Theater Company Spotlights the Border
Thursday, 07 October 2010 22:42
Borderlands Theater will kick off their 25th season on Oct. 7, with this performances this year ranging from drama, action, adventure and love; to encompassing life, history and reality on and near the border.
With immigration in the spotlight due to Arizona’s SB 1070, the season’s plays reflect community concern. “Our plays are getting a lot of exposure at an extremely appropriate time,” said Barclay Goldsmith, the producing director for Borderlands Theater.
The season will begin with a world premiere, Arizona: No Roosters in the Desert. “It’s a very exciting season for the theater,” said Eva Tessler, the Associate Artistic Director for Borderlands Theater. “Since it is about migrants, the play is extremely relevant for our region.”
The play is based on interviews conducted by University of Arizona researcher Anna Ochoa O’Leary, and depicts four women who trek into the desert toward their American dream. Throughout their journey, the women endure an array of physical and emotional challenges and establish an intense relationship.
“This play is 100 percent born and raised in Tucson,” said Kara Hartzler, the author of the play. “It’s overwhelming with all the attention the play is receiving. With Arizona’s current events, this play is at the right place at the right time.”
In December, Borderlands will feature their annual play, A Tucson Pastorela, which features the shepherds, a dog and sheep on a journey to Bethlehem to witness the birth of Jesus. The play is accompanied by Christmas carols in Spanish and English, and live performances by the T.O. Boyz Waila Band.
“The script for A Tucson Pastorela is always rewritten, but the format stays the same, as it has for 500 years,” said Goldsmith.
Next year, Oedipus El Rey will be featured. Goldsmith calls it a controversial story that could take place anywhere in the world, so many people will be able to relate to it.
The play takes place in a California prison and the Pico Union Neighborhood in Los Angeles. The play is a rendition of a Greek tragedy with a Chicano perspective. Culture Monster calls the play, “A spellbinding dance of pain and eroticism.”
Slumber of Reason, the dance drama of the season, is based on Los Caprichos, a set of 80 mysterious and contentious prints by the Spanish painter Francisco de Goya. The season will close in May with a new play by Martin Zimmerman. 
“I am excited for the world premiere of White Tie Ball,” said Goldsmith. “It explores issues of family loyalty and looks at political ambition.” White Tie Ball depicts the powerful bond between two dissimilar Latino brothers: Edward, a successful Arizona County Attorney and Beto, a member of a Latino gang. Edward receives a contradicting assignment that forces him to jeopardize the bond between him and his brother or improve his career.
“This play weighs the importance of Edward protecting his brother or advancing his career,” Goldsmith said.
Written by Kirsten Boele You are reading Theater Company Spotlights the Border articles
News
- Streetcar Construction Creates Difficulty for Downtown Businesses
- Take Back the Night: Cover it Live
- Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument clears air about dangers of the border
- Personal activism turns into motivation for demonstration
- Missing on the Border
- University of Arizona NROTC members may carry weapons on training hikes near Mexico
- The Reincarnation Tour: Celebrating a Vibrant and New Central Phoenix
- Identificame
Culture
People
Education
- Rap, Culture & God Lecture
- Cover it Live - CBP's Mario Escalante will share tips of how to be a better border reporter with SPJ.
- Cover it Live: Margaret Regan Talk on Arizona-Mexico Border Stories
- Similarities Emphasized at ‘Queer-ability’ Discussion
- The Essence of Gamma Alpha Omega
- Spanish Heritage Learner Program Enhances UA Education
- Arizona Women's Heritage Trail
- Border Beat Class
Health
Sports
- Cover it Live Boxing Training Session
- UA Decathlete Strives to Make the Most of Life in the US
- Ride Report- Premises Park Progress
- The Grip On Tucson Climbing
- Shootout decides 2012 Desert Diamond Cup Championship Game
- Soccer Success Still Kicking in Tucson
- L.A Galaxy v. New York Red Bulls
- La Fiesta de los Vaqueros Tucson Rodeo
Border Beat Blogs
Educación en la FronteraBy: Shannon Maule
A look at higher education in regard to those who have and have not been able to travel from various countries to the United States. Stories from people in the higher education world relating to the border.
A Mosaic AmericaBy: Rachel Kolinski
"Exploring Diversity one Face at a Time"
By: Hope Jamieson
Explore dance throughout the borderlands.
A City of Musical DiversityBy: Maria Teracena
Tucson musicians influence and are influenced by the sounds of the world.
Culture CrossingBy: Chelsey Barthel
American borders are crossed every day by cultures of all kind. These stories tell the personal experiences of people from different lands, offering further insight into the difference of cultures.
By: Lauren Inouye
A look at Mexican and Latin films that reflect culture, politics, and society -- reviews, research and analysis.
By: Charles Misra
Stories about martial arts and combat sports with a cultural twist, all finding a home in America's southwestern borderlands.
Border PeopleBy: Jamie Turow
Profiles of English language learners.
By: Jessica Hoerth
Meet some of the people in Tucson who have made the journey across the border as they share what they came in search of and what struggles they may have encountered along the way.
By: Lauren Urratio
Fashion and how it is impacted by the border and international cultures.
By: Lucy Valencia
News from along the border with Mexico
The Border ProjectBy: Melissa Guz
"The Border Project" is an art showcase located in the University of Arizona's Museum of Art. It has over 40+ art pieces related to border issues.
Athletics and the BorderBy: Preston Fawcett
Get to know high school coachs and athletes from Arizona border towns or from Mexico and their struggles to get to where they are.
By: Audrey A. Fitzsimmons
The Southwest boasts of diverse ethnic backgrounds and a wealth of interesting personalities. Border Personalities is dedicated to the people of the Southwest and their stories.
By: Jeff Kessler
U.S. - Mexico border issues, current events, and interesting local stories
Music of the BorderBy: Steven Schiraldi
Music reviews of musical works by Mexican or other ethnic artists.
By: Brett Haupt
A visual exploration of America’s last frontier -- pictures and videos from different areas of the wall and fence that separate two different worlds and insight into what really stands between the United States and Mexico, ramifications of wall building and what it means for the average citizen.
Border AthletesBy: Lauren Sokol
Meet international student athletes at the University of Arizona, a look at the recruiting process that helped them find a temporary home in the desert, and culture changes that the athletes might have endured.
Journey Across the BorderBy: Emily Kjesbo
Spotlighting Mexico’s top travel destinations, as well as a few of its hidden gems.
Border ShotsBy: Keith Perfetti
A photojournalist looks at how other photographers have viewed the border and shoots lesser known spots of the southwest.
MLS Soccer comes to the Desert
By: Jeff Kessler
All about the 2012 Desert Diamond Cup, a 10 day exhibition soccer tournament featuring four Major League Soccor teams coming to Tucson.