Milagro Announces 33rd Season

Milagro, the Northwest's premier Latino arts and culture organization announces its 2016-2017 season, dubbed Season 33, featuring four world premieres, a national touring production, and a brand-new Spanish-language musical! In Season 33, Milagro explores HOME as the central theme as it continues to provide extraordinary Latino theatre, culture, and arts education for the enrichment of all communities.

In October, the season begins with the 21st annual Día de los muertos celebration called El Muerto Vagabundo, conceived and directed by Artist in Residence Georgina Escobar and inspired by the obituary of a homeless veteran.

In January, Milagro's touring and education program honors the story of Ben Linder and his work in Nicaragua with El Payaso, a bilingual world premiere by Artist in Residence Emilio Rodriguez.

In February, Milagro features Swimming While Drowning by Emilio Rodriguez about two teens living at a homeless shelter for LGBT youth and how spoken word poetry connects them.

In March, Milagro presents the award-winning Lydia by Octavio Solis, a play with deep family secrets and magical realism, directed by El Teatro Campesino's Kinan Valdez.

And in April, Milagro attempts its most ambitious feat ever: a fully-mounted Spanish-language musical! Óye Oyá, created by Rody Ortega and RebeccA Martinez, is inspired by the Cuban zarzuela and Shakespeare's The Tempest. This musical will have easy-to-read English supertitles, so all audiences can enjoy this ground-breaking production.

Also on the schedule are a number of special events, including touring productions of Broken Promises, Super Ana! and the touring premieres of Mijita Fridita and El Payaso, performing at libraries and schools around the Portland metropolitan region; Milagro's annual community Christmas celebration, Posada Milagro; an event series called Salón del Artista, which features a variety of performing and visual artists in an intimate setting. El Centro Milagro will continue to host new exhibitions of work by regional Latino visual artists along with a variety of community meetings and events.

Milagro's Season 33 includes:

El Muerto Vagabundo • Oct 13 - Nov 6, 2016
Conceived & Directed by Georgina Escobar
A Day of the Dead Celebration - World Premiere - Bilingual
Once a year, the dead return to the land of the living to visit their loved ones. This devised production deals with "homeless" muertos and was inspired by an obituary of a homeless veteran without friends and family. This new production explores what happens when a muertito has no family remaining and no home to return to.

El Payaso • Jan 12 - 21, 2017
By Emilio Rodriguez - Directed by Georgina Escobar
National Touring Production - World Premiere - Bilingual
Honoring the late Ben Linder, environmental engineer and clown, this original ecodrama follows the journey of a young Latino heading to Nicaragua for a chance to make a difference. Collaborating with environmental and social justice groups, with red noses and commedia flair, Teatro Milagro will share the value of "think globally, act locally."

Swimming While Drowning • Feb 9 - 25, 2017
By Emilio Rodriguez - Directed by Francisco Garcia
World Premiere - English
When teenager Angelo Mendez decides to leave his home out of fear of further disappointing his homophobic father, he encounters a world he was not prepared for at an LGBT homeless shelter in Los Angeles. Spoken word poetry and teen romance collide in this coming of age story as two homeless teens find inspiration to live life on their own terms.

Lydia • March 16 - April 8, 2017
By Octavio Solis - Directed by Kinan Valdez
Northwest Premiere - English
Milagro presents the 2008 Henry Award winner for Outstanding New Play. The play tells the story of a young girl, Ceci, disabled by a tragic accident, and her caretaker, Lydia, who is the only one with whom Ceci can communicate. An emotionally-charged play of family, secrets, and magical realism.

Óye Oyá • April 27 - May 27, 2017
Created by Rody Ortega & RebeccA Martinez
World Premiere - Spanish Language
An original Spanish language musical inspired by the Cuban zarzuela and Shakespeare's The Tempest. This musical is a journey of love, the power of compassion and forgiveness, and finding home. This musical promises to be the most ambitious production ever seen on the Milagro stage!

Performances begin at 7:30 P.M. Thursdays through Saturdays, and 2:00 P.M. on Sundays at 525 SE Stark Street in Portland. See www.milagro.org for full the full schedule.

Various season ticket packages and individual tickets are available, as well as a variety of discounts for students, seniors, veterans and groups of 15 or more, Work for Art and Arts for All. Subscriptions, single tickets and group reservations are available by calling 503-236-7253 or at www.milagro.org.