NHCC & Teatro Nuevo Mexico to Stage THE BOXCAR, 9/26-28

The National Hispanic Cultural Center (NHCC) and Teatro Nuevo México are presenting Silvia Gonzalez S.'s play The Boxcar that recreates the lives of 7 men in a story of extraordinary bravery, passion, love of family, and hope, The play will run September 26-28 in the NHCC's Albuquerque Journal Theatre, 7:30 pm Thursday, Friday and Saturday and 2:00 pm Saturday. Ticket prices are $14, $17, and $19

Boxcar is written by the award-winning Latina playwright Silvia Gonzalez S. It was originally presented in Spanish as El Vagón by the famed New York Theatre Company Repertorio Español. Gonzalez feels that in the current political climate it is important to honor those who have experienced similar disasters, abandoned in boxcars and truck trailers by the human smugglers called coyotes. "I knew this was going to happen again and again. I felt I had to do something. Somehow inspiration hit me to write some scenes for this play. The characters just spoke to me. It was the first play I had ever written focusing on immigration issues."

In 1987, a group of men set out in search of a better life for themselves and their families, entering the United States as undocumented immigrants, looking to make a dollar or two. Each man had his dream, and all were willing to endure whatever hardships might befall them in the few hours to come. Over the years, many have survived this perilous method of entering the U.S., placing their lives in the hands of others. Tragically, many have not. .

The NHCC/Teatro Nuevo México production is directed by TNM's Artistic Director Salome Martinez Lutz and stars Albuquerque actors Gene Ornelas, James R. Chavez, James "Santiago" Candelaria, José "Pepe" Gallardo, Joseph A. Wasson, Jr. and Ruben Muller.

The National Hispanic Cultural Center, a division of the NM Department of Cultural Affairs, is dedicated to the promotion and preservation of Hispanic art and culture at the local, state, national, and international levels.