Esperanza Rising Program

the university of texas at austin

department of theatre and dance

Esperanza Rising story by pam munoz ryan adaptation by lynne alvarez directed by

natalie novacek

october 3-12, 2014 b. iden payne theatre

Esperanza Rising story by pam munoz ryan adaptation by lynne alvarez October 3, 9, 10, 11 at 7:30 p.m.

October 5, 11, 12 at 2:00 p.m.

B. Iden Payne Theatre F. Loren Winship Building

utexas.edu/finearts/tad THIS PRODUCTION WAS CREATED IN COLLABORATION

BY THESE ARTISTS (IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER):

Spencer Blank – Music Director • Andie Day – Costume Designer • Yongmin Lee – Scenic Designer Patrick Lord – Projection Designer • Natalie Novacek – Director • Selina Rosales – Dramaturg Victoria Solorio – Stage Manager • Joshua Streeter – Dramaturg Samantha Zuckerman – Lighting Designer

cast Esperanza Hortensia Don Sixto/Mailman Ramona Marielena Miguel Luis Isabel Modesta Alfonso Marta Mariachis Ensemble

Madison Palomo Martinque Duchene-Phillips Oscar Franco Izabella Arnold Sarah Cantu Nicolas Garza Max Torrez Genevieve Schroeder-Arce Jenny De La Fuente Hugo Ayala Estrella Gonzales Julian Arizola, Robert Casillas, Joseph Quintana Dana Arismendez, Erica Ayala, Ross Bechtold, Rachel Crowell, Matthew Hernandez, Lisa Veronica Martinez, Wesley Sadek, Arnoldo Treviño Jr., Shanon Weaver, Sean Woods There will be one 15 minute intermission.

note from the director Things in Esperanza’s world turn upside down in the blink of an eye. She is ripped away from everyone she knows and everything she loves without warning and without preparation. How will she find her place and sense of purpose without her family? Who is she now? Where does she belong? Like Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, Esperanza has an important and terrifying decision ahead of her; can she return to the home she remembers or make a new home in her new place?

Esperanza’s journey reminds me of the old adage “home is where the heart is.” Even though she is distanced from the physical home where she grew up and from her family, she carries home with her; in her memories, in her heart, and in her stories.

In our production of Esperanza Rising, the physical home structure follows Esperanza on her journey. She may not have a pair of ruby slippers, but once she opens her heart to her new country and the new people she’s met along the way, she’s able to realize that home has been there all along.

This story has been especially powerful to me personally. I am a native Minnesotan and moved to Texas last year to pursue my M.F.A. in Directing. In addition to leaving the place I have lived my whole life, I left my family, my boyfriend, and my little dog too. Just like Esperanza, I am creating a new community with new people. I am finding the place called home within myself.

Whether you are home, have left home, or are looking for home - thank you for joining us today.

For the next hour and a half, let’s be home together. There’s no place like it.

—Natalie Novacek

The Department of Theatre and Dance is a world-class educational environment that serves as the ultimate creative incubator for the next generation of artists, thinkers and leaders in theatre and performance.

note from the dramaturgs Set in the early 1930s, twenty years after the Mexican Revolution and during the Great Depression, Esperanza Rising tells the story of a young girl who courageously crosses the Mexican border at the delicate age of twelve. Without her mother or father, she begins the journey to find a new home.

During the Mexican Revolution, and for many years after, Mexicans incapable of finding work in their homeland immigrated to the United States. Mexicans became migrant farm laborers in the fields of California. This specific state was a destination for work due to the fact that there were different crops to harvest throughout the year. Life as a migrant farm worker was very difficult, yet numerous Mexicans made the long trek to America in anticipation of a better life.

Migrant camps were not only a place for Mexican immigrants; the Great Depression and the dustbowl displaced American families equally desperate for work. Due to the growing number of farm laborers, owners took advantage of the situation by reducing wages and providing bare minimum accommodations. Some of the workers attempted to form unions and encouraged other laborers to strike for better wages and working conditions. The U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Services conducted raids and deported thousands of Mexican laborers, some of whom had become citizens or were born in the United States.

