This EVENT is POSTPONED / PAUSED - "DEPARTURE" & "MAPS", "RADIANT" and LUZ" A Staged Stories Series

After much thought and consideration, Breath of Fire and our production team agreed that we will need to put a hold on "Staged Stories" for June, so we will not be moving forward with Episode 2, at this time. We are standing in solidarity with the Black Lives Matters movement, and are rearranging our programming so we do not go about "business as usual" during a time when Black voices need to be supported and heard the most. In our hearts  it did not sit with me right to continue the series during what is the biggest civil rights movement of our time.  We all thank you for understanding this pause and for your commitment to us as an ensemble. Thank you, BOFLTE

Breath of Fire Latina Theater Ensemble presents  STAGED STORIES: The Live Streamed Series 

Saturday, June 13 @ 6pm PST 

(Ep#2- Immigration, Family, Acceptance, and Nostalgia)

(Warning: episodes may contain strong language and mature content)

DEPARTURE by Yasáman Madadi & directed by Victoria Yvette Zepeda. 

Cast: Sonal Davé, Jessica Delgado and Amilcar Jauregui 

“Battling the ever-changing nature of their Westside Los Angeles neighborhood, Mitra and Rustin find out their landlord wants to sell their apartment in 40 days. After an ongoing search, the couple has few choices and must come up with more money in order to stay near their work and friends. The couple decides for Mitra to visit her place of birth and collect inheritance based on the sale of her childhood home. But will Mitra come back?”

With poet Jacqueline Castañeda reading MAPS, RADIANT, and  LUZ

Q & A to follow each episode with artists moderated by Diana Burbano, ensemble’s literary director.

Produced by: Victoria Yvette Zepeda, Santi Sámano and Angela Estela Moore

Graphic by: Ruth Veronica Madrid. Original music by Moises Vázquez.

Staged Stories is presented by Breath of Fire Latina Theater Ensemble a 501c3 non-profit organization supported by artist of our community, volunteers, and donors like you. We make every little bit counts and happy and appreciative to accept your generous donation, when you can spare it.  

Listen to all 4 Episodes May 30, Jun 13, Jul 11 and Aug 4 each @ 6pm PST / 7pm MST/ 8pm CST/ 9pm EST)

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 Yolanda Mendiveles, Treasurer, 

320 Colleen Place

Costa Mesa CA 92627

ARTISTS BIOS

YÁSAMAN MADADI* (Playwright/Departure) grew up in San Bernardino, California and loathed the kids who called her "Princess Jasmin.” Iranian, queer and generally a weirdo, Yásaman raised their D-average high school GPA to a 4.0 and attended UC Berkeley, where she studied film and Middle Eastern studies. Yásaman went on to work as an investigative journalist and has published articles in the LA Times and The Nation Magazine. Most recently, Yásaman developed and showcased The Absolved -- their MFA Thesis at Cal State LA--  a TV drama about an Iranian-American US Attorney who joins a prestigious defense firm to save her brother from the death penalty. An ensemble member of the Breath of Fire Latina Theater, Yásaman lives in Highland Park with their partner Daniella and two cats, Malcolm and Shiri.

VICTORIA YVETTE ZEPEDA* (Producer/BOFStaged Stories Live Stream Edition 2020; Director/Departure) is a Mexican director, producer, and actor from South 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 of the Latinx community. 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: Assistant Director of American Mariachi (José Cruz Gonzalez, South Coast Rep), Director of Culture Clash in AmeriCCa (Culture Clash, UC Irvine), Mitra’s Suitcase (Yasaman Madadi, Frida Kahlo Theater 10-Minute Play Festival 2020), Bad Hombres, Good Wives (Herbert Siguenza, UC Irvine), and Xicanas in Xicanalandia (Shanelle Darlene, Frida Kahlo Theater 10-Minute Play Festival 2019). 

SONAL DAVÉ (Actor/Departure) is an actress/vocalist from Laguna Niguel (Orange County). A public relations executive by day and thespian by night.  Sonal’s most recent credits include playing Bhupinder (mother) in a UCLA student film “Sari, Not Sari” (directed by Gurparsad Thind) and a Caretaker role in a PSA for the LA Alzheimer’s Foundation.  Sonal dedicates her performance to those that put off their dreams thinking they are not good enough when in reality they are more than enough.

JESSICA DELGADO* (Actor/Departure) is a proud Chicana, Latina and Two- Spirit. She is currently finishing an Interfield degree in English and Cultural Studies at Claremont Graduate University and will be pursing a PhD in Public History thereafter. She has been a part of the Breath of Fire Latina Theater Ensemble for years and has enjoyed performing onstage and has been published in their new anthology entitled Fuego. She is currently working on her Masters Thesis, focusing on the migration patterns and culturally traumatic effects of the war in El Salvador and a chapter in an international anthology about punk pedagogy entitled Latina Punks in Higher Education. She would like to dedicate her performance to all those affected by COVID-19.

AMILCAR JAUREGUI (Actor/Departure) is an actor and playwright from Orange County. A recent graduate from UC Irvine, he is determined to use his education to continue telling stories that are important to him and the Latinx community. Amilcar would like to thank his family, friends, and Erika for all their love and support.

JACQUELINE CASTAÑEDA (Poet) Born and raised in East LA, Jacqueline Castañeda is a music-obsessed actress, singer, and writer. Along with being involved with Breath of Fire Latina Theater Ensemble, and Towne Street Theatre, Jacqueline has produced projects with other young theater and film artists in the LA/OC area as well. She is a firm believer that art is essential to promote a sense of growth, community, and activism. Jacqueline is grateful for this opportunity and is honored to be able to support our community's artistic creativity. 

SANTI SÁMANO (Co-producer/BOFStaged Stories Live Stream Edition 2020, Stage Manager) 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/Breath of Fire Latina Theater Ensemble)  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 Member/Artist/Teaching Artist