Photo Flash: VIVA DON JUAN at Miracle Theatre

Every fall, the dead are commemorated in a lively show of dance, music and theatre in Portland's longest-running Day of the Dead celebration. This year's story is set in the late 1800s, just prior to the Mexican Revolution, when the working people stood up to the rich landowners and demanded their fair share. In the zócalo, or town square, a troupe of poor actors has arrived to present its annual street theatre production of Don Juan Tenorio (a play that has since become a Día de los muertos tradition in Mexico and one of the most produced plays in Spain). But amidst the actors' preparations enters the spirit of Don Juan himself, quite upset that no one has remembered him on this special day. How will he enjoy the pleasures of life again if no one has built him an ofrenda (altar) filled with his favorite things? The world's most devilish romantic blames the play for presenting him in such an unfavorable light, and he begins to intervene with the show, plotting to change the ending! In the end, will Don Juan discover a new perspective on life, love and second chances?

CAST (updated)
James Peck ... Don Juan
Sara Fay Goldman ... Isabela
Nurys Herrera ... Margarite
Sofia May Cuxim ... Brigida
Enrique E. Andrade ... Calixto
Matt Volner ... Guillem
Sarah Peters ... Fifi

PRODUCTION TEAM
Olga Sanchez ... Director
Hal Logan ... Musical Director/Sound Designer
Mark Haack ... Scenic Designer
Dug Martel ... Lighting Designer
Maria Ferrin ... Costume Designer/Choreographer
Sarah Lydecker ... Prop Master
Lisa Coye ... Dramaturge
Gavin Hales ... Stage Manager
Rebecca Lewis ... Carpenter
Wailana Kalima ... Sound Technician
Sylvia Malán and Sarah Hinds ... House Managers
Dañel Malán, Tim Krause, Robert Dell, José E. González and Kenneth Aaron ... Artcard Artists
Olga Sanchez ... Artistic Director, Miracle MainStage
José E. González ... Executive Director

ABOUT THE DIRECTOR
Olga Sanchez is the Artistic Director of Miracle MainStage. Last season she directed El Quijote and Canta y no llores, Miracle's 2009 Day of the Dead celebration. Favorite directorial projects for Miracle Theatre Group include: García Lorca's Bodas de sangre (in the original Spanish), Nilo Cruz's Lorca in a Green Dress (Drammy Award, Excellence in Direction), Dañel Malan's Frida, un retablo, the premieres of Joann Farías' The Road to Xibalbá, Rubén Sierra's When the Blues Chase Up a Rabbit and Quiara Alegría Hudes' The Adventures of Barrio Grrrl!. She is a founding member of Los Porteños writers group, and her work was most recently published in the Rio Grande Review. Olga is the creator of Posada Milagro, a community-based holiday program; and Cuentos y Teatro, Miracle's Spanish-language children's acting camp. She holds a BA in Theatre from Hunter College, CUNY, and a Masters in Human Development from Pacific Oaks College NW, with specialization in Bicultural Development.

ABOUT THE SPONSORS
This production is sponsored by the Consulate of Mexico in Portland.

Miracle Theatre Group's 2010-2011 season is funded in part by Meyer Memorial Trust, Oregon Arts Commission, National Endowment for the Arts, Regional Arts & Culture Council and Work for Art, Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, Kinsman Foundation, Collins Foundation, James F. & Marion L. Miller Foundation, Juan Young Trust, Shubert Foundation, El Hispanic News and El Centinela.

The restaurant sponsor for the opening night of this production is La Bamba.

ABOUT MIRACLE THEATRE GROUP
The Miracle Theatre Group has been dedicated to bringing the vibrancy of Latino theatre to the Northwest community and beyond for more than 25 years. In addition to its national tours, Miracle provides a home for Spanish and Latin American arts and culture at El Centro Milagro, where it enriches the local community with a variety of community outreach projects and educational programs designed to share the diversity of Latino culture. For more information about the Miracle Theatre Group, visit www.milagro.org or call 503-236-7253.

Photo by Russell Young

James Peck

James Peck and cast

Matt Volner and Sofia Max-Cuxim

James Peck and Nurys Herrera