Despite the struggles of migrant work, Esperanza continues to be surrounded by the positive influence of Mexican traditions, customs, and loved ones. Along her journey, Esperanza discovers like the phoenix, she too can rise out of the ashes and build a new life. As you watch the play consider your own ancestral roots and what home is to you.

—Selina Rosales and Joshua Streeter

headshots

Dana Arismendez

Julian Arizola

Izabella Arnold

Erica Ayala

Hugo Ayala

Ross Bechtold

Sarah Cantu

Rachel Crowell

Jenny De La Fuente

Martinique Duchene-Phillips

Oscar Franco

Nicolas Garza

Estrella Gonzales

Matthew Hernandez

Lisa Veronica Martinez

Madison Palomo

Joseph Quintana

Wesley Sadek

Genevieve Schroeder-Arce

Max Torrez

Arnoldo Trevi単o Jr.

Shanon Weaver

Sean Woods

creative team Spencer Blank (Music Director) has worked at American Institute of Musical Studies in Graz in Austria, Centro Studi Italiani Opera Festival in Italy, and many other performing arts centers across the United States.

He has played cabarets at Martuni’s and the Octavia Lounge in San Francisco, Washington Savoyards and Signature Theatre in D.C., Actors Cabaret Theatre and The Shedd Institute in Oregon, and The Duplex Cabaret Theatre in New York. He is studying opera coaching at UT’s Butler Opera Center with Kelly Kuo and Kathleen Kelly.

Andie Day (Costume Designer) is a M.F.A. in Theatrical Design candidate. She grew up in Texas and received her undergraduate degree in fashion design from Baylor University. Her design experience is in theatre, dance, television, and film. Before attending graduate school at The University of Texas, Andie worked on the A&E television series "Longmire," and the TNT series "Dallas." She is a member of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Local 484 Chapter.

Natalie Novacek (Director) tells

raw and daring stories with effortless staging through contemporary, language-driven scripts. She is the artistic director of Loudmouth Collective, known in her hometown of Minneapolis, Minnesota for tackling challenging solo performance and engaging small-ensemble theatrical events. Natalie was a Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival National Selection Team Directing Fellow. She is an Associate Member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society. Learn more about Natalie's work at nnovacek.com.

Selina Rosales (Dramaturg) began

working with theatre productions as a freshman at UT. Most recently, she co-directed Alpha Psi Omega’s fall 2013 production of Noises Off and was the dramaturg for the spring 2014 departmental production of Dead Man’s Cell Phone. As a third-year B.A. Theatre and Dance major with a directing focus, she plans to be involved in more directing projects as well as continue the craft of dramaturgy.

Victoria Solorio (Stage Manager) is

Yongmin Lee (Scenic Designer) is a

third year M.F.A candidate in scenic design.

He began design and art work in 2007 in South Korea. He has designed sets for over 15 productions in film and theatre around Seoul and Busan City in South Korea. At UT Austin, Yongmin was the scenic designer for Dream of Perfect Sleep and Dead Man’s Cell Phone.

Patrick Lord (Projection Designer) is a third-year graduate student in integrated media design. Previous projection designs include Still Now (Shrewd Productions), Dead Man’s Cell Phone (UT Austin), and the original dance piece Quiver (UT Austin). This spring will also see the launch of his thesis, The 5th Wall Project, bridging projection art with medical care for pediatric patients. He also works as a scenic designer, and examples of his work can be found at patrickwlord.com.

a fourth-year undergraduate student pursuing a B.A. in Theatre and Dance with a focus in stage management. She has stage manager several notable productions at UT Austin including In the Heights, The Women of Juarez (Cohen New Works Festival present by the University Co-op), The Cataract, and the world premieres of Gabriel Jason Dean’s The Transition of Doodle Pequeño and assistant stage managed Suzan Zeder’s The Edge of Peace.

