Milagro Tour, the traveling educational component of the company, has become well known in the Northwest and beyond for their work in presenting bilingual plays highlighting the culture, history and current significance of Latinos around the world. So significant is their presence that the entire company was known by the troupe’s earlier name, Teatro Milagro. Also well received by presenters and participants are Milagro Tour’s engaging arts-integrated workshops led by arts educators who also perform in the plays.
El Niño Diego shares the imagined story of a young Diego Rivera, the renowned Mexican painter, empowered by a magical paintbrush given to him by Coatlicue, serpent goddess of the Aztecs. The conniving Director Jose Manguino and his dim-witted minion Profesora Escupir, wants to exploit Diego’s magical talents to fulfill their own greedy aspirations. Will Manguino and Escupir succeed in their evil plan? Or will Diego’s nurse Antonia help Diego understand that it will take more than magic to keep him on a path to become the artistic legend he is destined to be? The curriculum for the companion workshops explore Rivera’s works as an excellent way to understand history from a visual artist’s perspective, and the character of Coatlicue provides the springboard for a journey into pre-Columbian mythology. The participants also use image theatre to engage in and critique visual and performing arts. Improvisation, script writing and other engaging activities round out this popular program.
Cuéntame Coyote is a journey through cold and dark desert nights with two cousins who desperately dream of a better future beyond the iron fence that defines la frontera. Fleeing sorrow and hopelessness, Maria and José follow coyotes of two legs and four, stepping over dried bones scorched by the sun and chased by a wind that murmurs tales of Santa Muerte. Will their steps lead to the dreams they seek or vanish in the desert sands like so many before? This original touring production of courage and perseverance was inspired by stories from the real people who live along the border and inspires dynamic community sharing in post-show discussions.
Booking Info:
Aventuras de Don Quixote and El Niño Diego are forty-minute, 4-person shows that can be presented in any large space. Single performances are $600 plus travel expenses. Back-to–back performances for schools with more than 200 students are $1000. Accompanying Aventuras and Mural & Mythology workshops are $100 – 200 per hour, depending on the number of classes per session.
For more details, or to arrange a performance for your school, library or community group, contact Associate Artistic Director Alida Holguín Wilson Gunn at 503-236-7253 or agunn@milagro.org.