Press contact: Julia Borcherts
Kaye Publicity
(773) 878-0722
julia@kayepublicity.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
January 13, 2015
URBANTHEATER COMPANY ANNOUNCES 2016 SEASON
THE TENTH ANNIVERSARY SEASON
to include the Midwest premiere of José Rivera’s Adoration of the Old Woman,
and a 20th anniversary production of Lolita de Lares, by Migdalia Cruz, which
made its world premiere in 1995 with Latino Chicago Theater Company
The 10th anniversary season is funded by Chicago Community Trust
UrbanTheater Company also announces:
Juan Castañeda named UTC artistic director
New ensemble members Tony Bruno, Nydia Castillo, Guadalís Del Carmen,
Melissa DuPrey, Tamika Lecheé Morales, Andrew Neftalí Perez and resident
dramaturg Liza Ann Acosta
UrbanTheater Company is now a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization
Chicago, IL— UrbanTheater Company proudly announces its 10th anniversary season, which
features works that highlight the company’s decade-long commitment to bringing professional
theater to a multicultural community and pay tribute to pioneering ensemble Chicago Latino
Theater Company. The season will be performed at Batey Urbano, 2620 W. Division Street in
Chicago.
The 10th anniversary season includes the Midwest premiere of Adoration of the Old Woman,
written by Academy Award-nominee and Obie Award-winner José Rivera and directed by UTC
artistic director Juan Castañeda; and the 20th anniversary production of Lolita de Lares,
written by Migdalia Cruz, which was commissioned developed and produced at Latino Chicago
Theater Company in 1995 as a world premiere directed by Edward Torres.
“These plays are the perfect productions for UrbanTheater Company’s 10th anniversary season
because they connect our history, our mission and our deep roots in the Chicago theater
community to our future,” says UTC executive director and founding member Ivan Vega.
“For the past ten years UrbanTheater Company has made professional theater accessible to the
public, specifically on Paseo Boricua in the Humboldt Park community. We've produced more
plays written by Puerto Rican playwrights than any other company in Chicago and will continue
to “bring the streets to the stage” in our second decade by showcasing Latina/o
playwrights and actors in works that explore and illustrate Latino life and history.
“Adoration of the Old Woman celebrates our successful history of presenting works by José
Rivera (among many other playwrights) and strengthens our connection to the community by
being the first to bring this important--and very funny—play to Chicago and the Midwest. And
Lolita de Lares pays tribute to an important milestone in Chicago theater history from 20 years
ago, with themes that still resonate with audiences today.”
The UrbanTheater Company 2015-16 season is:
The Midwest Premiere of
Adoration of the Old Woman
Written by José Rivera
Directed by UTC Artistic Director Juan Castañeda
February 12 – March 13, 2016
Previews February 11-12, 2016
In this searing, magical-realist, coming-of-age drama from two-time Obie Award-winner and
Academy Award-nominee José Rivera (References to Salvador Dali Make Me Hot; Marisol;
The Motorcycle Diaries), a rebellious New Jersey teenager encounters family secrets, political
turmoil, an alluring ghost, a haunted bed and a love triangle of her own when she is sent to rural
Puerto Rico to live with the elderly great-grandmother she’s never met—and whose language
she doesn’t know how to speak. Adoration of the Old Woman marks UrbanTheater
Company’s third production of Rivera’s work, following Brainpeople in 2010 and the Joseph
Jefferson Award-nominated Sonnets for an Old Century in 2011.
Juan Castañeda (Director/UTC Artistic Director) is a graduate of the Theatre School at DePaul
University and the Artistic Director for UrbanTheater Company. He directed the company’s 2014
production of Julia de Burgos: Child of Water (by Carmen Rivera) and the 2013 production of
First Class (by Cándido Tirado, which was selected for inclusion in the 2014 Theater on the
Lake series). He also co-directed UTC’s 2014 production of Devil Land (by Desi MorenoPenson) and the 2011 Jeff-recommended production of Sonnets for an Old Century (by José
Rivera). Other credits as a director, assistant director, stage manager and actor include: Steep
Theatre, Teatro Vista, Halcyon Theatre, The People’s Theatre Company of Chicago, Chicago
Dramatists, EX-Pats Theatre, The Mammals Theatre, Hobo Junction Productions, Chicago
Fusion Theatre, Splitpillow Productions, Fine Print Theatre Company, Clockwise Theatre and La
Molecula Artistica.