Joshua Streeter (Dramaturg) is a

second-year graduate student in the Drama and Theatre for Youth and Communities M.F.A. program. He holds degrees from Millikin University, Emerson College, and Mansfield University of Pennsylvania. He has worked professionally with numerous theatre companies focused in the development of and presentation of new musical theatre. At UT, Joshua previously served as a dramaturg on In the Heights.

creative team Samantha Zuckerman (Light-

ing Designer) started working in technical theatre in high school in New York City, where she worked with 59E59 Theatres and Guild Hall. She is currently a senior pursuing bachelor degrees in both Theatre and

Dance and Art History, and plans to graduate May 2015. Most recently she contributed to Dance Repertory Theatre as assistant lighting designer, as well as Tennessee Williams One Acts Workshop and Dance Action as lighting designer.

DIRECTOR’S COUNCIL The Department of Theatre and Dance Director’s Council is a premier volunteer group designed to foster strong and collaborative connections between The University of Texas at Austin and the local community by supporting initiatives in marketing, public relations, student recruitment and development. As advocates for the department, this group of alumni, parents and fine arts supporters play a key role in continuing to build a professional theatre and dance training program serving thousands of talented Texans for generations.

2014–2015 Director’s Council Members: Carol Smith Adams Francesca Brockett and Jim Pedicano Barrett Bruce Jean Cheever Joanne and Jack Crosby Dee Dawson Gary Farmer JoLynn Free Missy Grimes Pam and Edmund McIlhenny

Annie McKinnon Debbie Oliver Miriam Relyea Russ Sartain Nancy Scanlan Marc Seriff Laura Sheffield Karen Skolnik Leah Stolar Sharon Watkins

cast Dana Arismendez (Ensemble)

pursued her love of acting after high school in San Antonio, Texas. Most recently, she performed in The Women of Juarez and The Complete Works of Shakespeare (Abridged).

She is continuing her studies at UT and is pursuing a B.A. in Theatre and Dance.

Julian Arizola (Mariachi) has extensive mariachi experience in Texas as a clinician, educator, musician and performer.

Most recently, he was the musical director for Dallas Children’s Theater’s production of Mariachi Girl, a play by University of Texas at Austin Professor Roxanne Schroeder-Arce, and was the mariachi program director for Round Rock Independent School District. Julian is currently working on transcribing the musical score of the Man of La Mancha into the mariachi form to premiere next year.

Izabella Arnold (Ramona) a third-year student at UT who began performing in middle school in her home country of Bermuda. Most recently, she performed in Round About Player’s Beauty Marks as herself, and in Alpha Psi Omega’s Curiosity Cat as "Halloween." After graduating in May 2016 with a B.A. in Theatre and Dance, and B.A. in English, she plans on furthering her studies of theatre in the U.K. Erica Ayala (Ensemble) is a junior in

more with youth outreach and engagement through theatre as well as continuing to act.

Ross Bechtold (Ensemble) began

performing in middle school in the Houston area. After signing with Houston talent agency Pastorini-Bosby, he began working in a few independent films and music videos while studying theatre at The University of Texas at Austin. After graduating in May with a B.A. in Theatre and Dance, he will be moving to Los Angeles to pursue his passion for acting.

Sarah Cantu (Marielena) began

performing at a young age in the city of Brownsville, Texas. Most recently, she performed in The Somewhat True Tale of Robin Hood as “Sheriff of Nottingham” and finished teaching musical theatre workshops for children back in her hometown at The Camille Playhouse. After graduating in 2016 with a B.A. in Theatre and Dance, she plans to join a theatre company and tour around the country.

Rachel Crowell (Ensemble) began performing in high school in Dripping Springs, Texas. Most recently she has performed in The Sparrow and Deja Vu at The University of Texas at Austin. After graduating in May with a B.A. in Theatre and Dance, she hopes to move to Chicago to pursue acting and playwriting.

the Department of Theatre and Dance. Most recently she performed in UTNT's Or, the One with Dogs as "Marisol" and Teatro Vivo's Luchadora as "Liesl." She's excited to be a part of this production and hopes to be involved in many more at UT.

Jenny De La Fuente (Modesta) began acting in high school in Mexico City.

Most recently, she performed in The Sparrow as “Joyce,” The Women of Juarez as “Woman” and Some Girls as “Lindsay.” She is a junior at The University of Texas at Austin and plans to continue acting.

