Bilingual "Oya: Call the Storm" at Miracle Theatre in April

Hi everyone,

Just wanted to give you all a heads up about the next bilingual event here at the Miracle Theatre in Portland:

In April, Miracle Theatre Group is pleased to present “Oyá: Call the Storm,” an original, bilingual dance theatre production written and directed by Rebecca Martínez, with choreography by Freila Merencio Blanco and musical direction by Isidro Valor Pérez.

Oyá is a feminine warrior orisha of the Afro-Cuban Yoruba tradition. Like the wind that she commands, Oyá is always changing, always moving, with the power to conjure storms, hurricanes and tornadoes. She is also guardian of the cemeteries, where the underworld orisha Ikú, discouraged by pervasive human corruption, has challenged Oyá to destroy the world. But just as Oyá calls upon her destructive forces of nature, she witnesses humanity in its fullness. Told through heart-felt rhythms of Yoruba influence, the story of Oyá and Ikú unfolds through folkloric Afro-Cuban dance and song that form a colorful language of movement to reach across geographic and linguistic boundaries.

“Oyá: Call the Storm” runs April 4-26, 2008 at the Milagro Theatre (525 S.E. Stark St., Portland). Performances are 7:30 p.m. Thursdays; 8:00 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; and 2:00 p.m. Sundays. Tickets are $18-$20 ($15 for students/seniors with discounts available for groups of 15 or more) from 503-236-7253 or www.milagro.org.

Opening night (April 4) post-play reception compliments of Pambiche restaurant.

There is one preview performance at 7:30 p.m. Thursday April 3, 2008; all preview tickets are only $12.

ABOUT REBECCA MARTÍNEZ (PLAYWRIGHT AND DIRECTOR)

Rebecca Martínez works as an actor, director, singer, dancer and choreographer.  Most recently, she directed Miracle's production of Sonia Flew, the Spanish language presentation of Ardiente Paciencia, and wrote and directed the bilingual production of La Noche Eterna for Miracle's El Dia de los Muertos Festival.  As a playwright, Ms. Martínez has written and created a total of 11 music, dance and theatre productions, 9 of which have been produced by Miracle Theatre.  As a singer, Ms. Martínez has performed with a number of folkloric Cuban and Mexican musical ensembles, and currently sings with the salsa/timba band Aguamiel.  She currently instructs youth in Latin American folkloric dance and performs with her own company, Viva la Cultura!  She is an ensemble member of Sojourn Theatre, and in 2003 she was awarded a Drammy Award for choreography.  Ms. Martínez is a 2006 co-recipient of the Lilla Jewel Award from the MRG Foundation and a 2007 recipient of a Neighborhood Arts Grant from the Regional Arts and Culture Council to create and direct a touring multi-cultural presentation of theatre, dance and music.  Additionally, Ms. Martínez works as the Education and Outreach Director at Artists Repertory Theatre.

ABOUT FREILA MERENCIO BLANCO (CHOREOGRAPHER)

Born in Havana Cuba in 1971 Freila Merencio grew up in her grandfather’s house which also doubled as a cultural center for performers and practitioners of various Afro-Cuban cultural traditions. It was in her grandfather’s professional company “Liberación 75” that she began performing as a soloist.  In 1990 she joined the renowned folkloric group “Raíces Profundas”.  She quickly rose through the ranks to become soloist and later choreographer.  Her tenure with Raíces took her throughout the island as well as tours to France, Germany, Japan, Sweden, Belgium, Nicaragua and Mexico.  In addition to her time with Raíces she managed to take work with the highly popular rumba group Yoruba Andabo as a dancer and back up singer and has worked as an actress in national and international productions.  Freila is a sought after teacher of most forms of Cuban dance from Folklore and Rumba to modern and popular, and has developed an international cadre of faithful students who regularly travel to Cuba to study with her.  Freila is dedicated to passing on the treasures of her Afro-Cuban heritage with the same degree of integrity and quality with which they were given to her.  She looks forward to learning from and collaborating with her colleagues in the US and internationally. 

ABOT ISIDRO VALOR PÉREZ (MUSICAL DIRECTOR)

Isidro Valor Pérez began his career in Cuba in 1984 at the age of 16, studying voice and Afro-Cuban percussion with famed musicians Tata Guines, Panetto Quinto Angel Glez and Changuito.  From 1991 to 2001 he toured internationally as a musician and dancer with Piños Nuevos, during which time the company was awarded 37 distinctive medals, trophies and honors.  Isidro graduated from the Centro Musical Dansario Pro-Dansa de Cuba and the Gran Teatro de la Habana.  Isidro has performed in national festivals and tourism events in Cuba, as well as international festivals in Belgium, Holland, France, Portugal and Spain,

SPONSORS

Miracle Theatre MainStage is supported by U.S. Bank, Allen Family Foundation, Oregon Community Foundation, Oregon Arts Commission, Regional Arts and Culture Council, The Jackson Foundation, La Pantera, El Centinela, Equal Exchange and El Hispanic News. The restaurant sponsor for this production is Pambiche Restaurant.

ABOUT MIRACLE THEATRE GROUP

The Miracle Theatre Group has been dedicated to bringing the vibrancy of Latino theatre to the Northwest community and beyond since 1985. In addition to its national tours, Miracle provides a home for Spanish and Latin American arts and culture at El Centro Milagro, where it enriches the local community with a variety of community outreach projects and educational programs designed to share the diversity of Latino culture. For more information about the Miracle, visit www.milagro.org or call 503-236-7253.

__________________________

Tim Krause, Marketing Director
Miracle Theatre Group
Theater: 525 SE Stark
Office: 425 SE 6th Ave.
Portland, OR 97214
Phone: (503) 236-7253 x113
Fax: (503) 236-4174
www.milagro.org