Aurora Theatre Stages the World Premiere of Barrio Hollywood in Spanish

Aurora Theatre continues the 2010-2011 GGC Lab Series with a Spanish-language performance produced through our Spanish language theatre initiative Teatro del Sol. Written by Elaine Romero, Barrio Hollywood the show runs April 14 - May 1, 2011. The GGC Lab Series is made possible through the generous support of inspired sponsor, Georgia Gwinnet College (GGC). The series features contemporary works fueled by innovation, creativity, and inspiration.

Although Barrio Hollywood received several acclaimed performances in cities like Tucson, Dallas and Portland, Aurora Theatre's production marks the world premiere of the Spanish language version. In the play Alex Moreno, a Mexican-American boxer, dreams of fighting his way out of poverty. When Alex is injured, the Moreno's dreams are deferred in this gritty drama about bi-racial romance, family loyalty and the true pursuit of happiness. Barrio Hollywood will be presented in Spanish with English supertitles. For native speakers, it will be a rare opportunity to enjoy a live professional play in Spanish. For those who do not speak the language, they can follow along with supertitles, just like when attending a foreign film. A detailed synopsis will also be offered for those patrons who wish to read the story beforehand.

GGC Lab performances are held in the Aurora Studio, which gives audiences a very intimate experience with plays that resonate particularly with young adults, our next generation of theatre goers.

About Teatro del Sol

Aurora's Teatro del Sol is a Spanish language theatre initiative whose main goal is the preservation of Hispanic cultural heritage. According to the US Census bureau, Georgia ranks 2nd in the nation with a 60% growth in Hispanic population since 2000, with that in mind Teatro del Sol strives to develop programming to better serve this rapidly growing community. Here in Gwinnett County Hispanics made up almost 20% of our county's population, up from 6% on 1990. In fact, Aurora Theatre Producing Artistic Director, Anthony Rodriguez, is a first generation American of Cuban decent. The need to serve this large demographic in our community is fundamental, and also a passion.

In 2004, Teatro del Sol produced Life is a Dream/La Vida es Sueño by Pedro Calderon de la Barca, the most famous Spanish playwright in history. The show was cast bilingually and was presented as part of Aurora Theatre's Mainstage season. The actors performed the play in English Thursday through Saturday and in Spanish on Sunday evenings. In 2005, Aurora presented the Georgia Premiere of 4 Guys Named Jose and una Mujer Named Maria. This show written to be performed in both English and Spanish was a huge success, capturing a diverse cross section of the community who flocked to see it. In 2008, Aurora Theatre partnered with the Peruvian Consulate to sponsor Peru: Land of the InKas - A night of dance and music. 2011 marks the return of Teatro del Sol.

About the Playwright- Elaine Romero
An award-winning playwright, Elaine Romero has had her plays Barrio Hollywood, Secret Things, Curanderas! Serpents of the Clouds, The Fat-Free Chicana and the Snow Cap Queen, and Day of Our Dead presented at such theatres as Actors Theatre of Louisville, Arizona Theatre Company, Borderlands Theater, Women's Project and Productions, Magic Theatre, Kitchen Dog Theatre, San Diego Rep, INTAR, City Theatre, the Miracle Theatre, The Phoenix Theatre, Invisible Theatre, the Curious Theatre Company, Urban Stages, the Working Theatre, and the New Theatre among others. She has been published by Vintage Books, Samuel French, University of Arizona Press, University of Iowa Press, Smith & Kraus, Playscripts, Inc. and Heinemann Press, and has an upcoming publication with Simon & Schuster. A past Guest Artist at South Coast Repertory and the Mark Taper Forum, Romero serves as Playwright-in-Residence at the Arizona Theatre Company, managing their National Latino Playwrights Award. Romero participated in the TCG/Pew National Theatre Artist in Residency Program and the NEA/TCG Theatre Residency Program for Playwrights. She attended The Sundance Institutes Playwrights Retreat at the Ucross Foundation where she began Walk into the Sea, for which she received a 2005 Magic Theater/Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Science and Technology grant. Curious Theatre Company commissioNed Romero to write Rain of Ruin for their War Anthology, which won a Henry Award for Best New Play in Denver, Colorado. Romero is a Core Member of the Playwrights Center and a member of the Dramatists Guild. She recently participated in the CBS Diversity Institutes Writers Mentorship Program in Los Angeles. The Zachary Scott Theatre commissioned and toured Alicia in 2006 for their Project InterAct.

Producer Quote
"Continuing this series has been something I have given a great deal of consideration since our expansion to Lawrenceville," explains Aurora Theatre Artistic Director Anthony Rodriguez. "I'm thrilled to have found a project and a playwright to reinvigorate Teatro del Sol. I dedicate Barrio Hollywood to my mother and father who always encouraged me to follow my dreams."

Cast and Crew

Joey Florez, Jr. Alex Moreno
Maria Sager Graciella Moreno
Sylvia Castro Amá
Alexandros Salazar Michael

Production Staff

Anthony Rodriguez Director
Ann-Carol Pence Associate Producer
Luis Hernandez Assistant Director
Britt Hultgren Ramroop Production Manager and Set Designer
James M. Helms Technical Director and Lighting Designer
Bobby Johnston Sound Designer / Video Projection
Thalia Shepard Costume Designer
Maureen Downs Stage Manager
Sarah Thomson Scenic Artist
Jonathan Fries Assistant Technical Director

Barrio Hollywood
By Elaine Romero
Spanish Translation by Catalina Maynard and Carmen Peralta
With assistance from Victor Hugo Garza, Dr. Jacqueline Messing, Irene Romero and Eva Tessler
April 14 - May 1
Performances are Thursday - Saturday at 8:00PM and Sunday at 2:30PM
Tickets $15

678.226.6222
www.auroratheatre.com

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