“When the community saw their own struggles reflected back to them, trust was developed, and they began to share their experiences in public dialogues. This process led to the recruitment of community residents as actors, dissolving the barriers between actor and audience, educator and resident.”
–from Building Movement Project's Making Social Change: Case Studies of Nonprofit Service Providers
Popular Theater
Popular Theater is one of the three components of our Community Engagement work. Learn more about the individual theater pieces we've created. Go behind-the-scenes with documentary films of our work. To order a DVD of any of the videos, contact us.
Theater Productions.
El Llanto de la Madre Tierra/ The Cry of the Mother Earth and Guardianas, Vigilantes: Sembradoras de Valores/ Guardians, Protectors: Cultivators of Values. These compelling new teatros debuted at San José City Hall's 2009 Earth Day celebration and Somos' 2009 Mother's Day, respectively. Contact us for more information and to learn about upcoming performances.
The Super Amigos fanned out across Mayfair in their eye-popping costumes to champion the 2008 Latino vote! Created together with our Civic Action program. Watch the video.- In Somos Mujeres, Somos Vida! (We are Women, We are Life!) Mayfair women face the multiple oppressions they experience as immigrant women, and celebrate the power they have to overcome them. This beautiful teatro debuted at our 2008 Mother's Day event. Watch a 20-minute documentary (2008) about the making of the play. Download the Somos Mujeres, Somos Vida! script.
- Las Tentaciones de Fatanas y Lucifiera (2007) is an original adaptation of a Pastorela. The shepherds must confront the temptations of junk food and consumer culture in order to maintain their health and dignity. Download the Las Tentaciones de Fatanas y Lucifiera script in Spanish. Learn more about our annual Posada and Pastorela event.
In La Dulce Vida y la Amarga Muerte de Pancho Mojado (The Sweet Life and Bitter Death of Pancho Mojado)(2007), the traditional Katrina character humorously, if morbidly, illustrates the root causes of obesity and diabetes, suggesting cultural solutions to health. Download the La Dulce Vida script in English or in Spanish. You can also read an article about the teatro by Aryeh Shell.
- Know your Rights in case of an immigration raid. (2007) Download the Know Your Rights script.
- Beware of Notarios(2007) addresses the realities of unscrupulous immigration aid. Download the Beware of the Notarios script.
- Hasta la Vista, Baby! (See you Later, Baby!) (2004) explores some of the many challenges new immigrants face. Watch a 10-minute video (2006) produced by Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees and Active Voice (2006). Download the Hasta La Vista, Baby! script.
Behind-the-scenes.
The process of creating our popular theater productions is explored in two 2008 videos produced by the UC Santa Cruz Social Documentation Program:
- Somos Mujeres, Somos Vida! (We Are Women, We Are Life!) (20-minutes) documentary about the creation of the original play of the same name by the women of Teatro Familias Unidas. Watch.
- Las Comprometidas (Dedicated Women) (10 minutes) features an interview with two Mayfair mothers about the role of theater in their lives and in building community. Watch.