Teatro Visión’s MACARIO: A Visual Spectacle

September 25, 2013

Teatro Visión’s MACARIO: A Visual Spectacle Written by Peter Allen Teatro Visión is about to embark on the most ambitious production in its 29-year history. Working in collaboration with nationally renowned playwright and screenwriter Evelina Fernández, esteemed composer Russell Rodríguez, and Los Lupeños choreographer María De La Rosa, the Latino/Chicano theater company based in San José will unveil a world premiere bilingual theatrical adaptation of the classic Mexican novel and film, MACARIO.

As envisioned by Artistic and Production Director Elisa Marina Alvarado, Co-Director Rodrigo García, and a stellar team of commissioned artists, Teatro Visión’s MACARIO will incorporate culturally vibrant music and dance to create a visually exciting spectacle and celebration of el Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). Bringing MACARIO to the stage has been a decade-long goal for Alvarado, who worked for over three years to secure the rights to adapt this story to the stage and was granted exclusive permission by the author’s family to do so. The result is a bilingual work that Teatro Visión expects to resonate with diverse audiences and could become a local Día de los Muertos tradition. MACARIO is set in the late 1700s, pre-independence era of Mexico. Often compared to Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, the parable-like story features three spirits who attempt to persuade a poor working man (Macario) to reflect on his choices when he comes into the fortune of having a full turkey to eat. It is a work steeped in magic and history that has become part of the fabric of Mexican culture. The play is set in old Mexico, but its themes are universal and just as relevant in the United States today — especially in these tough economic times.

Originally written by the mysterious B. Traven — who also authored Treasure of the Sierra Madre — MACARIO was made into a film, released in 1960, which won 12 international awards, including festival prizes at Edinburg and Cannes. It was also the first Mexican film to be nominated for an Academy Award. To this day, it is considered a classic of Mexican cinema. In this time of growing awareness of the vast injustice of inequality between the rich and the poor, MACARIO is a poignant story of the wit, cleverness, and determination of those who live “hand to mouth.” Teatro Visión’s MACARIO debuts October 10-20, 2013, at the School of Arts and Culture at Mexican Heritage Plaza, 1700 Alum Rock Avenue in San José. Performances will be in Spanish with English supertitles. Tickets are available online at www.TeatroVision.org and are priced between $10 and $40. About Teatrovision: Teatro Visión is a Chicano theater company with nearly three decades of service to the community. The main stage productions amplify the voices of Latinos, create a dignified and empowering sense of identity, inspire action, build respect and understanding, and explore the social and psychological experiences of Latinos. Over 29 years, Teatro Visión has commissioned, developed, and produced over 50 works for an audience of more than 110,000 patrons. These works include the World Premiere production of Silvia Gonzalez’s EL VAGON (Boxcar), which won the 2004 Repertorio Espanol’s NuestraVoces national playwriting competition, and the 2011 West Coast Premiere production of Rudolfo Anaya’s BLESS ME, ULTIMA. Teatro Visión regularly provides free performances via partnerships with more than 100 local schools and organizations. as well as teatro training programs for artists, service providers, and educators. The education programming engages students to strengthen their critical thinking, self-confidence, communication, and problem-solving skills. This, together with the open pricing structure and bilingual presentations, ensures that the work remains accessible to a broad community.