Oregon Children's Theatre presents TOMAS & THE LIBRARY LADY

Some relationships are so special they have the power to change lives forever. Tomás, the son of migrant workers, spends long, hot days in the fields harvesting crops. But when he meets a kind librarian, she helps him find escape from the heat in the form of thousands of books. Soon his imagination takes off and Tomás discovers a surprising world filled with dinosaurs, tigers, and limitless possibilities. Through the magic of theater and songs, this heartwarming story illustrates the power of imagination, self-respect, and positive encouragement.

Tomás & the Library Lady is a play with both Spanish and English based on the inspiring true story of Mexican-American author and educator, Tomás Rivera. Adapted from the beloved book by Pat Mora, the play shows the unique bond that forms when a boy and a librarian share a love of books. "In many ways, this friendship is remarkable," said Director Rebecca Martínez. "It illustrates how possible it is that two seemingly different people can share similar values and interests. The Library Lady opened her heart up to this small boy and that act of generosity impacted his life forever." Tomás Rivera went on to become a well-known author and the chancellor of the University of California, Riverside. Throughout his life, he was a strong advocate of the power of education for Mexican-Americans.

Tomás became excited about reading as he experienced the imaginative world of stories in the library. "There is so much rich imagery in this world and we are looking to find different ways to share this, through music, song, dance, movement, projected images, and mask work, as well as finding ways to authentically connect to Mexican culture," said Martínez.

The themes in Tomás & the Library Lady are very timely with what is currently happening in the U.S. "Tomás is the US born son of Mexican parents whose families fled war in Mexico," said Martínez. "Their story is similar to many stories throughout the US, families who come to the US fleeing violence or war, people who want a good life for their families and do so by working in the fields to pick the food we eat, people whose existence in this country has been made precarious by the current administration. Fear is a primary motivator for so many people's actions in this country. One way to combat that fear is to build empathy. One way to build empathy is to tell stories that demonstrate an alternative to fear."

The play will also tour in the fall of 2017, visiting rural and underserved communities throughout Oregon. This tour will help advance OCT's vision of broadening access and inclusion to all communities. According to OCT's Managing Director, Ross McKeen, "One of our top goals is to remove barriers that keep too many children from accessing creative experiences." OCT is thrilled to have the opportunity to bring Tomás & the Library Lady with its unique language, cultural, and literacy components to these communities who might not otherwise have the opportunity to see such work.

The cast features Marcelino Lauren Hernandez as Young Tomás, Daniel Lazcano-Villanueva as Enrique, Carlos Manzano as Florencio/Papa Grande/Adult Tomás, Kate Mura as The Library Lady, and Alex Leigh Ramirez as Josefa.

The creative team includes: Rebecca Martínez (Director), Kaye Blankenship (Scenic Designer), Sarah Gahagan (Costume Designer), Rose Etta Venetucci (Lighting Designer), Rodolfo Ortega (Composer & Sound Designer), and Sarah Andrews (Props Master). Book by José Cruz González.

Before Every Performance: Come a little early for a pre-show activity

Following Every Performance: Meet the cast, take photos, and get your playbill autographed!

Saturday, April 1st, all shows: First Timer/First Saturday. $5 tickets for children attending theater for the first time. See www.octc.org for details.

Sunday, April 2nd and April 23rd: Grandparent Day. Join us for special senior (age 62+) ticket prices on the first and last Sunday of each show. Tickets are only $11 - $21.

Saturday, April 8th, 2:00 pm: Interpreted performance in American Sign Language.

Saturday, April 8th, all shows: Scout Day. Tickets for Girl and Boy Scouts are discounted 25%. Fun patches are available for sale for $2 each (order in advance!).

About Oregon Children's Theatre

Founded in 1988, Oregon Children's Theatre has served well over two million children, teachers, and families. Its mission is to create exceptional theater experiences that transform lives. OCT is Oregon's largest non-profit professional children's theater company and a resident company of Portland'5 Centers for the Arts. Performances are held weekdays for school audiences and on weekends for family audiences. OCT serves more than 120,000 children of all ages each year. OCT offers numerous school services including study guides, teacher professional development opportunities, in-school workshops, and an extensive outreach program. In partnership with Kaiser Permanente, the Educational Theatre Program provides free touring productions that promote healthy living. OCT's year round Acting Academy offers theater classes for children ages 3-18 and Young Professionals Company, a mentoring program for teens.

Tomás & the Library Lady is sponsored by Oregon Community Foundation, Oregon Cultural Trust, Oregonian Arts Commission, Josie Mendoza & Hugh Mackworth, Boeing, Umpqua, and The Autzen Foundation. Funding for Oregon Children's Theatre's 2016-2017 season is provided in part by the Shubert Foundation, the Regional Arts & Culture Council, and Work for Art. Oregon Children's Theatre Company receives support from the Oregon Arts Commission, a

state agency funded by the State of Oregon and the National Endowment for the Arts.

TOMÁS AND THE LIBRARY LADY by Pat Mora. Adapted for the stage by José Cruz González. Used with permission of Curtis Brown, Ltd. Copyright © 1997. All Rights Reserved.