STAGED STORIES: The Live Streamed Series Ep#4-Humor, Hardship, Uncertainty and Dystopian Possibilities

Breath of Fire Latina Theater Ensemble presents

STAGED STORIES: The Live Streamed Series

Saturday, September 19 @ 6pm PST

Ep #4: humor, hardship, uncertainty and dystopian possibilities

An evening of fun, thought provoking, relevant new works, poetry and interviews -  a result of our commitment to holding space for artists in our community. We provide resources to storytell, to workshop, table read, discuss, devise, perform, and more.  Our  episodes involve over thirty BIPOC artists and the numbers keep growing. Many of the pieces have gone on to be fully realized productions for other festivals and theatres. Warning: episode may contain strong language and mature content.

More info or RSVP: www.breathoffire.org

LA TORMENTA DE AYER by Ruth Veronica Madrid

Directed by Melanie Queponds

Starring: Lorena Diaz and Leslye Martinez

THE ASSIGNMENT written & performed by Susanne Piendo

Directed by Sara Guerrero*

RECUERDOS DEL VALLE LERMA written & performed by Amilcar Jauregui~

QUARTER LIFE CRISIS written & performed by Ayanna Mehta

With poet: Jessica Delgado reading BOOM, VIDAOBSCURA, BAD GIRLS IN BLACK

AND Special viewing of “WE ARE MORE” music video with Taylor Fagins~

Hosted by Lorna Silva.*  Q & A to follow with artists moderated by Diana Burbano*, ensemble’s literary director.

Produced by: Victoria Yvette Zepeda*~and Santi Sámano*

Graphic by: Ruth Veronica Madrid

Original music by Moises Vázquez*

Advisor/ Founding Artistic Director: Sara Guerrero*

*Breath of Fire Ensemble

~Brown Bag Theater Company Alumni or Ally

In solidarity with supporting local Black and Brown organizations, Breath of Fire is partnering with Brown Bag Theater Company at UC Irvine. Brown Bag Theater Company is an ensemble of artists & scholars who aim to produce equally engaging & captivating artistic work that reflects & empowers the Latinx communities. They create various opportunities for young Latinx individuals, and our allies, within the performing arts. At BBTC, they believe that the discipline of theatre is a cultural force capable of transforming our community and they bolster this belief whilst celebrating the richness & pride of Latinx culture.

Breath of Fire has been a neighbor, friend and collaborator with Brown Bag Theater Company since 2007. Through our free workshops and community engagement events in Orange County, it is our hope that we continue to foster and support the growth of  BIPOC artists and scholars by supporting Brown Bag Theater Company in their future endeavors for the upcoming school year.

Other community partners include: Black Student Union of Garden Grove, Ca. @GGHBSU

Staged Stories is presented by Breath of Fire Latina Theater Ensemble a 501c3 non-profit organization supported by artists of our community, volunteers, and donors like you. We make every little bit count and happy and appreciative to accept your generous donation, when you can spare it.  Donate here: https://www.paypal.me/breathoffiretheater

Or make checks payable to: Breath of Fire Latina Theater Ensemble

Mail to: Breath of Fire Latina Theater Ensemble

c/o Grand Central Arts Center

125 Broadway Santa Ana CA 92701

ARTISTS, CAST & CREATIVE TEAM:

RUTH MADRID (Playwright - La Tormenta de Ayer / Graphic) is a playwright and screenwriter based in Los Angeles and Riverside. Her works include El Recalentado, Inolvidable the Musical, Una Hora Mas, and La Tormenta de Ayer. Her works have been presented by the Latinx Play Project, UCR Playworks, and the Company of Angels. Ruth aspires to write interesting and dramatic stories that are hardly seen on screen or stage. She is continuing to pursue her passions in writing for herself and her community. Follow @MVDRID

MELANIE QUEPONDS (Director - La Tormenta de Ayer) is a Latina director and theatre artist originally from Riverside, California. She graduated with her BA in Theatre and English at the University of California, Riverside (UCR) in 2017. She earned her MFA in Directing from The Theatre School (TTS) at DePaul University in 2020. Melanie is former Producer and Director of the UCR Latinx Play Project (LPP), a student ensemble dedicated to creating culturally responsive work for the community surrounding Riverside. With LPP, she developed and directed many new plays by Latinx writers, as well as directing several TYA productions. While at TTS, Melanie directed 26 MILES and WATER BY THE SPOONFUL by Quiara Alegría Hudes, Shakespeare's TWELFTH NIGHT, FUR by Migdalia Cruz, and THE ROVER by Aphra Behn. She will soon be assisting Henry Godinez on the Goodman Theatre's production of AMERICAN MARIACHI by Jose Cruz Gonzalez. For more information:  melanieclaireq.com 

