The beginning of a new theatre season brings the return of the annual La Luna Nueva, Portland’s only Latino arts and culture festival. This is the sixth year and it runs September 12 through 28 kicking off Milagro Theatre’s 31st season. Since its creation in 2008, La Luna has opened its doors to local and international Latino artists of multiple disciplines and cultural expression.
This year’s events features theatre, poetry, music, complimentary staged readings, a movie night celebrating Cantinflas and visual arts exhibitions.
See the entire schedule on Milagro’s website.
Here are a couple of this year’s highlights:
• Music & Dance: Andean Dreams – Music, dance and legends from the Andes presented in Spanish, English and Quechua, Fri. and Sat. 12, 13 and Sunday Sep. 14, 7:30 pm – A visually-stunning representation of the Andean world from pre-Columbian times to the colonial era, with music and dance inspired by Quechua literature of the ancient Inca Empire, oral tradition and folkloric representations. Poetry by Peruvian poet/composer Omar Aramayo is mixed with popular music from the Andean world transports audiences to the land of Tahuantinsuyo, the largest empire in pre-Hispanic America. Choreography and costumes by Luciana Proaño and musical performances by Chayag.
• Theatre: Sueños de Fútbol – by Ajai Terrazas-Tripathi, Sunday, Sep. 14, 1 pm – A family-friendly bilingual presentation of an entertaining escapade filled with Mayan legend. In this fanciful tale, Candelaria dreams of trying out for the Fútbol team but lacks confidence, so she plays videogames instead. When a giant runaway Hamburguesa pops out of the TV into her living room. She follows it through the flat-screen and into her videogame and a great adventure in La Tierra de los Sueños.
• Free Movie Night Celebrating Cantinflas • Bilingual – Thursday, Sep. 18, 7 pm, Spanish with subtitles in English – A screening of one of many classic films featuring the beloved Mexican comedian/producer/writer/singer from the Golden Age of Mexican cinema.
Milagro Theatre is at 525 SE Stark St. at www.milagro.org. Admission prices vary; several events are free. All ticket events are reserved seating. The entire program is online as well as ticket information at www.milagro.org or 503.236.7253.