DIA DE MUERTOS Celebrates 13th Year at Cleveland Public Theatre

Cleveland Public Theatre (CPT) and Artistas Latinos Unidos proudly present the 13th Annual Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead) Festival in Cleveland's Detroit Shoreway neighborhood on Saturday, October 28, from 11am to 10pm, to take place at Cleveland Public Theatre, 6205 Detroit Avenue in the Gordon Square Arts District.

This free, all-ages event opens at 11am and includes face painting for participants in the afternoon parade, pan de muerto (the traditional Day of the Dead bread), craft workshops and holiday vendors. The main programming kicks off at 3:30pm with a community procession of "Skulls and Skeletons" along Detroit Avenue starting at Cleveland Public Theatre. The festivities will continue through 10pm with live music and performance, Latin food, visual art exhibits and a DJ to cap off the evening.

This time-honored tradition of honoring the ancestors includes a colorful display of altars (ofrendas or retablos) created by local artists, as well as a main altar by Ana Luisa Sanchez and Mark Jenks-a tribute to Frida Kahlo. Sanchez and Jenks, like Kahlo, draw their inspiration from Mexican folk culture. Kahlo, who would have turned 110 this year, was deeply committed to issues of social justice. During a time of such great social and political turmoil, dedicating the main altar to her "seemed apropos," Sanchez said.

The Procession of "Skeletons & Skulls" has returned once again this year, and now requires mandatory registration due to increased popularity. Participants must visit the Eventbrite page: Dia de Muertos Ohio 2017 Celebration / Registration to sign up.

As part of the Día de Muertos activities, the Capitol Theatre is hosting an exclusive FREE showing of Calling Home the Dead (Llamar a los Muertos a Casa). The film provides an authentic look at Día de los Muertos as practiced in Pátzcuaro, Mexico, and has been featured in many Day of the Dead programs across the country and abroad. Doors open at 10:30am; showtime is at 11am. The seating is first come first served, and those in Day of the Dead makeup or attire will receive $1 off popcorn.

"We're deeply proud to partner with frequent CPT guest artist Hector Castellanos and Artistas Latinos Unidos onsite at CPT for the 10th year. Día de Muertos is an important and celebrated neighborhood event which connects to all of our work with Teatro Publico de Cleveland," according to CPT's Executive Artistic Director Raymond Bobgan.

Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead) will be raising funds for victims of the earthquakes in Mexico and the hurricane in Puerto Rico.

ABOUT "DAY OF THE DEAD"

Although its name may sound grim, the Día de los Muertos holiday has its origins in the ancient rituals of Mexico's Aztec Indians and other indigenous tribes of Latin America. An Internet search of "Día de los Muertos" will yield any number of links to web sites explaining and promoting the holiday. But the primary elements of this celebration indicate that the special nature of the occasion is to honor one's ancestors and commemorate beloved ones who have passed. For the Aztecs and others with similar beliefs, honoring and calling upon the ancestors was integrated with harvest festivities, and gathering family to remember past family and friends with fondness and happy memories.

Traditional arts, flowers, food, music, dance and fun are integral to the cultural mix, as are particular items specific to the holiday, such as the altars (ofrendas). Elements of the earth (salt), wind (cut paper decorations, papeles picados), fire (candles) and water are among the items included on some altars. However, the traditions and rituals are widely varied throughout Mexico, Latin America, Spain and other countries. When the Spaniards conquered the New World, the indigenous holiday was commingled and integrated with the Catholic All Saints and All Souls Days.

The image of Catrina, the traditional "Lady of the Dead" goddess of the Aztecs, is a smiling skeleton. However gruesome or scary this or the idea of skulls is to Western culture, for the Aztecs skulls symbolized new life. Multiple colorful sculptures of candy skulls (calaveras) and skeletons (catrinas) are bursting with color and created with lighthearted and funny poses of the living. This deeply spiritual and yet exuberant celebration can often reflect more of an attitude about enjoying a higher level of consciousness and living life to the fullest.

more information, visit Día de Muertos Ohio on Facebook, its web site www.diadelosmuertosohio.com, or call Cleveland Public Theatre (216) 621-2727 x501.

Photo Credit: STEVE WAGNER PHOTOGRAPHY

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