Photo Flash: Goodman Theatre's EL NOGALAR

Prolific playwright and Mexican Chicagoan Tanya Saracho brings US/Mexico border violence and class divide into sharp relief in El Nogalar, presented at Goodman Theatre, produced and commissioned by Teatro Vista, starting March 26, 2011. The Goodman's fourth collaboration with Teatro Vista over 16 years, El Nogalar marks the beginning of a new three-year producing partnership dedicated to new work by Latino writers. Cecilie D. Keenan directs this world premiere by Saracho-a Teatro Vista resident playwright and "one of Chicago['s] most talented young writers" (Chicago Tribune)-developed in a staged reading during the Goodman's Latino Theatre Festival. El Nogalar (pecan orchard) is inspired by Anton Chekhov's classic The Cherry Orchard and charts a Mexican family's experience as their way of life is threatened by encroaching drug cartels, violence and economic upheaval. El Nogalar begins previews March 26 (Opening Night is April 4) and runs through April 24, 2011 in the Goodman's Owen Theatre; tickets are $10 - $42 (ticket prices are subject to change). The Scenemakers Board is the Contributing Sponsor for El Nogalar. Principal Support of Artistic Development and Diversity Initiatives is provided by The Joyce Foundation. Hoy is the Print Media Sponsor and The Chicago Latino Network is the Digital Media Sponsor.

"Tanya is an extraordinary artist, truly one of Chicago's stand-out 'triple threat' writer/actor/directors, and this reimagined classic is the perfect way to kick off our three-year producing partnership with Teatro Vista," said Goodman Theatre Artistic Director Robert Falls. "This initiative builds on 16 years of collaboration between our companies, which has resulted in such memorable productions as José Rivera's Cloud Tectonics and Luis Alfaro's Electricidad. Together with our Resident Artistic Associate Henry Godinez and Teatro Vista's Artistic Director Eddie Torres, we are thrilled to deepen our commitment to developing new work by some of the country's most gifted Latino playwrights."

El Nogalar marks the fifth joint production between Goodman Theatre and Teatro Vista, a relationship that began in 1995 in the Goodman Studio at the theater's former Columbus Drive location. In addition to Cloud Tectonics and Electricidad, other joint productions include Rivera's Massacre (Sing to Your Children) in 2007 and El Grito del Bronx by Migdalia Cruz (2009, with Collaboraction). Teatro Vista has also performed in each of the Goodman's biennial Latino Theatre Festivals.

Photo Credit: Eric Y. Exit