Beginning September 14, Miracle Theatre Group is pleased to present “La Luna Nueva”, the fourth annual festival of Hispanic arts and culture from around the world celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month. Just as a new moon reveals new stars, “La Luna Nueva” reveals emerging artists and new work across a variety of disciplines — with many new events this year. Join us for spirited flamenco and tango, passionate Latin guitar, open mic poetry and storytelling, a visual art exhibit and a number of events for the whole family — sponsored by PGE Foundation, The Oregonian, RACC and Work for Art.

In addition to the many new artists in this year’s line-up, we’re also happy to announce that we’ll be offering reserved seating. So purchase your tickets early for the best price and the best seats! Tickets go on sale tomorrow, Wednesday, August 15. Call us at 503-236-7253 weekdays 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. or online anytime from our online box office.

Throughout the next month, we will be publishing more details on each event, plus interviews with the artists, multimedia excerpts and more! So be sure to come back and find out more about all the wonderful and exciting things happening right here at El Centro Milagro in September!

• “One Song”
Paintings by Renée Zangara
Exhibition open one hour prior to each festival performance
Sept. 14-29, 2012
Free
Throughout the festival, art lovers can view the original paintings by Renée Zangara, a Portland Latina whose fresh landscapes and abstract works feature rich, luscious “daubs, dabs and jots” that draw the viewer into a vibrant and rhythmic world of color.

• “Flor y Canto” — Staged Reading
7 p.m. • Friday, Sept. 14, 2012 • $12 advance, $15 door
Poetry comes alive in this evening of theatre, music and dance that begins with a special performance by Aztec dancers Titlakawan before the spotlight shifts to a staged reading of “A Dialogue of Flower and Song”. This original play by Cindy Williams Gutiérrez re-imagines a Mesoamerican literary event that took place circa 1490 in which Aztec poet-king Tecayehuatzin returns from the Land of the Fleshless to invite three female poets — one from pre-Conquest Mexico, another from colonial New Spain, and the third from contemporary Mexican Diaspora — to debate the purpose of poetry, or “flower and song”. Will the winner be able to alter the course of history? Accompanied Gerardo Galderón on pre-Columbian flutes, water drums and rattles, this peek into the culture and beliefs of centuries of Mexican history is presented in English and recommended for ages 12 and older. This staged reading is sponsored by the University of Portland and Portland State University as part of the national GEMELA (Grupo de Estudios sobre la Mujer en España y Latino América – pre-1800) Conference, and Lewis & Clark College hosts a complimentary post-play reception catered by Mayahuel Catering.

• “De mi barrio” — Flamenco
Two performances: 8 p.m. • Saturday, Sept. 15, 2012 and 7 p.m. • Sunday, Sept. 16, 2012
$25 advance; $28 door
In Sevilla, there is a neighborhood full of flamenco, where the best flamenco goes down in sketchy back alleys, artful peñas, and tablaos, where the paper posters line the dirty streets announcing classes in small dank studios.  Here is where flamenco dancer Melinda Hedgecorth lives, learns and creates, and “De mi barrio” is a presentation of the life, dedication and raw emotion in her neighborhood. With special guests Vicente Griego, Ricardo Díaz, and Laura Onizuka.

• “Leyendas de México” (Legends of Mexico) — Family-friendly storytelling and music
2 p.m. • Sunday Sept. 16, 2012 • $4 advance; $7 door
Mexico is well known for its legends, myths and tales from the Aztecs, Mayans, Toltecs and Huicholes — legends of love, nature and everyday life. In this family-friendly bilingual performance, Nuestro Canto (Gerardo Calderón and Nelda Reyes) fills the theatre with the magic of masks, movement and imaginative storytelling. Ages 5 and older. Bilingual.

• Play Reading in Spanish – Title To Be Announced
7 p.m., Monday, Sept. 17, 2012 • Free
Miracle Theatre Group’s La Luna Nueva festival wouldn’t be complete without a staged reading of a play under consideration for future production. This reading, which will be in Spanish, will feature many faces new to the Milagro Theatre stage alongside favorites from seasons gone by. Check back soon for more details on the play, the director and the cast.

