Our artistic director Dañel Malán is out in Arizona researching stories and anecdotes for the upcoming production of Cuéntame Coyote— on stage January 9 – 25, 2014. Conceived and directed by Dañel, this production will bring to Milagro’s stage an insider’s perspective to immigration. While in Arizona, she will be visiting different locations and interviewing members of organizations with first hand knowledge of life at the border.
Dañel has already shared with us her first impressions of this adventure: «On an expedition to research true stories of border
crossings or Tohono O’odham folklore. Today began at 6 am, waiting for my
plane while I watched the sunrise over the tarmac. A flight to Denver
connected onto Tucson, where I met up with Barclay Goldsmith, Executive
Director of Borderlands Theatre. Flying into Tucson, the view from the
plane was a vast desert that made me reflect on all the people who have trekked
that desert and, perhaps, didn’t make it. Barclay’s wife, Rachel, is a
professor at the University of Arizona, in the Mexican-American Studies
program. Her department is working on collecting DNA samples of
unidentified people who died in the desert. This way, there is a chance that if
there remains can be identified, then they can be sent home for a proper
burial, otherwise their remains are cremated, and then no one ever knows who
the missing people are. She says they have no idea how many people die in
the desert, but everyone who has crossed through this area has seen body
parts. After five days, a body turns to a skeleton in the 110 degree heat,
and the remaining bones are chewed and then scattered by coyotes.»
crossings or Tohono O’odham folklore. Today began at 6 am, waiting for my
plane while I watched the sunrise over the tarmac. A flight to Denver
connected onto Tucson, where I met up with Barclay Goldsmith, Executive
Director of Borderlands Theatre. Flying into Tucson, the view from the
plane was a vast desert that made me reflect on all the people who have trekked
that desert and, perhaps, didn’t make it. Barclay’s wife, Rachel, is a
professor at the University of Arizona, in the Mexican-American Studies
program. Her department is working on collecting DNA samples of
unidentified people who died in the desert. This way, there is a chance that if
there remains can be identified, then they can be sent home for a proper
burial, otherwise their remains are cremated, and then no one ever knows who
the missing people are. She says they have no idea how many people die in
the desert, but everyone who has crossed through this area has seen body
parts. After five days, a body turns to a skeleton in the 110 degree heat,
and the remaining bones are chewed and then scattered by coyotes.»
Don’t miss Cuéntame Coyote on stage January 9 – 25, 2014. Buy your tickets now !