Free Performance Of Debbie Baños' Show Announced At Historic Chodl Auditorium

16th Street Theater will give a FREE community performance of Debbie Baños' Bell's Palsy and Other American Side Effects directed by Esteban Arévalo Ibáñez at the historic Chodl Auditorium-a 2,500-seat venue listed with the National Register of Historic Places-at Morton East High School at 2423 S Austin Blvd. in Cicero, IL, on Wednesday, April 17 at 7:00 PM. Underwritten by 16th Street's 100 Club Members, this free performance continues the 2019 Pop Up New Play Reading Series. All are welcome.

The 4th of July has always been Debbie Baños' second favorite holiday, right after Christmas! But what does the 4th of July mean for this Salvadoran - American family? In a world full of fireworks, love, and patriotism this family finds itself fighting for Mami's right to stay in this country, or shall we say the country since they live in rural Arkansas, aka "the devil's butt!" according to 12-year-old Debbie. Her humorous and deeply personal story recounts her mother's 25-year struggle moving through the immigration system in Arkansas. Despite legal, financial, emotional, and health challenges, Debbie's mother still insists on celebrating the 4th of July. In style.

Already well-known on Chicago stages, Debbie has performed with 16th Street, Victory Gardens Theater, Babes With Blades, UrbanTheatre Company, Chicago Dramatists, and many more. Bell's Palsy and Other American Side Effects, previously developed with Chicago Theatre Marathon, is Baños' first solo show.

Director Esteban Arévalo Ibáñez shares, "Debbie's story is a world built by contrasts. There is hope, especially from her mother's perspective, but there is also the ever present emotional and physical toll that reminds us about the price of her dream. By delving into her past, Debbie provides us with an opportunity to reflect and question the American Dream."

Dramaturg Ryan Oliveira expands: "I was excited to work with Debbie on Bell's Palsy as soon as I saw it performed at last year's Chicago Theatre Marathon. It captured many of the feelings I had guiding my own parents through immigration, and with my own parents pinning their American hopes on me."

This performance is a part of 16th Street Theater's 2019 Pop Up Series: Three New Plays underwritten by 16th Street's 100 Club members. Bell's Palsy and Other American Side Effects is the second installment of three new plays in our reading series, curated by Nancy García Loza (NNPN Producer In Residence). Next up in the series: Dolores Díaz's Los Tequileros (October 23).

Bell's Palsy and Other American Side Effects is the fifth offering in 16th Street's 2019 Season Twelve: Shadows / Light following Steven Strafford's hit Small Jokes About Monsters, Melissa DuPrey's Brujaja, Natalie Moore's The South Side,and Julie Ganey's GOOD ENOUGH.