Cast (* denotes UrbanTheater Company member)
Nydia Castillo*; Melissa DuPrey*; Debbie Banos; Andrew Perez*; Armando Reyes
Production Team (* denotes UrbanTheater Company member)
Juan Castaneda (Director)*; Daena Ramos (Assistant Director); Liza Ann Acosta (Dramaturg)*;
Ivan Vega (Producer)*; Tony Bruno (Production Manager)*; Rebekah Brock (Stage Manager);
Ivy Reid (Lighting Consultant)
Designers
Fredy Rocha (Costumes); Amy Couey (Props); Noel Spence (Set); Rebbeca Bartle (Lights)
The UrbanTheater Company 2015-16 season concludes with:
The 20th Anniversary production of
Lolita de Lares
Written by Migdalia Cruz
Directed by Marcela Muñoz
June 10-July 10, 2016
Previews June 6-9, 2016
This colorful, insightful, surrealist political drama from National Endowment for the Arts and
Kennedy Center fellow Migdalia Cruz (El Grito del Bronx; Fur) explores—through the points of
view of 50 different characters—the remarkable, real-life story of Dolores (Lolita) Lebron, a
Puerto Rican Nationalist Party member who served 22 years in prison for spearheading a 1954
armed uprising in the U.S. House of Representatives. In 1995, Latino Chicago Theater
Company commissioned Lolita de Lares from Cruz, who was a playwright-in-residence from
1991-1998.
Marcela Muñoz (Director) is the Co-Artistic Director and Managing Director of Aguijón Theater
where her directing credits include Yerma, The House of Bernarda Alba, Blood Wedding,
Johnny Tenorio, Perversions, Even a Sparrow Leaves its Nest, Monday Falls on León
Rodríguez, Antigone, The Passion According to Antígona Pérez, Querido Voyeur, Blowout and
La Chunga among others; Kita y Fernanda for Teatro Luna; Ferdinand the Bull for the Goodman
Theatre; and La Posada Mágica for Teatro Vista. Her many acting credits include regular roles
with Aguijón and works with other Chicago companies such as Teatro Luna, Teatro Vista
(ensemble member), Victory Gardens Theatre and Goodman Theatre. As an actress and
director she has participated in international theatre festivals in Peru, Argentina and Colombia
and also dedicates herself to theater/acting education and the bilingual translation
(Spanish/English) of dramatic works. She is a graduate of The School at Steppenwolf.
Tickets
Previews: $10
Pre-sale: $15
Walk-up: $20
Students and seniors: $12
Group of 10 or more: $12
60626 zip code residents: $10
Box Office: (312) 767-UTC1; (312) 767-8821 or http://urbantheaterchicago.org
Performance Venue: Batey Urbano, 2620 W. Division St., on the Paseo Boricua in the heart of
Humboldt Park (newly renovated)
Performance Times: 8 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays; 3 p.m. Sundays
Teatro Thursdays promotion: In 2014, UrbanTheater introduced Teatro Thursdays in
partnership with Division Street Business Development Association (DSBDA) which features a
$30 dinner/theater package at local restaurants in the Humboldt Park community in conjunction
with our Thursday performances. During the run of Adoration of the Old Woman, Thursday
theatergoers can enjoy dinner at La Havana Cafe (2525 W. Division St.) prior to the
performance.
UrbanTheater Company’s 10th Anniversary Season
This year, UrbanTheater Company celebrates its 10th season of producing professional theater.
As we approached this milestone, we discovered ourselves looking back at our role in important
conversations about history, diversity and the arts, as well as the history of Latino theater in
Chicago, and looking ahead to how we can continue to fulfill our mission as we transition into
our second decade. So, to celebrate this landmark anniversary, we've handpicked two exciting,
provocative plays that explore Puerto Rican history through a contemporary lens which also
showcase UrbanTheater Company’s strengths and our ensemble members’ talents.
Juan Castañeda named UTC artistic director
UrbanTheater Company literary manager Juan Castañeda has accepted the role of Artistic
Director. Juan joined the UTC in 2010, and has worked as a director with Urban. In the spring of
2013, Juan was able to further develop his role as literary manager by curating UTC’s first
annual R.A.W. (Real. Aggressive. Writing.) staged reading series. UrbanTheater Company
founding Artistic Director Ivan Vega moves into the role of Executive Director.
