The Miracle Center Debuts World Premiere Theatrical Adaptation Of THERE'S A COQUI IN MY SHOE

The Miracle Center, 2311 N. Pulaski Rd. in Chicago's Logan Square/Hermosa community, presents the world premiere of There's a Coquí in My Shoe! as part of DESTINOS - the 2nd Chicago International Latino Theater Festival. Performances are September 21-October 13: Fridays at 7:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $25. For tickets and information, visit TheMiracleCenter.org or call (773) 276-5933.
There's a Coquí in My Shoe! by The Miracle Center's Playwright, Roberto J. Negrón, presented by The Miracle Center's Adult Theater Ensemble, is an adaptation of Marisa de Jesús Paolicelli's children's book about Puerto Rico's national mascot, the Coquí (little tree frog, pronounced "co-kee").

A young boy named Armando surprisingly discovers a coquí in his red shoe. Carlito the Coquí is lost and cannot find his way home to the rainforest. Armando befriends Carlito and anxiously waits for the following day to accompany his mother, Lola, to sell their pushcart of piraguas (pee-rah-gwas) (snow cones) to the Puerto Rican children. See in this charming tale how Carlito the Coquí and Armando's friendship blossoms. Find out whether or not Carlito the Coquí will find his way home with the help of Armando, and if Armando and his mother will sell their mouth-watering piragüas.

There's a Coquí in My Shoe! is a distinctive and delightful story celebrating Puerto Rico's national treasure, the coquí. It splendidly captures, in breathtaking illustrations, the vibrant color, culture, flora (plant kingdom), and fauna (animal kingdom) of the island. Full of yummy tastes, bright colors, and dramatic sounds, Puerto Rico's cultural importance is described in the scenes and places including El Morro, El Yunque National Forest, Old San Juan, Casa Rosa, and Puerto Rico's white, sandy beaches.

The Miracle Center's (TMC) mission is to use the performing and visual arts as a tool for personal and professional growth via self-expression for youth and adults. TMC nurtures and encourages the development of the next generation of professional artists by offering them opportunities to perform and exhibit their work.
For more information, visit TheMiracleCenter.org or call (773) 276-5933.

DESTINOS - the 2nd Chicago International Latino Theater Festival, is the signature program of the Chicago Latino Theater Alliance (CLATA), a transformative cultural engine helping drive the city's local Latino theater community to a more prominent level.

The second annual DESTINOS festival, running September 20-November 4, 2018, brings together top Latino theater artists and companies from Chicago, the U.S. and around Latin America for seven weeks of shows, panels and student performances. This year's DESTINOS celebrates Latino theater artists and companies from the host city, Chicago, alongside artists from Dallas, Los Angeles, Argentina, Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico and Puerto Rico. Performances are staged in venues throughout the city, from Chicago's marquee live theaters, to intimate stages and cultural institutions in predominantly Latino neighborhoods.

Visit the DESTINOS website, clata.org, for the full festival schedule including free roundtable discussions that will address the current state of contemporary Latino theater, in a time when cross-cultural understanding has never been more important. Or, follow DESTINOS on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to receive first notice of all festival events.

The second annual DESTINOS 2018 festival is supported by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, The Field Foundation of Illinois, The Joyce Foundation, the Paul M. Angell Family Foundation, The Chicago Community Trust, Choose Chicago, the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, Illinois Humanities, Southwest Airlines, Allstate, ComEd, Wintrust Bank, Corona Extra, Yes Press and Univision Chicago. For more information, visit clata.org or call (312) 631-3112.