Manhattan Glass
Teatro Paraguas presents
Manhattan Glass
a play by Santa Fe native Joey Chavez, based on the true story of his grandparents
directed by Fran Martone, starring Juanita Sena Shannon as Maria, Oscar Rodriguez as Louis, and Elias Gallegos as Anthony
When: Saturday, August at 7:00 pm, Sunday August 27 at 2:00 pm
Where:
UNM-LA in Los Alamos, Student Ctr. Bldg. 2, 4000 University Dr.
How much: “pay-what-you-wish”
Information: 505-603-4232
Teatro Paraguas will present Manhattan Glass by Santa Fe playwright Joey Chavez as part of the first annual Atomic Theatre Festival sponsored by Los Alamos Little Theater in conjunction with UNM in Los Alamos, the Los Alamos Historical Society, the Atomic Heritage Foundation, and Teatro Paraguas.
Manhattan Glass is based on the true story of Mary and Louis Hesch (Chavez’s grandparents) who were both tapped to work on the Manhattan Project in Los Alamos in 1943.
Like many of the scientists and engineers who worked on the Project, the Heschs experienced pangs of conscience in later years. Their two different approaches in dealing with their predicament form the backbone of the play. While much has been written about the men and women of the Project, Mr. Chavez’s play offers an insight into the experiences of the numerous Hispanic participants.
Veteran Santa Fe actors Juanita Sena-Shannon and Oscar Rodriguez play the roles of Mary and Louis, directed by Fran Martone. Both Sena-Shannon and Rodriguez starred in the recent statewide tour of Rudolfo Anaya’s Bless me, Ultima. Sena-Shannon has acted in several Teatro Paraguas productions, including Las Poetisas Amigas and We are Hispanic-American Women...OK?. Rodriguez directed Frida K. and acted in The Ballad of Sucio’s Frog for TP.
Fran Martone directed TP’s 2010 critically-acclaimed production of Parted Waters, by local playwright Robert Benjamin. Rounding out the cast of Manhattan Glass are Nicole Phelps, Elias Gallegos, and Ray Gere, with Jonathan Harrell as understudy.
Joey A. Chavez is a 13th generation Santa Fean who holds an MFA in theatre and is a professional actor, director and playwright and educator. After 15 years at Santa Fe High, he is currently in his first year as the Theatre Department Chair at the newly established New Mexico School for the Arts. 23 of his plays have been produced in theaters nation-wide, including El Pozito and El Baile at the Santa Fe Playhouse and Hard Rain at the Lensic Performing Arts Center.
Performances of Manhattan Glass will take place in Los Alamos and Santa Fe:
Santa Fe: Warehouse 21, 1614 Paseo de Peralta
Friday, August 5 and Saturday August 6 at 8:00 pm
Sunday, August 7 at 2:00 pm
Tickets: $15 general and $12 for seniors and students
Sunday pay-what-you-wish
Reservations: 424-1601
Santa Fe: Teatro Paraguas Studio, 3221 Richards Lane
Friday, August 12 & 19 and Saturday August 13 & 20 at 8:00 pm
Sunday, August 14 & 21 at 2:00 pm
Tickets: $15 general and $12 for seniors and students
Sunday pay-what-you-wish
Reservations: 424-1601
August 7, 2011 marks the 66th anniversary of the dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima.
The play will be presented as part of the Atomic Theatre Festival, a group of three plays by local playwrights based on events in Los Alamos, which will be performed in repertory in Los Alamos and Santa Fe. The other two plays are Body Burden, by Dale Dunn, and Galileo’s Footsteps by Robert Benjamin.
Body Burden, directed by Jerry Ferraccio, will be presented at the Armory for the Arts, 1050 Old Pecos Trail, August 12-14 and 19-21. For more information, please call 505.913.7204 or email SFTheatreGuild@gmail.com
For further information please visit: www.atomicfestival.org or www.teatroparaguas.org
contact: Argos MacCallum 577-2679 <argos@teatroparaguas.org>
Teatro Paraguas