News Release

2019 Nuevo Siglo Drama Festival Lineup

Date: March 22, 2019
Contact: Anne Doherty-Stephan, 905-532-7273x124

Chamizal National Memorial Superintendent F. Gus Sanchez announces the performance schedule and lineup for this year’s Nuevo Siglo Drama Festival which includes both traditional Siglo de Oro period works as well as more contemporary works. This year’s Festival will occur on April 6-7 and April 10-13, 2019. Performance times will be at 7 p.m. each evening. Each performance will be followed by a brief question and answer session, moderated by park staff.

Tickets are free and will be available on a first come, first served basis beginning at 6 p.m. with Theater doors scheduled to open at 6:30 p.m. each evening. Please note that each person must be and remain on-site to receive a ticket for that evening’s performance.

Saturday, April 6: A dramatic reading of The Many Deaths of Danny Rosales written by Carlos Morton, presented in partnership with the Theater Department at University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP). This is a Chicano Theater docu-drama based on actual events that transpired in Texas in the mid-1970s and includes strong themes of racism and police brutality still relevant in America today. It tells the story of the shooting of Danny Rosales through flashbacks as multiple witnesses testify at the trial of Sheriff Fred Hall. The reading will be primarily in English with some Spanish interwoven. Run time is 90 minutes.

Sunday, April 7: Also presented in partnership with the UTEP Theater Department, A Bicycle Country follows three Cuban exiles on their perilous journey traveling across the sea on a small raft, courageously seeking personal freedom and reinventing themselves. It is a tale about the triumph of the human spirit over political, social, physical and emotional barriers. Written by Nilo Cruz. The performance will be primarily in English with some Spanish interwoven. Run time is 120 minutes. 

Wednesday, April 10: The University of Massachusetts at Amherst Theater Department presents Wild Thing, the tale of a spirited young woman who faces off against an army of men, outdoing them in multiple feats of strength and daring in an effort to gain the attention of Queen Isabella of Spain, for whom she holds great admiration. Follow her many adventures to see how it all turned out for young Gila. Originally written by Luis Velez de Guevara; translated by Harley Erdman. Presented in English. Run time is 90 minutes.

Thursday, April 11: Estival Producciones of Spain presents Quijote.Feminino.Plural, which follows the coming-of-age adventures of Sanchica, the teenage daughter of Sancho Panza, Don Quixote’s neighbor turned squire.  Watch as these characters explore and create bridges between past and present, fantasy and reality. Play written by Ainhoa Amestoy, based on Miguel de Cervantes’ Don Quixote de la Mancha. Presented in Spanish. Run time is 75 minutes.

Friday, April 12: Morfeo Teatro of Spain keeps us laughing again this year as they present Cómicos, a donde el viento nos lleve, which translates to Actors, Where the Wind Takes Us. This play pays tribute to comedic actors from the Golden Age through the late 20th Century through a diverse repertoire of tales. A collaboration of author Miguel Murillo and playwright, director and actor Francisco Negro of Morfeo Teatro. Presented in Spanish. Run time is 80 minutes.

Saturday, April 13: Efe Tres of Mexico presents El Merolico: Entremeses Bululuados in which a lone actor plays a street hustler or merolico who observes and reflects many faces of human nature for his audiences, most particularly people’s inclination to see only what they want to see. This performance shares three entremeses written by Miguel de Cervantes including: El Viejo Celoso, which tells the tale of a wife’s efforts to teach her jealous husband a lesson; El retablo de las maravillas, which portrays traveling puppeteers trying to show their audience “marvelous things” which aren’t actually there; and La cueva de Salamanca, which tells a story of  infidelity and deception.

We look forward to seeing you at this year’s Festival. For colorful, action-packed photos and more information about the Festival and each night’s performance, including recommended ages for each, please visit our 2019 Nuevo Siglo Drama Festival page. For more information about other events and programming, please visit our website calendar. You can also stay in touch with us on Facebook.