Highly Recommended **** The 1st Chicago International Latino Theater Festival is here! Unlike the Goodman Latinofest of recent years, the Festival brings us productions from far and wide, some “solo” performances, some full scale productions. The schedule for this festival can be found at www.CLATA.org.
This evening, I watched a “solo” performance at the Richard Christiansen Theater, at Victory Gardens, entitled “Growing up Gonzales” starring Andres “Chulisi” Rodriguez, an 85 minute performance depicting the story of two brothers. Being a one man production, he plays Johnny Gonzales, who is cleaning up the apartment of his “little brother” Cisco, who has just passed away . As he moves about the flat, he finds things that remind him of their lives together and personal notes that Cisco had written, a sort of diary, where his true feelings came out.
The brothers were almost 10 years apart in age, making them brothers, not friends. During Johnny’s reading of these papers and the memories that come back from them, representing the simple innocence of the younger Cisco, Johnny allows himself to dig deep into his own heart and soul and deal with the healing process that he was afraid to face.
This is a limited run- October 12th- 15th
performances Friday 8 p.m.
Saturday 8 p.m.
Sunday 2:30 p.m.
There is also a matinée on Friday the 13th at 10:00 a.m.
Tickets are general admission $25- seniors and students $20
Call 773-871-3000
Other festival shows remaining:
Chicago Shakespeare Theater – “Amarillo” ( I will be reviewing) 10/17- 10/29 at the new venue The Yard at Chicago Shakespeare 312-595-5600
www.chicagoshakes.com/amarillo from $25
Victory Gardens- “Ashes of Light” presented by Urban Theater Company 773-871-3000 10/19 thru 10/22 $20 and $25
Victory Gardens Theater “Fade” 10/26 thru 10/29 a Teatro Vista presentation www.teatrovista.org
Storyfront Theater, located at 4346 S. Ashland Avenue “Meet Juan(ito) Doe 10/26- 10/28
a 75 minute World Premiere Tickets are NO CHARGE, but donations suggested
The Cuban production “The Mirror” that was to have played at Steppenwolf’s 1700 Theatre has been cancelled due to visa problems
The Columbia production, “Miss Julie” will be presented at Steppenwolf’s 1700 Theatre October 26- 28th all 312-335-1650
To see what others are saying, visit www.theatreinchicago.com, go to “Destinos”
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