing, choreographing, and directing events and productions for Miracle Theatre Group for various cultural events such as Posada Milagro and Mundo las Mujeres.