2015 Dia de Muertos Celebration Set for Halloween at Cleveland Public Theatre

Do not mistake Halloween hijinks for the 11th Annual Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead) Festival in Cleveland's Detroit Shoreway neighborhood on Saturday, Oct. 31, from 11 am to 10 pm, at Cleveland Public Theatre, 6415 Detroit Avenue.

"The expressive talents of this year's featured artists will highlight an amazing array of altars (ofrendas) that showcase the poetic and political, the aesthetics, anima and earthiness by students from the Urban Community School, Lake Ridge Academy and the Lakeland Hispanic Students Clubs. We also feature three new artists and the Mexican-American Familia Nieves Bucey, who has been a regular participant," states artist Hector Castellanos Lara, lead collaborator of Artistas Latinos Unidos, a collective group of northeast Ohio artists who have shared their skills in the community and hosted many joint exhibitions.

"This community outreach event falls in the midst of the third full length original production by CPT's resident Latin American theatre ensemble, Teatro Publico de Cleveland, along with the nationwide celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month. We invite Día de Muertos visitors who come to CPT for the first time to explore Teatro Publico and all the other programs and activities available in this neighborhood," says CPT's Executive Artistic Director Raymond Bobgan. "It is wonderful is to help support the participation and cultural education of many students and citizens in the richness of these traditions. Besides that, we welcome the opportunity to partner with the many other community organizations, schools and volunteers who make this event happen."

Day of the Dead Activities: 11am - 10pm. Parade and Procession at 3:30pm.

The event starts at 11 am with face painting for participants in the afternoon parade. The main event kicks off with a community procession of skulls and skeletons along Detroit Avenue starting at 3:30 pm. from Cleveland Public Theatre. Participation is open to all, including neighbors, families and students from Greater Cleveland, with the procession progressing (ironically) to Craciun Berry Funeral Home. However, this is not a somber event but a joyous celebration, led with mariachi music, colorful puppetry and every manner of creative tribute to the spirit of the ancestors and loved ones past.

Immediately after the procession, the community is invited back to Cleveland Public Theatre's Parish Hall venue for performances featuring the Tepehuani Nelli Dancers led by Lilly Moreno Corona, family activities and an artistic exhibit of colorful traditional altars (ofrendas), a mock cemetery and window displays created by artists: Oliver App, Bridget Ginley, Nina Huryn and Ted Olah, Mark and Patty Jenks, Antonio Parente, Ian Petroni, Jessica Rosenlieb, Ana Luisa Sanchez Butte, Michael Schaefer, Frankie Teuber and Robin Van Lear.

Musical artists include Arroz y Frijoles (Latin salsa/cumbia), Dueto Maravilla (Mexican romantic/popular songs) and Unfinished Business (Latin rock). Face painting for children, pan de muerto, the traditional Day of the Dead bread, holiday vendors and a retrospective slide show of the celebration will be available.

About Día de los Muertos: Although its name may sound grim, the Día de los Muertos holiday has its origins in the ancient rituals of Mexico's Aztec Indians and other indigenous tribes of Latin America. An Internet search of "Dia de los Muertos" will yield any number of links to web sites explaining and promoting the holiday. But the primary elements of this celebration indicate that the special nature of the occasion is to honor one's ancestors and commemorate beloved ones who have passed. For the Aztecs and others with similar beliefs, honoring and calling upon the ancestors was integrated with harvest festivities, and gathering family to remember past family and friends with fondness and happy memories.

Traditional arts, flowers, food, music, dance and fun are integral to the cultural mix, as are particular items specific to the holiday, such as the altars (ofrendas). Elements of the earth (salt), wind (cut paper decorations, papeles picados), fire (candles) and water are among the items included on some altars. However, the traditions and rituals are widely varied throughout Mexico, Latin America, Spain and other countries. When the Spaniards conquered the New World, the indigenous holiday was commingled and integrated with the Catholic All Saints and All Souls Days.

The image of Catrina, the traditional 'Lady of the Dead' goddess of the Aztecs, is a smiling skeleton. However gruesome or scary this or the idea of skulls is to Western culture, for the Aztecs skulls symbolized new life. Multiple colorful sculptures of candy skulls (calaveras) and skeletons (catrinas) are bursting with color and created with lighthearted and funny poses of the living. This deeply spiritual and yet exuberant celebration can often reflect more of an attitude about enjoying a higher level of consciousness and living life to the fullest.

For Mexican artist Ana Luisa Sanchez-Butte, one aspect of the tradition 'took over' and she switched from her primary medium of painting to making Catrina sculptures. "It really absorbs you," she notes with a smile - just as the spirit of the holiday does for the many who celebrate.

Schedule of Events:

Día de Muertos Altars and Cemetery installations 11am - 10pm
Procession: Skulls & Skeletons 3:30pm - 4:15pm

All events take place at Cleveland Public Theatre, 6415 Detroit Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44102.

Día de Muertos Altars:

Main Altar: Urban Community School; Altar 1: Lakeland Hispanic Students Club; Altar 2: Michael Schaefer; Altar 3: Bridget D. Ginley; Altar 4: Frankie Teuber; Altar 5: Lake Ridge Academy; Altar 6: Familia Nieves Bucey; Church Main Entrance Installation: Julia de Burgos Cultural Arts Center

Cemetery Installations:

Mark Jenks / Ian Petroni / Robin Van Lear / Nina Huryn & Ted Olah / Jessica Rosenlieb / Oliver App

Music:

Dueto Maravilla (Romantic Mexican popular songs) 2:00 - 3:00 pm
Mariachi Santa Cecilia 3:30 - 4:30 pm
Rice & Beans Latin Jazz Band 6:00 - 7:30 pm
Unfinished Business (Latin rock) 8:00 - 9:00 pm

Dances:

Tepehuani Nelli / Mexican Folkloric Dance Co. 4:45 - 5:15 pm

Words by:

Councilman Matt Zone 5:15 pm

"Skulls and Skeletons" Procession will take place in Detroit Avenue: will begin from Cleveland Public Theatre main parking lot to Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church (West 70th Street) and Craciun Berry Funeral Home (West 72nd Street).

For more information about Dia de Muertos, visit www.diademuertos.com.