Borderlands Theater Presents Barrio Stories

30 Minutes speaks with Borderlands Theater producing director Marc David Pinate and scenic designer Wesley Creigh about the upcoming world premier of Barrio Stories, presented by Borderlands Theater. Written by award winning playwrights Elaine Romero, Virginia Grise, and Martin Zimmerman, Barrio Stories is a site-specific, promenade style theatrical event running March 3rd through March 6th.

From the press release:

Staged outdoors on the grounds of the TCC, this theatrical spectacle brings to life the oral histories of  Tucson’s original Mexican American neighborhood demolished with the building of the convention center in the 1960s. Precious memories come to life as audience members take a theatrical tour of what used to be the bustling epicenter of commerce and public celebrations for Tucson’s Mexican-American community (some seating is available.)

Four vignettes with performance installations encountered throughout the plaza culminate in an interactive post show pachanga: featuring folklorico and mariachi youth ensembles with interactive art and audio booths for all ages. No audience member will be turned away if they cannot afford the suggested $10 donation.

Using a cross-sector process – involving anthropologists, historians, youth, theatre makers, and community – the project collected oral histories from elders who remember the area known as Barrio Libre or La Calle – a hub of commerce and community celebrations torn down with the building of the TCC in 1968. Part walking tour, part historical reenactment Barrio Stories aims to appeal to new audiences by breaking theater out of the proscenium box and taking it to the streets. Dr. Lydia R. Otero provided both documentation and inspiration for this project.

Borderlands will re-inhabit the Tucson Convention Center grounds with stories of Tucson’s original Hispanic barrio. We believe in honoring and celebrating that history with the community at large. Barrio Stories aims to populate the TCC with Tucsonans, some of whom have contributed to the performance and others who will interact with the performance during the run of the show. Audience members of all ages will have an opportunity to draw or write their reflections on Tucson history on papel picado inspired banners. We will also audio record and photograph audience reactions to the work in an effort to document this first of its kind event.

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

Outdoors on the grounds of the Tucson Convention Center 260 S Church Ave, Tucson, AZ 85701.

$10 suggested donation (no one turned away for lack of funds) at the entrance. Two entrances: off of parking lot A, Church St. and parking lot C, Granada St. Food for sale!

3/3/16 10am Performance

3/4/16 10am Performance

3/5/16 11am Performance

3/6/16 11am Performance

Barrio Stories is the brainchild of Borderlands Theater producing director, Marc David Pinate. Thanks to a major national grant from Theater Communications Group (TCG), the UA confluence Center, Arizona Humanities and the cooperation of the Tucson Convention Center (TCC), Pinate put together a dream team of designers and artists to bring Barrio Stories to life.More information is available at BarrioStories.org and Borderlandstheater.org.

This interview was recorded and produced by Amanda Shauger