LORENA DIAZ (Actor - La Tormenta de Ayer)  is a Latina actress, best known for her work as Nurse Doris on Dick Wolf's Chicago Med, Chicago Fire and Chicago PD franchise. Lorena is one half of the critically acclaimed comedy duo Dominizuelan who teamed up with Fred Armisen and Mas Mejor Productions (a Lorne Michaels project) to co-write and star in the "Dominizuelan Consulate", a comedy about 2 best friends who refuse to work "real jobs" and decide to open up a fake consulate to a fake country. Lorena is also known for her work on, Who Gets the Dog, One Night Stand, Bobby and Izza (NBC Pilot competition winners) and is featured in Nicholas Cage's film "MOM & DAD". Follow on instagram: @itslorenadiaz

LESLYE MARTINEZ (Actor - La Tormenta de Ayer)  is an actress based out of the Coachella Valley and performance is one of her many passions. She started acting and singing at the young age of 10 and has continued to pursue theatre. She has recently performed in many musical theatre productions, such as Hairspray (Penny), Into the Woods (Cinderella), Sounds of Music (Elsa), In The Heights (Nina), and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Olive). Martinez is excited to be a part of the Breath of Fire's Staged Stories and is grateful for the opportunity to join on this online platform. “Gracias a mi familia y esposo por todo su amor y apoyo, los amo!” Instagram: @leslyegisell Facebook & Youtube: Leslye Gisell

SUSANNE PINEDO (Actor / Playwright - The Assignment) In 2011, Susanne jumped into her car and drove from her home town of Miami, Florida to have a love affair with NJ/NYC and the relationship is still going strong. She is an actor and writer and holds a BFA in Theatre from Florida International University. Some of her favorite credits include Lola in Ghosts of Bogota by Diana Burbano, the titular character in Sarita by Maria Irene Fornes and you can also hear her as the Spanish voice on several telephone systems for IT companies and medical offices. Her family is originally from Colombia.

SARA GUERRERO* (Founding Artistic Director/ Director - The Assignment) is a Southern California native, is a professional, versatile theatre artist whose mission is to model, share and create theatre-making opportunities for and with her community. A CalArts alum, she has been recognized as one of the “People to Watch” by American Theatre Magazine, and “Best [Artistic] Director” and “Person of Interest” by OC WEEKLY. As the founding artistic director of Breath of Fire Latina Theater Ensemble, an award-winning, Santa Ana-based group, she and the ensemble are part of the artist-in-residence program of Grand Central Arts Center of Cal State Fullerton, California. Under Guerrero’s leadership, the organization serves as an incubator for underrepresented voices in theater by providing programming and guidance in the art of storytelling. FOR FULL BIO and INFO visit www.teatroguerrero.com

JESSICA DELGADO (Poet)  is an indigiqueer scholar and proud Chicana y Latina. She is a poet, a yogi, a healer and author. She has had the pleasure of performing with Breath of Fire many times and is an aspiring ancestor, educator and writer in the making. Follow on Instagram: @tzapotl_flores / Twitter: @Tzapotlflores

AYANNA MEHTA (Performer/ Writer - QUARTER LIFE CRISIS) is an aspiring comedy writer not afraid to have a panic attack in front of you. Insta & Twitter: @ayannabaenana

AMILCAR JAUREGUI (Writer, Actor, Musician) plays and devised works-- including Tejuino, Los Angelitos Del Norte, Ni de Aqui Ni de Alla, and excerpts from Quebrando el Silencio have been workshopped and produced through South Coast Repertory Theater, Brown Bag Theatre Company at UCI, and Breath of Fire Latina Theater Ensemble. His work has also been performed for local high schools in Orange County. His most recent performances include playing Fat Jorge in the U.S. Premiere of Refugee Hotel,  Emiliano Martinez in Canto de Anaheim, and Rogelio in Plumas Negras. He is also a singer and songwriter. Amilcar is a first generation college student that recently received his B.A. with honors in Drama from UCI. He is very excited to share an excerpt from his most recent work, Recuerdos de Valle Lerma. He would like to give a special thanks to his family and friends for all their love and support. Instagram: @ayyjjayy

TAYLOR FAGINS (Writer / Performer/ Singer - We Are More ) is a writer and a storyteller. Through music, scripts, books, or speeches, he tells the story of the human experience from every lense possible. His most recent works include "LIVING: A Now Musical (Book, Music & Lyrics) and his first play, "A Song.". He is currently working on three other works. His greatest goal is to tell the stories that are unheard and give a voice to those who are unseen. More info, visit: www.taylorfagins.com

LORNA SILVA* (Host) A native of Tegucigalpa, Honduras, Lorna Silva is an improviser, actor, writer, translator, director and above all a storyteller. She is an ensemble member of Breath of Fire Latina Theater Ensemble and Off the Tracks Theater. She graduated from the Second City Hollywood Directing Program in 2019. At Second City she directed her original sketch show Token Society, and was Assistant Director for the Bob Curry Fellowship Showcase and the Premium Show That’s the End of Our Time. She teaches improv in Spanish all over Los Angeles and Orange County.

