Pedro0~4Small (12K)

LOS ZAPATOS MAGICOS : PEDRO'S MAGIC SHOES

A bi-lingual play derived from Latino Folk tales
By Ric Averill

Directed by Jose Cruz Gonzales

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Brief description

In order to feed his family, save the valley and recover his Abuelo's (Grandfather's) heritage, Pedro must prove he is the greatest Trickster of all times. With the help of his wife, Teresa, Santo Nino, and a pair of magical shoes; Pedro outwits the mischievous Duende (Elf), his greedy Landlord, Don Juan, and even the monstrous El Diablo de la Montana.

This wonderful multi-cultural story is told using about 15% Spanish - made accessible through the clever 'question and answer' technique of dialogue. English speaking students will learn Spanish and Spanish speakers will find their own culture celebrated in this flavorful romp through America's Southwest.

Mariachi-like music and panoramic sets serve as background for energetic actors wearing rich costumes and manipulating spectacular masks and puppets.

Presented in part through a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts

Press Article

The Seem-To-Be Players are coming to town with Los Zapatos Magicos: Pedro's Magic Shoes. Based on Southwestern Trickster Tales, this partially bi-lingual play will charm Spanish speaking students and families and teach a little Spanish to English speakers.

Written in the question-in-one-language-answer-in-the-other technique, everyone will enjoy the adventures of Pedro, the most clever Trickster in the Valley. Beautiful sets, extravagant masks and colorful costumes make the play a delight for family members of all ages.

The play was commissioned by The Classics, a presenting organization in Plano, Texas. The play was then given a fully staged workshop production at San Diego State University's Theatre of the World Festival in January of 2003. The National Endowment for the Arts funded another development workshop and tours to Topeka, Kansas, Plano, Texas and Mesa, Arizona.

Jose "Tony" Perez, who first played Pedro in San Diego, will be returning in that principle role for this year's tour. Tony, whose first language is Spanish, is eager to share the piece across the country. "This is my language, my story, the story of my people - but it's fun for everyone," the San Diego native said.

Playwright RicAverill first explored this material on a trip to work on a grant with the Santa Fe Opera. "Someday this material may be another children’s opera," said Averill. His first children's opera, The Emperor's New Clothes, was commissioned and toured nationally by the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

Averill has headed up the Seem-To-Be Players for more than 30 years and has published many of the plays developed by that company. Based in Lawrence, Kansas, the company tours the entire nation from Florida to Washington State. Actors are drawn from not only the greater Kansas City area but from across the country. Former actors from the company have appeared on television and in movies and can be found on both coasts.

The Seem-To-Be Players receive support from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Heartland Arts Fund, Hallmark Cards and US Bank.

Company Bio

The Seem-To-Be Players are the Lawrence Arts Center's resident professional Theatre for Youth company, performing across Kansas, the Midwest and the nation. The Players have been touring since 1979, creating original, innovative, exciting and educational productions. Trademarks of the (we are what we ) "Seem-To-Be" style include imaginative sets and costumes, original music, and transformational acting that enlivens each story, myth history or comedy and infuses them all with an energetic and zany love of life and celebration of the humanity of all people.

The company has toured in more than 50 Kansas communities, 35 states and 3 countries, entertaining and educating more than 150,000 students per year.

Now in their 31st Season, The Seem-To-Be Players may be booked nationally and internationally through Mainstage Management and have been granted the Kansas Governor's Arts Award and received major project and touring funding from the Heartland Arts Fund, Kansas Health Foundation, Payless Shoesource, Hallmark Cards, US Bank, the Kansas Arts Commission, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Productions travel in a truck and van and can be loaded into a performance space in less than three hours. Players use house light and sound and bring a few of their own special effects.

Bio
Artistic Director, Writer, Ric Averill

Ric Averill has been the Artistic Director and principal playwright, composer and director for the Arts Center's Seem-To-Be Players professional children's theatre company since he and his wife, Jeanne, founded the company in 1973.

Ric writes both plays and music, with degrees from the University of Kansas in both Music Composition and Children's Theatre. Ric has received numerous Playwriting Fellowships and been selected for five professional play development symposiums including the Kennedy Center's New Visions/New Voices and the Indianapolis Bonderman Youth Theatre Playwriting Symposium.

Ric's plays, published by Dramatic Publishing, include The Seven Voyages of Sinbad the Sailor; Bird Woman, the Story of Sacagawea; The Princess and the Pea and other short plays; Pixies, Kings and Magical Things; Alex and the Shrink World and T-Money and Wolf (with Kevin Willmott.) Ric also wrote the Actor's Handbook for Fran Tanner's high school textbook, Basic Drama Projects.

Included among Ric's many commissions are the Kennedy Center's Alice in Wonderland, First Stage Milwaukee's Little Drummer Boy, the Coterie Theatre's Frankenstein and the Kansas Health Foundation's Red Blood and High Purpose. Ric's fusion of music and theatre has culminated in an opera for children based on the story of The Emperor's New Clothes which was commissioned by the Kennedy Center.

News Press Release for Broadcast or Print

LOS ZAPATOS MAGICOS; PEDRO'S MAGIC SHOES IS COMING TO TOWN!

DON'T MISS THIS WONDERFUL MUTLICULTURAL PLAY BASED ON TRICKSTER TALES OF THE GREAT SOUTHWEST. BRING THE WHOLE FAMILY TO _____(PRESENTER'S THEATRE) ________ ON ______(DATE)______ AT ___(TIME)_____. THE ______(PERFORMANCE SPACE)_____ WILL BE TRANSFORMED INTO A BEAUTIFUL DESERT LANDSCAPE AS PEDRO THE TRICKSTER OUTWITS HIS NEIGHBOR DON JUAN, A MISCHEIVOUS DUENDE (ELF) AND EVEN EL DIABLOE DE LA MONTANA. WONDERFUL MASKS, COLORFUL COSTUMES AND MARIACHI MUSIC ROUND OUT THE PERFORMANCE. TICKETS ARE ____ (PRICE)_____ AND CAN BE PURCHASED BY CALLING______ (PHONE)_______.

Program Copy

LOS ZAPATOS MAGICOS : PEDRO'S MAGIC SHOES
A bi-lingual play derived from Latino Folk tales
By Ric Averill
Directed by Jose Cruz Gonzales

Spanish translations by Gloria Yumurtaci

Dramaturgy by Dorothy Web

The play takes place in the great Southwest and on El Diablo's Montana.

Photos

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