Teatro Milagro Launches Their 2018 National Tour

Inspired by the book Flatland by Edwin Abbott and set in the year 2073 in Tierra Plana, a new nation of squares, walls, and all sorts of boxes, Bi- will break open the boxes of selective classification and raise the question: "What is your 'bi-dentity'?"

Set in a not-too-far-future, the characters of the fictitious Tierra Plana inhabit a place where their individual categories are pre-determined. Four friends, Fig, Noir, Isa, and Hex, are preparing for the day they receive their identity bracelets. Nervous about not fitting in, they escape to the desert and discover the mystery of the past hidden in boxes from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The 2018 world premiere of Bi- is devised and directed by New York-based playwright and director Georgina Escobar, and developed with Dañel Malán and Ajai Terrazas Tripathi through a collection of personal interviews of individuals with dual identities. Infused with poetic narrative, dance movement choreographed by Gabriela Portuguez, and surreal illumination and design, Bi- will examine the spaces in between labels and intersections of identity. Teatro Milagro's touring actors Kenyon Acton, Sierra Brambila, and Justin Charles round out the creative ensemble.

"This piece uses mathematical and geometrical metaphor as well as inspiration from interviews from people in the community to tug at the heartstring that often makes us feel a little too much like 'the other'. Bi- is simply about expansive thinking and it will challenge its audiences to join a ride that could feel strange and foreign, but then again, isn't that what all people who claim a dual identity (bi-nationals, bilinguals, bi-cultural) have to navigate in dealing with a homogeneous society" says Escobar.

Bi- is paired with Teatro Milagro's UNIDAD curriculum in which students take theatrical workshops that address bullying, harassment, and student isolation by focusing on themes of identity, stereotypes, and community support.

Adult tickets in advance start at $27. Discounts are available for seniors, students, and groups. Tickets may be purchased at milagro.org, on the phone at 503-236-7253, or in person at 425 SE 6th Ave, Portland, OR during regular business hours. Show times are Thursday through Saturday evenings at 7:30 PM and Sunday matinees at 2 PM.

The 2018 National tour of Bi- is funded in part with support from Juan Young Trust, Oregon Arts Commission, and the Carpenter Foundation.

About the Creators
Georgina Escobar
Georgina is a playwright from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, currently living in Manhattan. She has translated works for playwrights Anne Garcia Romero and Melinda Lopez, as well as companies and organizations like Writers Theatre (Quixote: On the Conquest of Self Chicago), The Civilians (Brooklyn, NY) and the Latinx Theatre Commons (LTC). Her work has been seen at INTAR, Dixon Place, Exquisite Corpse Company (NY), Aurora Theatre (GA), Milagro (OR), Duke City Rep (NM), ASSITEJ (Copenhagen), and developed at Clubbed Thumb, Lincoln Center Theater, National Puppetry Conference (O'Neill), Marfa Live Arts (TX), and The Lensic (NM). She is the recipient of the National Theatre for Young Audiences Award from the Kennedy Center (2010) and a finalist for the National Latino Playwriting Award (2016). Select writing credits include: The Beacons (INTAR, Marfa Live Arts), All Strings Considered (New York Children's Theatre), El Muerto Vagabundo "Death and the Tramp" (Milagro Theatre); Sweep (Aurora Theatre, Lincoln Center Theater Directors Lab), The Unbearable Likeness of JONES (TMTC Reading NYC, Dixon Place), Ash Tree, winner of The Kennedy Center's National TYA Award (Duke City Repertory, ASSITEJ Festival) and The Ruin (Manhattan Repertory Theatre, Words Afire Festival of New Works). Artistic Development includes Fornés Playwriting Workshop (Chicago, 2017), Clubbed Thumb Early Career Writers Group (NY, 2016/17), Marfa Live Arts (Guest Playwright at 6th Annual Playwriting Workshop), Commissioned Artist (Milagro Theatre, New York Children's Theatre, Duke City Repertory Theatre, Little Globe), After Orlando (Missing Bolts and No Passport), OMPF (INTAR), The Brooklyn Generator, HotInk Festival (The Lark) and Literary Associate, at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center (2011/12). More at www.georginaescobar.com

Gabriela Portuguez
Gabriela Portuguez was born and raised in East Los Angeles, California. Her artistic education developed as a trained dancer/performer in Los Angeles in commercials, live performances and a teacher in professional studios such as Millennium Dance Complex and The Edge. In Portland, her artistic training evolved from working with the WNBA and AFL Dance Industry to choreographer, outreach educator, and business administrator for non-profit performing arts organizations such as White Bird, Milagro, and Profile Theatre. She began her own performing arts Production Company called Latin Groove PDX Productions that incorporates writing, creating, producing, and promoting cultural performing arts. Her motivation in the arts is driven by her personal connection to the community as a bilingual, bicultural female.

Dañel Malán
Dañel Malán co-founded Milagro with her husband, José Eduardo González, and in 1989 she created Teatro Milagro, a bilingual educational program, which tours regionally and nationally. She researches script ideas, works with playwrights, directors, composers, choreographers, and also designs and implements curriculum for K-12 schools, colleges, and community groups. Malán holds a BA in Theatre Arts from UC San Diego and an MS in Curriculum Instruction from Portland State University. Her graduate work focused on a case study of quantitatively documenting improved learning with bilingual arts integration in 8th grade classrooms.

WHEN
January 11 - 20, 2018
Thursday - Saturday at 7:30 PM; Sunday at 2 PM
Thursday, January 11, 7:30 PM - Preview with wine tasting from Coopers Hall
Friday, January 12, 7:30 PM - Opening Night with reception by La Bonita

WHERE
Milagro Theatre, 525 SE Stark Street, Portland, OR, 97214

ADMISSION
Adult tickets are $27 in advance, $32 at the door.
Discount for students, seniors, veterans, groups 15+, and with the Oregon Trail card through the Arts for All program.
Senior tickets are $25 in Advance, $30 at the door.
Student/ Veteran tickets are $20 in Advance, $25 at the door.
Tickets available at milagro.org or 503-236-7253

MORE INFORMATION
milagro.org