Michelle Vest Brings Her Show SOLE SURVIVOR To New York And Albuquerque

After working on “Sole Survivors” for two and a half years, Santa Fe performance artist and author/journalist Michelle Vest will open her heartfelt new play, “Sole Survivors” in New York (June) and Albuquerque (July).
 
Ms. Vest just might have the most topical and relevant show playing in America  this summer.
 
Directed by Tanya Taylor Rubinstein, the show features two of the music industry’s most respected Mariachi Bands, Flor de Toloache (New York) and Mariachi Sonidos del Monte (Albuquerque).
 
“Sole Survivors” is being presented at Stage Left Studio Theatre (438 West 37th Street – between 9th & 10th Avenues) June 3rd through June 7th.
 
The show then moves to the North 4th Theatre (4904 Fourth Street NW, Albuquerque, New Mexico) where it will play from JULY 18th through August 1st.
 
“Sole Survivors” is a no-holds-barred portrait of one avaricious American woman and three desperately determined immigrants who willingly put their lives on the line in their dangerous pursuit of the American Dream.

Inspired by Woody Guthrie’s haunting protest song, Deportee – Plane Wreck at Los Gatos, and drawn from dozens of interviews with documented and undocumented Southwestern migrant workers, Ms. Vest has written a show that bravely examines the desire for a better life as a basic human issue.
 
The flood of human desperation flowing across America’s southern border is at war with the defiant laws put in place by affluent politicians thousands of miles away; invisible men and women who stand in the way of the simple survival of thousands of despondent souls.

No one knows what to do.
 
No one knows how to dam up this river of human desperation.
 
No one knows how to stop the dying in the desert.
 
Michelle Vest thought she would ask the workers themselves. 
 
The answers are riveting; and make for a brilliant show.
 
This is theatre at its most vulnerable and most affective.
 
But isn’t any truthful presentation of human need and want affective ?
 
Yes.

The Sole Survivors are named Juan, Rosalita, Jesus and Maria after the people in Mr. Guthrie’s song that detailed the 1948 crash of a plane that was transporting deported illegal immigrant farm workers from California back to Mexico. 

The entire evening is scored by the music of the acclaimed mariachi bands who serve as the play’s haunting Greek Chorus; and such.

Michelle Vest lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico.  Trained in ballet, her passion for performance developed primarily while studying expressive arts therapy at the Tamalpa Institute, Kentfield, CA. There she discovered the joy of story-telling through improvisation, cultivating a strong somatic awareness, inviting and allowing stories to arise from a deep physical presence and experience.  "Sole Survivors" was developed during a year-long solo performance workshop led by Tanya Taylor Rubinstein of Project Life Stories, and is based on interviews Ms. Vest conducted with both documented and undocumented workers from Mexico and El Salvador, combining her photo-journalistic background and performance experiences. 

Mireya Ramos (Violin/Guitar/Vocals). Former member of San Juan Children’s Choir, founding member of Movimiento Latin Band and Flor de Toloache Mariachi. Recordings: El Velcro (El Album), Chris Rock (Never Scared). Played with: Grammy-nominated Jazz pianist Omar Sosa, New York’s Rhythm Republik , El Prodigio, Chucho Valdez, Rhen, Kevin Buho Jones and 10th World, Shae Fiol, Rhen and Bilal..
 
Shae Fiol (Guitar/Flute/Vocals). A Portland, Oregon native who found her way to Brooklyn. Founding member of Flor de Toloache Mariachi. Recordings: Shae Fiol. Played with: Van Hunt, Dwele, Esthero, Les Nubians, Talib Kweli, and Shu.
 
Veronica Valerio (Harp/Violin/Vocals). Born in the Yucatan Peninsula. Studied at Veracruz Fine Arts. Former member of Juventud Sonera. Recordings: Mauricio Diaz. Plays with Sinhue Padillo, Grupo Jarana Beat, “Rockola de Cantina" (Music Project featuring traditional Mexican music) Teaches: Song and movement to children with bass player Josh Levine. 

Mariachi Sonidos del Monte (Sound s of the Mountain) was formed in 2008.  While the group
is newly established, most of its members have been playing mariachi music for more than a decade.    With a variety of violins, trumpets, guitars, a guitarron, a vihuela, and a range of ten harmonic voices, this group is quickly becoming a New Mexico favorite.   Mariachi Sonidos del Monte plays traditional Mexican favorites, but is also renowned for its unique sound. All of the members grew up in New Mexico and are proud to show off their culture through their musical talents as they share their Hispanic pride during each and every performance.  They are:  Raul Duran (Violin),  Sean Trujillo (Violin),   Anthony Ortiz (Violin),    Santiago Romero (Guitar),  Fernando Romero (Guitarron),  Rachel Miller (Vihuela),   Christina Gomez (Guitar),  Brandie Duran (Violin),  Eric Ortiz (Trumpet),  Nikki Branchal (Trumpet).

Owned and operated by Artistic and Managing Director, Cheryl King, Stage Left Studio Theatre is the only solo show repertory theatre in New York City.
 
The North 4th Theatre is located within the North Fourth Art Center, a contemporary art center
with a social mission whose independent nonprofit name is VSA arts of New Mexico (VSA NM)
and is affiliated with The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC.  
The center is dedicated to full accessibility in the arts for people of all abilities, ages, cultures and income levels.

Since 1981, the Center has focused on providing arts education and exhibition opportunities
for adults with developmental disabilities.  Over the years the VSA Day Arts Program has grown from serving three to five individuals each day to serving a total enrollment of nearly 200.   Day Arts offers visual and performing arts classes in everything from Clay Building and Introduction to Sewing, to Native American Art and Musical Theater.
 
Stage Left Studio is located at 438 West 37th  Street ( btw: 9th & 10th Avenues) NYC, NY.

Tickets are $18 and are availabe on www.smarttix.net or by calling 212-868-4444.
 
The show will be performed on Wednesday, June 3rd, Thursday, June  4th, Friday, June 5th, Monday, June 8th, at  8:00pm and Sunday June 7th  at 7:00pm.

North 4th Theatre is located at 4904 Fourth Street NW, Albuquerque, NM.

Tickets are: $15.

For more information, visit http://www.vsartsnm.org/ or phone 505-345-2872.
 
The show will be performed Friday, July 17th, Saturday, July 18th, Friday, July 24th, Saturday, July 25th, Friday, July 31st, Saturday, August 1st at 8:00pm.

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