Teatro Vista to Stage World Premiere by Raul Castillo This Spring

Teatro Vista presents the World Premiere of Raúl Castillo's Between You, Me and the Lampshade, directed by Teatro Vista Executive Artistic Director Ricardo Gutierrez, at The Richard Christiansen Theater at The Victory Gardens Biograph Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Ave., April 11 - May 10. Preview performances are Saturday, April 11 at 7:30 p.m., Sunday, April 12 at 3 p.m. and Tuesday, April 14 at 7:30 p.m. Opening/Press night is Wednesday, April 15 at 7:30 p.m. Regular performances are Thursdays - Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. Preview performances are $20, regular run weeknight and matinee performances are $25 and Saturday night performances are $30. Half-price student rush tickets are available 30 minutes prior to each performance with valid I.D. Discounts are also available for groups of 10 or more and seniors (65+) with ID. Tickets may be purchased at the Victory Gardens box office at 773.871.3000 or by visiting www.victorygardens.org. For more information on Between You, Me and the Lampshade and Teatro Vista, please visit www.teatrovista.org.

Note: There is an added 3 p.m. matinee performance on Saturday, May 9.

In Between You, Me and the Lampshade the lives of Jesse, a single mother (Sandra Marquez), and her teenage son (Tommy Rivera-Vega) are turned upside down one night when a wounded, undocumented immigrant (Ayssette Muñoz) breaks into their trailer home in rural South Texas. As Jesse covertly takes in the immigrant, she has to go to increasingly complicated lengths to hide her secret from the various people in her life, including a border protection agent (Jim Farruggio) with a crush and her web-addicted teenage son. Hilarious and searing, this play examines the consequences of secrets.

The cast for Between You, Me and the Lampshade includes: Sandra Marquez^* (Jesse), Tommy Rivera-Vega* (Woody), Steve Casillas+ (Meme), Ayssette Munoz+ (Amparo), Jim Farruggio^ (Max) and Bryce Gangel (Kristen).

The production team for Between You, Me and the Lampshade includes: Ricardo Gutierrez* (Director), Stephanie Hurovitz^ (Stage Manager), Jennifer Aparicio+ (Production Manager), Jose Manuel Diaz (Scenic Designer) and Christine Pascaul+ (Costume Designer)

^ denotes member of Actor's Equity Association, * denotes Teatro Vista Ensemble Member,

+ denotes Teatro Vista Artistic Associate

Raúl Castillo was born and raised in McAllen, TX, with family ties in neighboring Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico. A graduate of Boston University's School for the Arts, his play Knives and Other Sharp Objects had its premiere at the Public Theater in March 2009 where he was a member of the initial Emerging Writers Group. He is also a proud member of LAByrinth Theater Company, with whom he has developed Between You, Me and the Lampshade, City of Palms and Bus Accident Play.

His one-act play, The Biggest Asshole Ever Born, premiered at Intar Theater as part of One Night in the Valley; Four Plays by South Texas Writers. Another one-act, Death on my Mind, is published by Dramatic Publishing Best Student One-Acts, Vol. 5.

Coming up, he is developing a script for the Museum of Man/La Jolla Playhouse Border Crossings project at Balboa Park in San Diego. As an actor, you can see him as a series regular on HBO's Looking. Theatre credits include Fish Men (Goodman Theater), A Lifetime Burning (Primary Stages), School of the Americas (LAByrinth/Public), and Open House (Foundry Theatre). His film credits include My Best Day, The Girl, Bless Me, Ultima, Cold Weather, Don't Let Me Drown and Amexicano.

Photo by Walter McBride