Teatro Vista Announces 2013-14 Season

Teatro Vista, Chicago's largest non-profit Equity Latino theater company, announced today the initial line-up for its 2013-14 season, the company's first as a participant in Victory Gardens Theater's new Resident Theater Program.

Teatro Vista will launch its Victory Gardens residency in the fall with the world premiere of White Tie Ball by Martín Zimmerman, who also joins the company as its newest playwright in residence. Teatro Vista co-founder Edward Torres, fresh from his acclaimed world premiere staging of Quiara Alegría Hudes The Happiest Songs Play Last this spring at the Goodman, will direct Zimmerman's contemporary story about two brothers, one easily identified as Latino, another who isn't, and the moral and emotional dilemmas they find themselves in. The cast features ensemble membersMarvin Quijada and Gabriel Ruiz. Previews begin September 6, 2013. Press opening isTuesday, September 10. White Tie Ball runs through October 13 in Victory Gardens' 109-seat Richard Christiansen Theater.

Next spring, Teatro Vista will stage a revival of Arthur Miller's classic A View from the Bridge. Acclaimed Chicago director and new Teatro Vista artistic associate Ron OJ Parson will stage Miller's searing drama of love and revenge in an Italian-American immigrant enclave in 1950's Brooklyn. Interestingly, Teatro Vista's production will boast an all-Latino cast, including artistic director Ricardo Gutierrez as Eddie, and company members Christina Nieves as Catherine and Sandra Marquez as Beatrice. Previews start April 11, 2014. Press opening is Tuesday, April 15. Performances run throughMay 18, also in Victory Gardens' Richard Christiansen Theater.

"Teatro Vista looks forward to continuing our 22-year tradition of fostering new works by Latino playwrights, and Martin Zimmerman's incisive play White Tie Ball is an ideal project for us in that regard," said Gutierrez. "And while A View from the Bridge is not a Latino play, it certainly speaks to the heart of Latino issues. Most importantly, we want to provide a new platform to promote and foster Latino artists in Chicago by periodically creating an opportunity to develop and perform fresh, new interpretations of great works by great writers."

Gutierrez added, "For more than 20 years our audience has loyally followed us from theater to theater, all over the city. So we are incredibly excited to plant roots and present a full season at one consistent venue. I can't imagine a more ideal space for our work than Victory Gardens' beautiful, intimate and conveniently located Richard Christiansen Theatre. Stay tuned for even more news about more activity from Teatro Vista as we settle into our new home, including off-night and late-night productions."

The ideal way to support professional Latino theater in Chicago while enjoying the best seats at the lowest prices, is to purchase a Teatro Vista 2013-2014 Season Pass, only $50 for two shows. Information on subscribing to the season will be posted on teatrovista.org on June 1. Single tickets will go on sale July 1 via the Victory Gardens box office, 773.871.3000 and online at victorygardens.org.