VICTORIA YVETTE ZEPEDA*(Ensemble/ Producer/ Stage Associate ) is a multidisciplinary theatre artist from San Diego, CA. They are a UC Irvine Alum (Honors in Drama, 2019) whose career has driven them to decolonize Western theater by pushing forward narratives for and about the Latinx community. Previously, they were the Artistic Director for Brown Bag Theater Company (UCI) from 2016-2019. Currently, they are an ensemble member for the following companies: Breath of Fire Latina Theater Ensemble in Santa Ana, CA and Amigos del REP of San Diego Repertory Theater. As they continue to navigate their professional career and question the erasure of QTBIPOC artists, they would agree with Victory Garden’s former Artistic Director Chay Yew when he states, “...you need to break that [...] table down and build your own.” Their most recent credits include: Producer of Staged Stories: The Live Streamed Series (Breath of Fire), Assistant Director of American Mariachi (José Cruz Gonzalez, South Coast Rep), Director of Culture Clash in AmeriCCa (UCI), Mitra’s Suitcase (Yasaman Madadi, Frida Kahlo Theater 10-Minute Play Festival 2020), Bad Hombres, Good Wives (Herbert Siguenza, UCI), and Xicanas in Xicanalandia (Shanelle Darlene, Frida Kahlo Theater 10-Minute Play Festival 2019).

SANTI SÁMANO* (Ensemble/ Producer / SM Tech) is a singer and actor from San Diego, California that takes a holistic approach to art and life. While their passion lies in singing and music, Santi is led by their curiosity to expand, learn and integrate as much as possible throughout their life. Santi’s greatest goal is to use their privilege to create a radically inclusive theatre company that entertains, heals, and empowers people of color at their varying intersections, emphasizing accessibility to queer and low-income communities. They are currently a fifth year at UC Riverside, studying Theatre and French and Assistant Director for UCR’s Latinx Play Project.

DIANA BURBANO* (Literary Director)  a Colombian immigrant, is an Equity actor, a playwright and a teaching artist at South Coast Repertory and Breath of Fire Latina Theatre Ensemble. Written work includes:  Policarpa, Oregon Shakespeare Festival Brown Swan lab 2017, Drama League Rough Draft series May 2017, Honorable Mention, Jane Chambers Award 2017, Parsnip Ship 2017 Fabulous Monsters, Latinx Play Festival, San Diego Rep 2017, Festival51 2016 winner, about women in Punk Rock,Picture me Rollin’ (featured at the 35th annual William Inge Festival and Inkfest at 2cents.), Silueta, (about the Cuban artist Ana Mendieta), with Tom and Chris Shelton, and the TYA Shakespeare mash-up, Caliban’s Island winner 2017 Headwaters New Play Festival at Creede Repertory. (Published by YouthPLAYS). Libertadoras, Vamping and Linda were written for the 365 Women a Year project and have been performed around the world, with Linda featured in more that 20 festivals over the last year, including Center Theatre Group’s community library series. Her short play Rounds Per Second is in Smith and Kraus’s 5-minute play anthology. She is currently writing material for Center Theatre Group’s Chisme y Queso series, for Rogue Artists Plummer Park project and for Kaiser Permanente’s Educational touring show. She has also been a working actor since leaving the Professional Actors Conservatory in 1991. She originated the roles of Ama de Casa in the Spanish version of Menopause the Musical, Thumb in Imagine, and Holo-1 in the Labors of Hercules. She recently played Ana Guerrero in Jose Cruz Gonzales' Long Road Today/El Largo Camino de Hoy Dialogue/Dialogos project at South Coast Repertory.  TV includes The People vs OJ Simpson, Cold Case, Betas.  She played punk Praetorian guard Viv in the cult movie musical, The Isle of Lesbos She manages Sleep Till Noon Productions and The Gourmet Detective. Diana is one of the original members of the writers circle for Latino Theatre Association/ Los Angeles. She is also a member of The Dramatists Guild and The Alliance of Los Angeles Playwrights.

MOISES VÁZQUEZ* (Composer/Musician) is a musician and composer, proud Santanero, and community activist. He has composed and performed original music for South Coast Repertory, San Diego Repertory, Pacific Symphony, Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Brown Bag Theater of UC Irvine, Costa Mesa Playhouse, Orange County New Play Festival, The Musco Center, SanArts, Arts Orange County’s Dia de Niño Festival, El Centro Cultural de Mexico, Latino Health Access, and the list goes on. Additionally, Moises composed and performed original music for El Largo Camino de Hoy / The Long Road Today by José Cruz González, inspired by stories of the Santa Ana community.

*Breath of Fire Ensemble