Latino play festival 'crosses borders'

Although part of a growing minority in the Midwest, Latino theater productions are uncommon, said graduate student and director Noe Montez. The Bloomington Playwrights Project is addressing this lack of exposure with its Latino-themed season opener.\nBPP, 107 W. Ninth St., will kick off its fall lineup at 8 p.m. Sept. 14 with "Border Lines: A Festival of Plays by Latino & Latina Writers." \nMontez is directing a trio of plays: "Undercurrents" by Elaine Romero, "Farewell to Hollywood" by Guillermo Reyes and "Death on My Mind" by Raul Castillo. The plays will premiere Thursday night, with alternating performances of "S-E-X-Oh!" by Teatro Luna, a Latina female theater company from Chicago.\nBloomington Playwrights Project received a $1,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts for the project. Artistic Director Richard Perez said this grant gave the group the freedom to do things it might not be able to do otherwise.\n"We were able to bring in professional actors from Chicago as well as offset the high costs of putting together an event like this," he said.\nIn addition to outside performers, several IU students are involved with the production. \nMontez said he hopes to educate the audience on Latino culture.\n"(The Latino experience) comes from millions of people coming into this country from a number of Spanish-speaking nations," Montez said. "Don't be fooled by your initial perceptions of what it means to be Latino."\nMontez said he faced several challenges in directing three plays simultaneously.\n"For this project, the biggest challenge that I have had is the problem of working three shows at the same time," he said. "The three shows are so different in their styles that its hard for my brain to shift from one to another." \nMontez said the actors enhanced their skills throughout the short rehearsal process.\nSenior Lauren Steffen, who plays a Filipino Puerto Rican drag queen, said it was the small occurrences during rehearsal that helped build her character.\n"I just add on to previous moments, and they help me to find the overall character, meaning and heart," Steffen said.\nMontez agreed with Steffen that the subtle progressions are the most significant.\n"(Directing is) about little moments -- a new gesture or a new way of inflecting a line that opens up a world of possibilities for an actor," Montez said. "Those are the moments that stand out in my mind most significantly."\nMontez said he enjoys seeing the actors' confidence rise during the rehearsal process.\n"The best part of directing is seeing actors begin to grow into a role," Montez said. "They start to become empowered by their choices, and you can see those moments of self-discovery just oozing out of their pores."\nSteffen felt Montez's approach to directing helped her expand her character.\n"(Noe) pushes us to think and feel, not just run through the motions," Steffen said.\nSenior Jessica Ciucci, who plays Susana Del Fuego in "Farewell to Hollywood," said she felt it was challenging to have a short and sporadic rehearsal schedule. The actors have had a little more than a month to prepare.\n"Since we did not rehearse on a daily basis, there were gaps in our meetings, and when we'd come back to the text, we needed to warm up to the whole ordeal of interacting in character again," Ciucci said. \nMontez said he is happy to share a wide range of Latino theater with Bloomington.\n"Theater productions featuring Latino actors and writers are all too uncommon these days," Montez said. "This is sad news in light of the growing Latino population across the Midwest."\nDespite the lack of Latino arts exposure, Montez is optimistic that "Border Lines" can be enjoyed by a variety of audiences.\n"I hope that the audience enjoys the feast of styles and themes that this festival offers," Montez said. "All four plays are vastly different from one another. There should be something enjoyable for everyone."\nTickets are $15 for general admission and $12 for students and senior citizens for one night of the festival. A Festpass may be purchased for $20 and includes two nights of the festival.