• “Noche de los poetas” — Poets Open Mic Night
7 p.m. • Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2012 • Free • Bilingual
Enjoy works of poetry by Latino poets — from both the canons of literary giants such as Pablo Neruda and Federico García Lorca as well as original work by local authors. Audiences are invited to also bring their own Latino poetry to share in English or Spanish. Presented in collaboration with Write Around Portland.

• “B’aktun 13” — Teatro Milagro’s touring production about the Mayan calendar
7 p.m. • Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2012 • $15 advance; $18 door
Swept up in an immigration raid and deported to Mexico, Rio, Luz and Sal are suddenly immersed into indigenous prophecies surrounding B’aktun 13, the final era in the Mayan calendar. In the Yucatán, they encounter Mayan deities who lead the trio deeper into a mythological universe. Time revolves like a Mayan calendar as each must face the consequences of their pasts. When the end of the era of B’aktun 13 arrives on December 21, 2012, will the world change? Or will they? Ages 12 and older. Bilingual.

• “South America in Six Strings” — Latin American Guitar with Ricardo Cárdenas
8 p.m. • Thursday, Sept. 20, 2012 •  $20 advance; $23 door
Chilean guitarist Ricardo Cárdenas fills the Milagro Theatre with his extraordinary range of classical and folkloric music presented in his unique relaxed, disarming style. His enchanting repertoire includes composers such as Heitor Villa-lobos, Antonio Lauro, Agustin Barrios, Fleury, J. Cardoso, Joao Pernambuco and his own arrangements of Chilean songs. With special guest flautist Leeann Davis.

• “Music with the Maestro” — Cuban Lute and El Tres Cubano
8 p.m. • Friday, Sept. 21, 2012 • $20 advance; $23 door
Don’t miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to hear Cuban maestro Efrain Amador (founder of the Escuela Cubana del Tres y el Laud) share the music – and stories – of the Cuban lute and Cuban tres (an instrument that is a fusion of guitar, bandola and tiple). With an impressive dexterity that comes from 20 years of experience and education, the maestro will present a variety of pieces from the Renaissance to modern day, including some of his original compositions that explore the roots of Cuban and Latin American folklore, such as “son” and “punto cubano”. Presented in Spanish with English interpretation.

• “Alma y Azúcar”
Showcasing the Best of Celia Cruz, “la reina de la música cubana»
8 p.m. • Saturday, Sept. 22, 2012 • $22 advance; $25 door
Alma y Azúcar brings you an exquisite and passionate selection of Latin flavors paying special tribute to “la reina de la salsa” Celia Cruz. From the bouncy feel of “Mango Mangüe” to the passionate bolero “Tu Voz” and the salsa-cha sound of “Bemba Colorá” these tunes have captured hearts internationally since the 1930s.

• “Aventuras de Don Quixote” — Teatro Milagro’s touring production for the whole family
2 p.m. • Sunday, Sept. 23, 2012 • $4 advance; $7 door
Maria doesn’t like to read, but her curiosity draws her into the literary world of Don Quixote, an overly imaginative gentleman whose good intentions — and mountains of books! — are driving his friend into a frenzy!  In this charming new touring play from Teatro Milagro, children and adults alike will be pulled into a fun and exciting interactive drama inspired by the famous novel of Cervantes. Recommended for ages 5 to 10. Bilingual.

• “Don Quixote and Sancho Panza: Homeless in Seattle” — Staged Reading
5 p.m. • Sunday, Sept. 23, 2012 • $7 advance; $10 door
What happens when the most quintessential gentleman of all ages lives in our modern and unjust society?  Transported from 16th century Spain, two iconic friends navigate the streets of Seattle and the healthcare system. A comedic odd couple, these homeless gentlemen struggle to keep their dignity as «caballeros» while fending for themselves and encountering strange characters. This beautiful new adaptation by Rose Cano features poet, musician and actor José Carrillo as Don Quixote, talented Chicano solo artist Gerald Alejandro Ford as Sancho Panza, and Seattle actors Angela Maestas, Carolynne Wilcox, Fernando Cavallo and Maristela Diaz under the direction of Miracle Theatre Group’s own Olga Sanchez. Recommended for ages 12 and older. Bilingual.

