RILA and Trinity Rep’s bilingual adaptation of Don Quixote runs July 15 – 28 

Rhode Island Latino Arts (RILA), in association with Trinity Repertory Company, announces the seventh year of its bilingual community theater program Teatro en El Verano (Theater in the Summer). This year’s production is La Mancha, translated and adapted by Brown/Trinity Rep alum Marcel Mascaró and directed by RILA Artist-in-Residence Catia. The production runs July 15 – 24 at La Galería de Pueblo in Central Falls, with a final performance on July 28 at The State House Lawn in Providence. All performances are free, open to the public, and appropriate for all ages. More details can be found at trinityrep.com/lamancha. 

“It’s good to be back working alongside Trinity Rep and providing bilingual performances for our Latino audiences after two years online,” RILA Executive Director Marta V. Martínez said. “Hosting the shows at La Galería del Pueblo is a significant step as we continue to build RILA’s theatrical programs, and we’re pleased that Trinity Rep will continue to offer their resources.” 

ABOUT THE SHOW 

Don Quixote loses himself inside his books, but desperately yearns for the adventure he reads in his stories of knighthood. To the dismay of his family, he sets off to make his imagination a reality with the help of his next-door neighbor, Sancho. Wrapped in tin foil with his loyal “squire” Sancho at his side, they go on a journey unlike any Don Quixote could have imagined. As the story unravels, families find themselves on the precipice of discovering something they thought they had lost long ago. 

Teatro en el Verano originally planned to stage an adaptation of Don Quixote in the summer of 2020, and later in the summer of 2021, but these were delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, excerpts from the script were performed virtually via Zoom. La Mancha is the in-person culmination of over two years of work. 

“Multiverses are part of the zeitgeist right now, with that in mind I’d say I’ve seen La Mancha in every timeline and universe possible,” Director Catia said. “La Mancha has been in the works for many years now, since before COVID, and I have always been attached to the project in one capacity or another.  So when I got approached this year to direct, I said yes because this universe will get it La Mancha! With this timeline being plagued with COVID, a lot of projects and stories have not received closure, but I’m very excited to say Don Quixote will finally get his.” 

Catia is a RILA artist-in-residence and a Burbage Theatre Company resident artist. At Trinity Rep, she recently appeared as Rosaura in Sueño. She will work with a creative team including Daria-Lyric Montaquila (assistant director), Jaimy Escobedo (costume designer), Polly Feliciano (production manager), and Alex Tawid Di Maggio (stage manager). The cast also consists entirely of local Latinx actors, including Jordan William Cardona, Leandro “Kufa” Castro, Alexander Crespo-Rosario, Nina Giselle, Victor Machado, Ayrin Ramirez Peguero, and Marina Tejada.  

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE 

Admission is free and no registration is required.  

Friday, July 15 

Saturday, July 16 

Sunday, July 18 

Friday, July 22 

Saturday, July 23 

Sunday, July 24 

Thursday, July 28 – special performance at The State House Lawn in Providence 

For a Spanish-language version of this release, please contact Marta V. Martinez at marta@rilatinoarts.org. 

RHODE ISLAND LATINO ARTS 

Rhode Island Latino Arts (RILA) is the state’s oldest Latino arts and culture nonprofit organization that celebrates the art, history and heritage of Rhode Island Latinos. RILA is made up of a network of Latino arts organizations, individual artists and projects and advocates for inclusion and the building of bridges between Latinos and non-Latinos. Since 1992, RILA has organized and promoted local activities around National Hispanic Heritage Month every year from September 15 – October 15. For more information, visit www.rilatinoarts.org.