Hugo Ayala (Alfonso) is a fourth-year

Martinique Duchene-Phillips

B.A. candidate with a focus in acting and theatre for youth. His favorite UT credits include “Wallace” in UT’s Theatre for Young Audiences touring production of And Then Came Tango, “Mark Gilbert/Louie Nash” in The Sparrow, and as an ensemble member in UTNT’s Bacha Bazi (Boy Play). Upon graduation he plans to work

(Hortensia) has been acting in Austin for the past 15 years. She graduated from The University of Texas at Austin with a B.F.A. in Theatre Studies. Most recently, she performed in Pinkolandia as "Camila" with Salvage Vanguard Theater, in Pulga Time Machine as part of the Mexcentrics Sketch Troupe with Teatro Vivo,

cast and Old Broads as "The Aide." She is excited to be back on the stage at The University of Texas.

Oscar Franco (Don Sixto/Mailman) is a recent UT graduate (B.F.A Theatre Studies, 2014). Some of his favorite projects have been as co-director of Spring Awakening through UT’s Alpha Psi Omega, stage manager/designer of “Thomas Was Alone: A Play Adaptation” and dramaturg of “Cielito Lindo” through Teatro Vivo. He has worked in schools as a teacher and director in the Rio Grande Valley, Austin and Dallas-Fort Worth. Oscar is the fine arts teacher at KIPP Austin: Comunidad (K-4).

Nicolas Garza (Miguel) is a third-year

B.F.A. Theatre Studies major who spent the summer performing at SeaWorld San Antonio.

Nick was recently seen in In the Heights as “Piragua Guy.” Other credits include “Georg” in Alpha Psi Omega’s Spring Awakening and workshops of American Stage Theatre Company’s Section 60 and Tony Award winners Greg Kotis and Mark Hollmann’s Untitled Zombie Musical.

After graduation, Nick plans to pursue a career in musical theatre and theatre education.

Estrella Gonzales (Marta) be-

gan performing in middle school in the Austin area. Most recently she performed in These Things Happen as “E” and Still Now as a Butoh dancer. After graduating in December with a B.A. in Theatre and Dance, she plans to pursue acting professionally.

Matthew Hernandez (Ensemble)

began performing in church and high school theatre productions in Hondo, Texas. He was most recently in the ensemble of the department’s production of In the Heights. Matthew also serves as the public relations officer of Alpha Psi Omega (co-ed theatre fraternity/honor society).

After graduating in 2017 with a theatre degree from UT Austin, he hopes to help disadvantaged high-school artists reach their full potential.

musicals in her late high school years. Most recently, she performed in Our Country’s Good as “Shitty Meg” and Teatro Vivo’s production of Quincea-what? as “Rosa.” Although she loves performing, she is pursuing a B.F.A. Theatre Studies degree and hopes to teach in her hometown once she graduates.

Madison Palomo (Esperanza)

began performing at South Middle School in Edinburg, Texas. Since then she has performed in various school and community productions.

She was last seen as “Carla” in In the Heights (UT Austin). She is currently a sophomore in the B.F.A. acting program and is excited and grateful to be doing what she loves.

Joseph Quintana (Mariachi) completed his undergraduate and graduate degrees in performance with The University of Texas at El Paso and The University of Texas at Austin. Most recent credits include “Male Chorus” in Britten’s The Rape of Lucretia and In the Heights as “Kevin Rosario.”

Wesley Sadek (Ensemble) began

acting in junior high while living in Indonesia.

This will be his first appearance on the UT stage after transferring from the University of North Texas. After getting his B.A. in Theatre and Dance he plans on working with local acting companies before moving to New York.

Genevieve Schroeder-Arce

(Isabel) is eight years old and a 3rd grader at KIPP Austin Comunidad. Her favorite activities are acting, singing, dancing, playing piano, gymnastics and drawing. She speaks and reads in English and Spanish. Genevieve has performed in a rendition of Frozen at KidsActing, a workshop production of War Games, and the Wizard of Oz. Genevieve was also in a national iPhone 5 commercial. Genevieve hopes to someday study the weather, marine biology or theatre.

Max Torrez (Luis) was most recently

Lisa veronica Martinez

(Ensemble) began acting and performing in

seen in the City Theatre's production of Psycho Beach Party (“Star Cat”). His other

cast past credits include In the Heights (“Sonny”), Fiddler on the Roof (“Perchik”) and One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest (“Bromden”). Max is a second-year B.F.A. Acting student and will graduate in 2017.