• “El Último Coconut” — One-Man Show from Seattle
7 p.m., Monday, Sept. 24, 2012 • $7 advance; $10 door
In this original, one-man show, a Chicano high school student struggles with his cyber-identity as well as his “real” identity living within a traditional and not-so traditional Mexican family.  A “cyber-nerd” addicted to World of Warcraft, Seattle performer Gerald Alejandro Ford — who plays an array of poignant characters ranging from Mexican family members to over-the-top border patrols — embarks on the confusing process of defining his identity amid family and school pressures, waging war with his own demons and cultural icons. Recommended for ages 12 and older. English.

• “Noche de los poetas” — Poets Open Mic Night
7 p.m. • Tuesday, Sept. 25, 2012 • Free • Bilingual
Enjoy works of poetry by Latino poets — from both the canons of literary giants such as Pablo Neruda and Federico García Lorca as well as original work by local authors. Audiences are invited to also bring their own Latino poetry to share in English or Spanish. Presented in collaboration with Wordstock.

• “¡La cosa está Pelú’a!” — A Circus Review of Daily Life for a Latino
7 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2012 • $15 advance; $18 door
Life is a struggle — for some more than others. Using the international language of circus, acrobats from Portland’s Puerto Rican theatre company Pelú explore the day-to-day experience of an immigrant day worker. Feats of strength, roaming dancers and street musicians are just part of the vocabulary for this modern-day vaudeville.

• Edna Vazquez and Friends — New Music from an Old Friend
8 p.m. • Thursday, Sept. 27, 2012 • $15 advance; $18 door
Originally from Colima, Mexico, Edna Vazquez is a rising star, a remarkable singer/songwriter, guitarist and member of Los Palmeros Mariachi band. Returning to La Luna Nueva festival for her third year, Edna’s velvety voice, acoustic guitar and generous spirit will resonate with each new song she plays — all original compositions. Special guest artists will join Edna onstage for an evening filled with canciones y compañerismo.

• A Night of Tango — The Music of the Dance
8 p.m., Friday, Sept. 28, 2012 • $25 advance; $28 door
In this evening centered on the romantic music of the tango, the Alex Krebs Tango Quartet with guest percussion and vocal artists reveal the personality, emotion and passion of works both original and from Argentina by legends such as Astor Piazzolla. As Oregon Music News has written, “Leave your preconceptions at the door and leap faithfully into Krebs’ world. There’s a reason Krebs is known world-wide. You’ll find it here.” As a special highlight, Krebs will be joined onstage by dancer Hannah Poston.

• Alfredo Muro — Solo Guitar
8 p.m. • Saturday, Sept. 29, 2012 •  $20 advance; $23 door
World renowned classical guitarist, Maestro Alfredo Muro returns to Portland fresh from his Europe Tour 2012 ready to share his three great musical passions: the rich folkloric traditions of Latin America, classic Spanish guitar and the signature styles of Brazil. Don’t miss this evening filled with passionate and vibrant music to stir the heart, including work by Marco Pereira, Piazzolla, Jobim, Powell, Paulinho Nogueira and the opportunity to hear Alfredo’s own compositions.

ABOUT OUR SPONSOR – PGE FOUNDATION
The PGE Foundation, the corporate foundation of Portland General Electric, was established in 1997 as a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with a permanent endowment. The Foundation’s giving is separate from the corporate giving of PGE. Since its inception, the Foundation has distributed more than $13 million to help improve the quality of life for all Oregonians by supporting statewide programs and services that encourage healthy families, provide educational opportunities and encourage the arts and cultural diversity. Gwyneth Gamble Booth is chair and Carole Morse is president. Since 2000, PGE Foundation has supported the Miracle Theatre Group with six grants totaling over $45,000. To learn more about the PGE Foundation, visit www.pgefoundation.org.

ABOUT OUR SPONSOR – THE OREGONIAN
The Oregonian has been telling the story of the Northwest since 1850, covering business, politics and sports as well as culture, cuisine and more. Today, nearly eight in 10 local adults read the Pulitzer Prize-winning newspaper in print or online at OregonLive.com.