Azuka Theatre & Teatro del Sol presents
All My Mothers Dream in Spanish
(Todas Mis Madres Sueñan en Español)
By AZ ESPINOZA
Starring *TAYSHA MARIE CANALES, CIANNA CASTRO, KEILA CORDOVA, ANSSUMANE SILLA
Scenic Designer MARIE LASTER
Lighting Designer J. DOMINIC CHACON
Costume Designer TERESA MILLER
Sound Designers LARRY D. FOWLER, JR. & ADIAH D. HICKS
Properties AVISTA CUSTOM THEATRICAL, LLC.
Production Manager LAUREN TRACY
Production Stage Manager HUNTER SMITH
Directed by JOSÉ AVILÉS
Movement Direction by KEILA CORDOVA
World Premiere MARCH 1 - 19, 2023
CAST
Keila Cordova.……………………..Maria Consuela +
*Taysha Marie Canales…….….Maria Soledad +
Cianna Castro………………………Camilla Marie +
Anssumane Silla…………………..Percussion
+ All 3 actors appear as Guiomar
There will be NO intermission.
We are unable to re-seat patrons who leave the theater during the performance.
Please turn OFF all electronic devices prior to the performance.
Photography or recording of this production, including cell phones, is strictly prohibited.
LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The land upon which we gather is part of the traditional territory of the Lenni-Lenape, called “Lenapehoking.” The Lenape People lived in harmony with one another upon this territory for thousands of years. During the colonial era and early federal period, many were removed west and north, but some also remain among the continuing historical tribal communities of the region: The Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Tribal Nation; the Ramapough Lenape Nation; and the Powhatan Renape Nation, The Nanticoke of Millsboro Delaware, and the Lenape of Cheswold Delaware. We acknowledge the Lenni-Lenape as the original people of this land and their continuing relationship with their territory. In our acknowledgment of the continued presence of Lenape people in their homeland, we affirm the aspiration of the great Lenape Chief Tamanend, that there be harmony between the indigenous people of this land and the descendants of the immigrants to this land, “as long as the rivers and creeks flow, and the sun, moon, and stars shine.”
– We thank the Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Tribal Nation for sharing this statement.
The Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape are still here! Get to know them and show your support at www.nlltribe.com.
OUR NAME
Azuka Theatre Founder, Raelle Myrick-Hodges named the company after her niece, Jane Azuka, and to honor the strong community in which she was raised. The name Azuka is from the Nigerian word meaning “strength of foundation.”
DRAMATURGICAL NOTES ON TIME, PLACE & LANGUAGE
Language is the key to accessing the world of All My Mothers Dream in Spanish. But language in this context can mean many different things. Music, movement, dreams, rituals, dance, and, yes, words all work together to show us the nuances of communication, the way the sway of our bodies combines with the words we speak and offers a bridge between ourselves and others. This bridge extends in both directions–between ourselves and those with whom we are in contact, bringing us together at a point in the middle where understanding and empathy are within reach. Indeed, traveling that bridge is at the heart of human experience because it determines not only the direction of our lives, but also the settings in which we create a home. If ever you find yourself feeling daunted by language in this play, remember there are myriad ways to find meaning in the interactions between these women. The way they move, the way they dress and, especially, the haunting music that accompanies their steps will assist you in recognizing their intentions. We each carry inside of us a secret language all our own, one that we often keep concealed from everyone except the people in our lives that we love or need or trust the most; in this play, that hidden language is brought to the surface, allowing us as an audience to have true access to the characters and the powerful emotions that shape their lives. We are, in effect, walking alongside these women as they travel that bridge of communication, revealing themselves in a touch or a glance or a delicate movement. Their most essential language isn’t English or Spanish or anything that relies exclusively on words to make meaning; instead, like all of us, it's the smaller gestures that illuminate their relationships and the deepest desires of their hearts. By paying attention to these gestures, the world of the play will be revealed to you in a full and magical way.
