New York City
”Star Trek”’s Robert Beltran directs.
Mariela in the Desert begins performances tonight at CASA 0101 Theater.
The play, from playwright Karen Zacarias, follows Mariela and Jose who were once the golden couple of Mexican artists inner circles. Together they built a family and an artist colony to host friends Diego Rivera, Frida Kahlo, and Rufino Tamayo. But now their daughter has grown up and run away, their friends are too famous to call, and artistic inspiration has been strangled by isolation and lies.
The cast includes Rachel Gonzalez as Mariela Salvatierra, Vance Valencia as Jose Salvatierra, Vannessa Vasquez as Blanca Salvatierra, Randy Vasquez as Professor Adam Lovitz, Denise Blasor as Oliva Salvatierra, and Kenneth Miles Ellington Lopez as Carlos Salvatierra. Robert Beltran directs.
"Love, commitment, creativity, sacrifice and redemption. These are ideas that resonate throughout the play," says Beltran. "It is the story of one woman’s struggle to protect and nurture her children, and to stay true to her husband. In the end she finds redemption through her sacrifice, and frees herself to live a life in creativity."
The creative staff includes Marco Deleon (set designer), Kevin Vasquez (lighting designer), Abel Alvarado (costume designer), Deena Tovar (stage manager).
Performances run through December 11.