Photo Flash: 'Jardín de Sueños' Plays Milagro Theatre, 3/22-4/14

ABOUT THE PLAY

Imagine the impossible, the magnificent, the terrifying ... Like a garden of dreams, folktales are filled with legendary creatures who lead us down the paths of discovery. For some, it's about love; for others, it's about knowledge. For young Cristina, it's about listening to her heart and finding her voice. Cristina is about to finish high school and go to college, and she needs all the support she can get. But her family is distracted by the technology of modern life, from cell phones and text messages to bills and budgets. They are all too busy to listen. But when Cristina enters a dream world, she encounters several familiar characters from Latino folklore - the jaguar, the armadillo, and the daughter of the Sun God, among others - who not only help her speak her mind, but give her the confidence to face her future.

CAST

Siumara Samayoa … Cristina

Rosa Cristobal … Lena

Mario López … Huicho

Gabriela Dipascuale … Lucia

Juan Antonio Martínez … Fabian

Pablo Saldana … El Jaguar

CarlosAlexis Cruz … The Spirit of the Garden

PRODUCTION TEAM

Sofia May-Cuxim … Playwright

Nelda Reyes … Director

Sarah Lydecker … Scenic Designer

Kristeen Crosser … Lighting Designer

Gerardo Calderón … Sound Designer

Valerie Ditchfied … Costume Designer

Alisha Flaumenbaum … Prop Master

Kate Phoenix … Mask Designer

Songyi Park … Costume Assistant

Estela Robinson … Production Manager

Andrew Phoenix … Technical Director

Emily Powell Wright … Projectionist

Wailana Kalama … Sound Board Operator

Kyle Giller and Colleen Cunningham … Translators

Daniel Moreno, Sylvia Malán, Rory Stitt and Adrienne Shelnutt … House Managers

Gene Flores… Art Card Design

Olga Sanchez … Artistic Director, Miracle MainStage

José E. González … Executive Director

ABOUT THE PLAYWRIGHT

Sofia May-Cuxim is originally from Mexico City, where she studied Dramatic Literature at UNAM. She has received prizes for Acting, Producing and Singing in Mexico and Los Angeles. In February, the Mexican government will publish the collection Migrant Stories, a contest she won for the second time in a row. A veteran of the stage since 1974, Sofia made her debut at Milagro in 2010 with ¡Viva Don Juan!, and performed in Ana en el trópico in 2011. Specializing in comedy, other of her plays are Mingorote and You don't look Mexican. Jardín de Sueños is her first play produced in Portland. She dedicates this production's work with love to her father, Gonzalo.

ABOUT THE DIRECTOR

Nelda Reyes, from Mexico, is co-founder of Nuestro Canto (traditional storytelling from Mexico). She has been a professional actress from the past 10 years and has specialized in physical theatre and in Latin American and Mexican cultural expressions. She holds a MA degree in Theatre Arts from Portland State University and also has studied in the Moscow Art Theatre School at Harvard University, with Luis de Tavira, and with Teatro Línea de Sombra in Mexico City. In addition to her acting experience and education, she has studied language, literature, and classical and folk dance from different cultures, specifically those of Spain and the Caribbean. She has been a performer in ongoing projects at the Company of Theatre of the University of Guadalajara, assisted in the direction of diverse theatrical and opera productions in Mexico and, while in Portland, she has participated in several productions at PSU, Theatre! Theater! and Miracle Theatre Group, both as a performer, singer and theatre educator. Her directing credits include: Duende for The Circus Project (2010) En Voz Alta: Voces Jovenes por Justicia Social (Roosevelt High School-Milagro, 2010), Los Vendidos (Roosevelt High School-Milagro, 2009) and Dido & Eneas (Ministerio de Cultura de Zapopan, 2007). Nelda thanks Miracle Theatre for this opportunity to work on her first main stage production.

Photo Credit: Russell Young