In 1552, Miguel de Buría, a Black man born in what is known as Puerto Rico, established a new nation within the country of Venezuela, staging the first successful African rebellion there. He established a royal lineage with his wife, Guiomar. The nation lasted for two years before being overcome by the colonizing Spanish. Miguel and his wife Guiomar have persisted as folk heroes in the Afro-Venezuelan community. When watching this performance, it’s important to know that Guiomar is a fact-based historical figure. It is also important to know that there were countless other people just like Guiomar throughout the Spanish speaking African Diaspora, who have begotten hundreds of thousands of descendents. This play is for all of them, and for this reason there is no specific country where it takes place. This play takes place in a time similar to our own, where Black people are searching for ways to live liberatory lives in the face of systemic inequity and state violence. This play takes place in a world where, like our own, Black people have turned to the spirit world of their ancestors–cosmologies governed by the Yoruba orishas, to look for possible ways forward. While the people in this play turn towards these spirits, the rituals they perform are their own–specific to the world of the play, and the imagination and offerings of the creative team. As Octavia Butler writes in Wild Seed, “You cannot know how well people’s bodies remember their ancestors.” This play is a remembering of things never known. An offering in the face of rupture and erasure.
CAST
Click on the headshots to read artist bios
CREATIVE TEAM
STAFF & CREDITS
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Lee Porter - President
Dustin Dove - Vice-President
Rosie McNamara-Jones - Treasurer
Larry D. Fowler, Jr. - Secretary
Jonathan V. Edmondson
Kimberly Engel
Kate Meredith Esposito
Kevin Glaccum
Gianluca Savenije
Steven Wright
We’re looking to grow our Board! Want to know more?
AZUKA THEATRE COMPANY MEMBERS
Artistic Director - Rebecca May Flowers
Artistic Director - Reva Stover
Executive Director - Kevin Glaccum
Marketing & Patron Services Director - Mark H. Andrews
Resident Dramaturg for New Pages - Quinn D. Eli
PR Representation - Kory Aversa / Aversa PR & Events, LLC
FRONT OF HOUSE
House Manager - Jessica Merkins
Box Office Managers - Kassidy Carlese, Lucas McLean, Abby Toll
Box Office Staff - Victoria Crenshaw; Marc D. Johnson, Jr.; Caroline Juelke; Asher Lentz; Bryanna Martinez-Jimenez; Brittany Onukwugha; Talia Speak
PRODUCTION CREW & CREDITS
Assistant Stage Manager - Margaux Cattelona
Technical Director - Joe Daniels
Assistant Production Manager - Jackie Tracy-Cowles
Assistant Technical Director - Peter Nicholls
Master Electrician - Andrew Cowles
Audio Engineer - John Kolbinski
Carpenters - Dylan Bickhart, Noah Mannix, Sam Roff
Scenic Painters - Annemarie Branco, Fen Jeeters
Electricians - Noah Mannix, Josh Samors
Drafter - Josh Samors
Media Relations - Aversa PR & Events
Production Photographer - Johanna Austin, AustinArt.org
Graphic Design - Mark H. Andrews & Derek Carnegie
Website Design - PIC Designs
Printing - Quaker Printing
SPECIAL THANKS
Villanova University, Jacob Rothermel, Amber Puggy Galore (Associate Cuteness), Eriksen Translation, Paloma Irizarry, Movimiento Afrolatino Seattle, The HATCH Residency
THANK YOU TO OUR DONORS!
If your name has been omitted or misprinted, please accept our apologies and kindly notify us by contacting Kevin Glaccum at 215.563.1100
Thanks to the following funders for their generous organizational and programmatic support:
∞ RAD, Recurring Azuka Donor
FOUNDATION SUPPORT
National Endowment for the Arts • William Penn Foundation • The Wyncote Foundation • Independence Foundation • MKM Foundation • Philadelphia Cultural Fund • Lida Foundation • Dolfinger-McMahon Foundation • Lindback Foundation • CHG Foundation • PECO Charitable Giving Program • Virginia Brown Martin Fund
CORPORATE SUPPORT
Harmelin Media • National Philanthropic Trust • MAC Capital Partners, Inc.