Arnoldo Trevino Jr. (Ensemble) is currently a third-year B.A. Theatre and Dance student, with a focus in acting at The University of Texas at Austin. Arnold was most recently seen as “Verna Cumberlind” in Underbelly Theatre’s production of Church of The Passionate Cat, “Hamlet” as a part of an undergraduate acting production of Hamlet and as “The Librarian” in Abe Koogler’s Advance Man. Shanon Weaver (Ensemble) was

last seen as “Charlie” in Samuel D. Hunter’s

The Whale with A Chick & A Dude Productions (Austin Critics’ Table Award Nominee, Best Actor—Drama,) and as “Inspector Hubbard” in the UT production of Dial “M” for Murder. He is a senior at UT (playwriting focus), a graduate of AMDA in NYC (1997), co-artistic director of A Chick & A Dude Productions, and a core member of Hyde Park Theatre.

Sean Woods (Ensemble) began

performing in high school in the Fort Worth area and attended Birdville High School.

Most recently, he performed in Seussical as "Wickersham brother” and Curtains as "Harv Fremont." After graduating in May with B.A. in Theatre and Dance in 2017, he plans to move to New York to pursue a career in acting and low wage restaurant jobs.

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A S t r e e t c a r N a m e d

By

Tennessee Williams

October 10-19, 2014 Oscar G. Brockett Theatre

T he U n i v er s i t y of Texas at Austin

Tickets: 512.477.6060 | JoinTheDrama.org

D e pa r tm e n t o f T h e atr e an d Dance

crew ASSISTANT DIRECTOR MADILYNN GARCIA

PROP MASTER R. SWITZER

ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER Sara Robillard Claire STEPHEN

PROP SHOP GRADUATE ASSISTANT YONGMIN LEE

ASSISTANT LIGHTING DESIGNER MAEGAN WILSON

PROP ARTISAN KIARA MCGEE

ASSISTANT SCENIC DESIGNER BRUNO PIERRE-HOULE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT COORDINATOR MEREDYTH PEDERSON SCENE SHOP SUPERVISOR J.E. JOHNSON CHARGE SCENIC ARTIST KAREN MANESS ASSISTANT CHARGE SCENIC ARTIST KARA KONOP MASTER CARPENTER HANK SCHWEMMER LEAD CARPENTERS DWIGHT MONTEITH KATE VAUGHN GRADUATE TEACHING ASSISTANTS BRUNO HOULE MICHAEL KRAUSS IAN LOVEALL DAVID MOLINA PRODUCTION ASSISTANTS IAN ALEXANDER HANNA BERNBAUM FALLON CHRISTIAN TERRy HILLIS KIARA MCGEE KAY MCGUIRE HALEY LIBBEY IAN MOSER TORI RAY OLIVIA REEP SCARLET ROBERTSON CAITLYN THIBODEAUX KEVIN TRAN URSULA WALKER FALL 2014 SCENIC ART CLASS ANDREA DAY LAUREN GALLUP CHASE GLADDEN ERIN HAYNES KAT HYDE MICHAEL KRAUSS MADISON RUSS CHRISTOPHER TACDERAS PROPERTIES SUPERVISOR REBECCA SWITZER PROPERTIES ASSISTANT SUPERVISOR Rikki Perez

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SUPERVISING ELECTRICIAN AUSTIN SHIRLEY LIGHTING DESIGN TEACHING ASSISTANTS Rachel Alulis Andrew Carson Yi-Tai Chung Kate Ducey Lacey Erb Chain-Ann Lu Po-Yang Sung TEXAS PERFORMING ARTS ELECTRICS CREW Lauren Gallup Nolan Thomas Maegan Wilson Akisa Yokomizo Theatre and Dance Student Electrics Crew ERICA AYALA Tyler Brown TAYLOR EISENBERG MEGHAN ENRIGHT JANICE FABUNAN Katherine Farmer DAKOTA SALAZAR ALEXANDra VAN NIMAN LIGHT BOARD OPERATOR Brenna Sturdivant

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