Come Celebrate: ON THE WINGS OF A MARIPOSA

Hearing from and listening to the varied voices that make up our community, First Stage believes it is imperative that all of our programming be reflective of our community: through the stories we share, the programs we implement, and the teams we assemble to bring those stories and programs to life.

Having received critical acclaim for his world premiere production of LUCHADORA! during First Stage’s 2014/2015 season, Alvaro Saar Ríos returns to create another culturally relevant production. His bilingual world premiere production of ON THE WINGS OF A MARIPOSA is an adaptation of Wisconsin author, Barbara Joosse’s book Ghost Wings, with music composed and arranged by Dinorah Márquez, Latino Arts Strings Director. Latino Arts Strings performed and recorded the accompaniment tracks for the production.

ON THE WINGS OF A MARIPOSA will open this Friday (October 18) and run through November 10 in the Marcus Center’s Todd Wehr Theater. To deepen community connections and enrich the experience of those attending ON THE WINGS OF A MARIPOSA, First Stage is collaborating with several community organizations to host a number of related community events.

 

We welcome you to join us to celebrate this beautiful new work and Día De Los Muertos traditions.

Sunday, October 13 (10am-4pm): MILWAUKEE ART MUSEUM—DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS CELEBRATIONS

First Stage will host a table at this annual cultural event that celebrates loved ones through art making, music, and more, and explores the colors and symbols of Day of the Dead. It includes hands-on art activities, the creation of a community ofrenda or altar, and folkloric dance by Dance Academy of Mexico. For this event, First Stage will be collaborating with Walker’s Point Center for the Arts (WPCA) to offer craft activities. We will create butterflies that will then be used to build a First Stage ON THE WINGS OF A MARIPOSA ofrenda at the WPCA location. The ofrenda will be part of their month-long exhibit.

Friday, October 18: OPENING NIGHT OF ON THE WINGS OF A MARIPOSA

The Latino Arts Strings Program will perform live music at the Todd Wehr Theater and the Milwaukee Youth Arts Center to set the tone for this world premiere play and join in the celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month and Día de los Muertos traditions.

Saturday, October 19 and Sunday, October 20 (2:30pm-3:15pm): KOHL’S COLOR WHEELS
To join in the celebration of this world premiere, the Milwaukee Art Museum will generously send its Kohl’s Color Wheels artists to lead arts and crafts projects at the Todd Wehr Theater between our two afternoon performances.

Tuesday, October 22 (7pm): PAY WHAT YOU CHOOSE PERFORMANCE of ON THE WINGS OF A MARIPOSA

First Stage offers “Pay What You Choose” performances for each of our family series productions at the Todd Wehr Theater to increase the accessibility of our theater productions. For these select performances, attendees may pay any dollar amount per seat, subject to availability. Tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Suggested minimum donation: $5 per ticket. Tickets available at the Theater beginning at 6:00 pm. Seating is general admission. You may also pre-order, by phone only, at (414) 267-2961. www.firststage.org/pwyc

Wednesday, October 23 (4pm-6pm): MILWAUKEE PUBLIC LIBRARY OFRENDAS DE MITCHELL

In celebration of First Stage’s ON THE WINGS OF A MARIPOSA and the Day of the Dead, Milwaukee Public Library Artist-in-Residence Celeste Contreras will offer an Ofrendas workshop in the Milwaukee Public Library’s Mitchell Street branch located at 906 W. Historic Mitchell Street.

Saturday, October 26, and Sunday October 27: DAY OF THE DEAD CELEBRATIONS with a MERCADITO/ARTISAN MARKET

Local Latino artisans will sell their products and facilitate craft activities for guests in the Todd Wehr’s upper lobby before and after the performances of ON THE WINGS OF A MARIPOSA. Latino Arts Strings will accompany the Mercadito activities with beautiful, traditional Mexican music.

Sundays, October 27 & November 3: TECH TALK #1 & #2

Tech Talks are 20-minute extended talkbacks with our creative team to give audiences a behind-the-scenes look. During this Tech Talk, Alvaro Saar Ríos, Dinorah Márquez, and Barbara Joosse will talk about the creative process, and Dinorah will talk about the music and pre-Columbian instruments. This Tech Talk will include an interactive conversation with audiences about traditions, about having been or being raised by a grandparent, about ways to remember our loved ones, etc.

Friday, November 1 (12pm): INTERGENERATIONAL MATINEE

Seniors from the United Community Center will join Bruce Guadalupe students to share in this intergenerational theater experience.

Friday, November 1 (7pm): COLLEGE AND YOUNG PROFESSIONALS’ NIGHT

Colleges, universities, young professionals’ groups, and Latino Affinity groups are invited to this special ON THE WINGS OF A MARIPOSA performance, which will include appetizers, live music from UCC Senior Center’s musical group Renacer, and more.

Saturday, November 2 (2pm-3pm): DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS YOUTH CRAFTS

At the Milwaukee Youth Arts Center, First Stage will host youth craft workshops related to Día de los Muertos traditions. 

Take a sneak peek at our ON THE WINGS OF A MARIPOSA Theater Exhibit

JOIN US IN THIS CELEBRATION OF MEXICAN CULTURE AND TRADITIONS!