PRODUCERS CIRCLE
NEW PLAY PRODUCTION HONORARY PRODUCER ($5,000+)
Dr. Joel & Mrs. Bobbie Porter • Robin & Patrick Tracy
ARTISTIC PRODUCER ($1,000 - $2,499)
John & Fern Culhane • David Fedor • Karen & David Jones • Marta Nolan-Alley • David Schlessinger • ∞Andi Sheaffer • Paulette Singleton • Gayel & David Smith • Lee van de Velde • Jean Weaver
ASSOCIATE PRODUCERS ($500 - $999)
Robert & Mary Anne Andrews • Thomas Carragher • ∞Kimberly Engel • ∞Kevin Glaum • Drs. Ken & Julie Kendall • ∞Kevin M. Lyons • Lyndsey & Kevin McCormick • Stephen & Janet Mullin • Michael Norris & Matt Varrato • Lee Porter • Commodore & Missus Tettemer • ∞David J. Wierz
INDIVIDUAL SUPPORT
IDEALIST ($100 - $499)
∞Patreshettarlini Adams • Wally Andersen • Marilyn & John Anthony • Johanna Austin • Harry Bambrick • Susan Barth • Christopher Baughman • ∞Jay & Nancy Berkowitz • Ian & Ryane Beutler • Nancy Boykin & Dan Kern • Rebecca Bradbeer • Sean Bradshaw & Eric Gartenberg • ∞Ivy Brock • Monika Burke • David Bushnell • Karl Carter • Peilin Chen • Phyllis Cohen • ∞Danielle Dilks • ∞Edward Dilks • ∞Rebekah Doyle • Jonathan V. Edmondson • ∞Heather E. Evans • ∞Rebecca May Flowers • ∞Ellen Foley • Dan Gannon • Patricia & Narinder Garg • Greg Gephart • Maureen Glaccum & David Speers • Kathy & Bryan Glaccum • Marie Gottschalk • Laura R. Hamilton • Patricia Haynam • Caren & Stuart Hosansky • Nick Ifft & Tom Mendicino • ∞Tom Korman & Ann Kirschner • ∞Kissy Lazo & Andrew Guyon • Daniel & Janelle McGovern • ∞Lisa & Chris McLean • Charlotte Morse • ∞Andrea Nardello • ∞Charlotte Northeast • Joe Rosato • Lisa Semeraro • ∞Heather Smalley • Noreen & Eric Tarr • Patricia Toy • Hannah Vaughn • Deborah Volkmer • ∞John Walber & Julie Slavet • Russ Walsh • Noris Weiss Malvey • Thomas Woodward • Shannon Zura & Meghan Brodie • Companions & Animals for Reform & Equity • Anonymous (10)
REALIST (up to $99)
Natalie Arost • Anna & Fyodor Badkhen • Lena Barnard • Judith Benedict • Matthew Birringer • Meg Blocker • Alan & Sherry Blumenthal • Gail Byrne • Alethia Calbeck • J. Dominic Chacon • John Paul Christy • Marie Conti • Anthony Copa • Michael Dees • Emily Enger • Justin Ennis • Kate Esposito • Courtney Esposito • Elizabeth Esposito • Morgan Everitt • Tony & Sue Faillace • Christina Fels • ∞Robin Fieler • Beck Fleckner & Jed Krivisky • Sasha Geist • William Georgov • Karen Getz • ∞Austin Ginsberg • Grace E. Grillet • Paul & Terry Guerin • Natalie Harris • Tom Helmer • Esther Levine Hornik • Mira Jackson • ∞Lisa Johnson • Elizabeth Kean • James Kirby • Sharon Kling • Dave Levinsky • Margaret Lonzetta • MaryAnne Lyons • KC & Eric MacMillan • Stephen Mandato • Tim Martin • Sabina Mauro & Gerald Roche • Christopher McCarrick • Suzy McKeaney • Lucas McLean • Kat McLellan • Shawna McMenamin • Patrick McParland • Robert Mikita • Dash Miller • LaNeshe Miller-White in honor of Ollie Miller • Stacy Moore • Larry & Maureen Mullin-Fowler • Michele & Leah Murray • Barbara Nardi • Brian Papendick • Stephen Platt & Robin Schaufler • Sam, Nora & Willa Quinn • ∞Kathleen R. • Ivan Rodden • Margarita Saona • ∞Brittany Schmitke • Andy Scott & Bryna Silver • Shirley Smith • Nina Soloner • Caitlin Speers • Arin Sullivan & Taylor Lawrence • Mary Ann & Cary Toner • Agnieszka Tuszynska • Lucinda Underwood • Joy Wadleigh & Richard Hudson • CB Waters • Bob Weinberg & Eleanor Wilner • Travis Whitaker • Douglas Williams • Anonymous (15)
*The noted Actors in this production are members of Actors’ Equity Association, the union of professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.