New Company Members
UrbanTheater Company is delighted to welcome seven talented Chicago theater artists into the
family:
Antonio Bruno has designed sound for UTC’s Cuba and his Teddy Bear, First Class; Devil
Land and Julia De Burgos: Child of Water and will serve as production manager and resident
sound designer for Adoration of the Old Woman.
Nydia Castillo has been an Aguijón Theater ensemble member since 2001, where her acting
credits include Monday Falls on León Rodríguez, The Virtuous Burglar, The House of Bernarda
Alba, Yerma, Eréndira, Las Soldaderas, Antígona, Within, Querido Voyeur and Blowout! Other
stage credits in Chicago include Blood Wedding with La Molécula Artística, and in Puerto Rico,
where she worked as a runway model and radio personality, her acting credits include: Puerto
Rico Fuà, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and Fela!
Guadalís Del Carmen is an ensemble member of Aguijón Theater, where her debut play,
Blowout, received its world premiere. As an actress, she starred in Julia de Burgos: Child of
Water with UrbanTheater Company and has also worked with Batey Urbano, People’s Theatre
and Colectivo El Pozo and understudied at Court Theatre for Water by the Spoonful. She is also
a participant in ALTA's El Semillero Playwright program.
Melissa DuPrey is an actor and comic whose solo show, SEXomedy, is Chicago Reader
Recommended, a Member's Pick, and had a successful debut Off-Broadway in New York. Her
second solo show, SUSHI-frito, has also been critically acclaimed as part of MPAACT's
Signature Series for solo artists. She made her Goodman Theatre in the world premiere of Luna
Gale (Lourdes), and reprised that role in the show’s Los Angeles premiere. She was selected as
a new talent for the 2014 ABC Diversity Showcase and is currently the Producing Associate with
Pegasus Theatre Chicago and an artist-in-residence at Free Street Theatre. As a teaching
artist, she partners with such programs and institutions as After School Matters, The Lyric
Opera, and The Puerto Rican Arts Alliance.
Tamika Lecheé Morales made her UTC debut in Julia De Burgos: Child of Water; Sabina
Berman’s Between Pancho Villa and a Naked Woman/Gina. José Rivera’s, Cloud
Tectonics/Celestina Del Sol, John Enright’s Ready or Not/ Norma and Jocasta in Luis Alfaro’s,
Oedipus El Rey (understudy). She is also currently developing her autobiographical play, The
Nuyorican, through the Victory Gardens Theater Access Project.
Andrew Neftalí Perez is earning his BFA in Theatre Performance at University of Illinois
Chicago where he is also an award-winning member of the Movimiento Latino dance team.
Liza Anna Acosta is the resident dramaturg with UrbanTheater Company and an ensemble
member of Teatro Luna where serves in both literary and theatrical capacities. She is an
Associate Dean and professor at North Park University.
UrbanTheater Company now has 501(c)(3) status
In 2015, UrbanTheater Company was awarded 501(c)(3) status as a non-profit organization which
qualifies the company to apply for many arts grants, permits a tax exempt status, enables
supporters to deduct donations from their income taxes and provides additional resources to
assist in furthering its mission of bringing dynamic, relevant works to the community.
About UrbanTheater Company
Founded in 2005, UrbanTheater Company is committed to the creation and exploration of
urban-inspired works that convey, illuminate and empathize with the human experience.
As a platform for multicultural representation in the performance arena, UrbanTheater Company
serves as a bridge between Chicago’s urban and Latino communities and the vehicle of
performing arts. UTC engages itself in the work of community responsibility and strives to raise
awareness and contribute to the important conversations concerning many of the social issues
facing our diverse backgrounds.
For more information about UrbanTheater Company, visit http://urbantheaterchicago.org.
Follow UTC on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/UrbanTheater and on Twitter
http://twitter.com/UrbanTheater
UrbanTheater Company is supported by a generous 10th anniversary season grant from The
Chicago Community Trust. UTC is also grateful for the support of Genesis Theatrical
Productions and its artistic director, Elayne LeTraunik; our Season 10 Legacy Award Honorees
Mike Oquendo, José E. López and Idali R. Vega; and our board members, Juan Carlos Linares,
Marty McCaffrey and Jerry Conner.
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