Astucias por heredar un sobrino a un tío, a commedia dell’arte comedy considered to be one of the first Latin American plays, will perform at Milagro for the first time since its original production in 1792. Be among the first to see this historic piece of Latino theatre produced and performed by the talented artists listed below.
CAST
Enrique Andrade, Don Pedro
Originally from Mexico City, graduated from University of Oregon. Enrique has performed in numerous Milagro productions, most recently Oye Oya. Enrique has performed with Portland Actors Ensemble and Bag & Baggage. Most notably, Enrique performed in Astor Piazzolla’s Maria de Buenos Aires at the Aspen Festival of Music, 3rd Angle Music Ensemble, and with the Lexington Philharmonic. Television credits include TNT’s Leverage (Professor Humberto Garcia). Enrique is known as the Spanish voice of the MAX and a story teller at Portland Story Theater. Enrique is honored to be part of this exciting project.
Yan Collazo, Don Lucas
Actor-Poet, theatre-maker from Bayamón, PR. Has a degree in Drama and Foreign Languages from the University of Puerto Rico and an MFA in Ensemble Based Theatre from Dell’Arte International. He attended workshops at Melt Movement Research in NY and Axis Syllabus in San Francisco, and was invited to participate in the 2017 Mad River Theatre Festival in Blue Lake, CA. He is looking to build a collaboration and work bridge between Puerto Rico, New York, Portland, and CA.
Sara Fay Goldman, Don Emeterio y otros
Bibiana Lorenzo Johnston, Doña Teresa
Originally from Argentina, where I was part of the family theater my whole life. I am lucky enough to keep enjoying my passion for acting here in Portland. At Milagro, I am happy to be part of another play. Thanks to my family, always there with their support.
Carlos Adrian Manzano, Crispín
Carlos is incredibly happy to return to Milagro and participate in this fun adventure. Most recently he was seen in The Caucasian Chalk Circle as part of the ensemble at Shaking the Tree Theatre and in Tomas & The Library Lady as Florencio/Papa Grande at Oregon Children’s Theatre. Other acting credits here at Milagro are: El Muerto Vagabundo (Milo), Into the Beautiful North (ensemble) and Contigo Pan y Cebolla (Anselmito). Carlos thanks and dedicates his work to God and the Universe for showing him what true unconditional love is.
Marian Mendez, Doña Isabel
Marian is thrilled to be part of her third production with Milagro. Previous credits: Contigo Pan y Cebolla and Lydia. Marian’s love for acting led her to leave architecture school in El Salvador and move to the United States. She started acting in short films in Los Angeles before moving to Portland in 2015. You can see her in April at COHO Theater’s production of Luna Gale. She is excited and grateful to be sharing this experience with a wonderful cast that she admires and considers her Portland Family.
Veronika Nuñez, Lucía
Verónika is thrilled to be part of Astucias. This is her 13th Milagro production. Other credits include: Contigo pan y cebolla, Opción, múltiple, and Bodas de sangre (Milagro), Nine (Lakewood Theater), Amelia’s Earhart First Flight (NWCT), and Living Out (Portland Actor’s Conservatory.) Verónika is passionate about education, inclusion, and making our resources more accessible for all. The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry has been her main platform for this work for 17 years. She would like to dedicate this performance to her brother, Dani.
CREATIVE TEAM
Robi Arce, Director
Robi Arce is a physical theatre actor, director, clown, mime and fool that holds an MFA in Ensemble-Based Physical Theatre from Dell’Arte International and a BA in Drama from the University of Puerto Rico. Robi has performed, toured, and lead workshops in Mexico, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, and several cities the U.S. His work is diverse, created through a fusion of styles and fueled by social justice and change. He has worked and collaborated with: The Dell’ Arte Company, Teatro del Sesenta, Oregon Children’s Theatre, Milagro, Y no había Luz, Fox & Beggar Theatre, and Circo Nacional de Puerto Rico. Robi taught theatre in the Colegio Bautista de Caguas, Puerto Rico, for four years, and he has toured with theatrical, circus and educational shows in Puerto Rico and California. Most recently, Robi collaborated with Kaiser Permanente’s Educational Theatre Program as a Teaching Artist in Portland OR.
Blanca Forzan, Scenic Design
Joeanally Gonzalez, Costume Design
Since Joeanally was a child she has always shown interest in the art, crafts and design. She studied fashion design and has a Bachelor’s Degree in Graphic Design from Puerto Rico. Joeanally worked in the Puertorican film industry, until she got a position in the department of Creative Costuming at Walt Disney World®. Here, she was responsible of maintaining high-quality costumes for an array of shows such as: Voices of Liberty, Candlelight, The Festival of Lion King, Finding Nemo the Musical and many others at different parks location. https://joeanag.wixsite.com/arts
Anthony Arnista, Lighting Design
Anthony graduated with an M.F.A in Ensemble Based Physical Theater from Dell’arte International in 2013. This February he will begin a 3 month stint in Australia to work as a venue technician at fringe and comedy festivals. Most recently Anthony designed the lights for Corrib Theatre’s production of Belfast Girls. He is excited to finally work with his schoolmate Robi, may this be the first of many collaborations.
Lawrence Siulagi, Sound Design
Lawrence designed sound for Milagro including Bi–, El Muerto Vagabundo, and Searching for Aztlan; he also designed projections for Oyé Oyá and American Night. Lawrence is an associate artist at Bag & Baggage Theatre where he recently acted in Romeo & Juliet/Layla & Majnun (The Sayyid). He performed a variety of roles while pursuing a Bachelor of Theatre Arts at San Diego State University. Among his favorite roles: Iphigenia in Aulis (King Agamemnon); The Mikado (The Mikado), Waiting for Godot (Pozzo); and A Flea in Her Ear (Carlos Homenides).
Sarah Andrews, Properties Master
Sarah earned her BFA in Acting in 2014 and has lived in Portland since. In 2013, she wrote, produced and directed an original adaptation of “Life is a Dream”, and in 2012, the children’s show “Pearl and the Five-Headed Dragon.” In Portland she has worked with theatre companies including Tears of Joy, Staged!, Imago, defunkt, Lakewood, Valley Rep, Coho, Oregon Children’s Theatre, and is the resident prop designer at Milagro. She has directed Thom Pain (based on nothing) for Crave Theatre, a company she co-founded. Sarah is currently producing Crossing by Reza De Wet and is excited about the future.
Shira Goldeen, Stage Manager
A native of Charlottesville, VA, Shira is thrilled to be back at Milagro stage managing her second production here. She studied Theatre at Virginia Tech where she worked on all things technical and production. Favorite production credits include Guys and Dolls (Live Arts), Exodo (Milagro), Putnam County Spelling Bee, Boeing Boeing (Virginia Tech), and Mary Poppins (PacRep). Shira has a love for all dogs, brussels sprouts, and salsa dancing. Special thanks to Roy for being an amazing mentor and friend in a new city!
Catherine Miller, Board Operator
Catherine is excited to be working on Bi- in January and Astucias in February. This is her first season with Milagro. She recently received a BA in Theater Arts from Portland State University has worked for several different theater companies in the Portland area including Sowelu Ensemble, Stumptown Stages, and Broadway Rose.