Hallie Gordon will direct a cast that features Belinda Cervantes, Gina Cornejo, Sandra Delgado as Esperanza, Liza Fernandez, Ricardo Gutierrez, Christina Nieves, Tony Sancho and Mari Stratton. It will play Oct. 13-Nov. 1 in the Steppenwolf Upstairs Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted St., in Chicago.
Weekday matinees (Tuesdays–Fridays) are reserved for school groups, with all additional performances available to the public.
Based on the novel by celebrated Chicago writer Cisneros, The House on Mango Street, according to Steppenwolf, "is the touching and humorous story of a young girl growing up in one of Chicago's ethnically-diverse neighborhoods. Esperanza Cordero dreams of a new life far away from her tiny home on rundown Mango Street in this classic coming-of-age story about those defining experiences that shape our beliefs and help us discover who we are."
Adaptor Saracho is co-founder and artistic director of Teatro Luna, Chicago's All-Latina Theater Ensemble and a resident playwright at Chicago Dramatists and Teatro Vista. Her plays include Our Lady of the Underpass, Jarred: A Hoodoo Comedy and Kita y Fernanda.
Born and raised in Chicago, Cisneros is the award-winning author of numerous works including "Bad Boys," "My Wicked Wicked Ways," "Loose Women," "Women Hollering Creek and Other Stories," "Hairs/Pelitos," "Caramelo" and "Vintage Cisneros." This year, Cisneros is publishing a special 25th anniversary edition of "The House on Mango Street." Actress Delgado returns to Steppenwolf where she appeared in Sonia Flew, Whispering City and Words on Fire. She recently appeared in the world premiere of El Grito del Bronx (Collaboraction/Teatro Vista/Goodman Theatre). Other Chicago credits include Electricidad, Mariela in the Desert, Zoot Suit and Christmas Carol (Goodman Theatre); Anna in the Tropics (Victory Gardens Theater); Summertime (Lookingglass Theatre); Undone (About Face Theatre); and If All the World Were Paper (Chicago Children's Theatre). Delgado is a founding member of Collaboraction. She is an ensemble member of Teatro Vista and served as Teatro Vista's associate artistic director from 2006-08. Acting credits with the company include Massacre (co-production with Goodman Theatre); Dreamlandia, Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner and Two Sisters and a Piano (co-production with Apple Tree Theatre).
The House on Mango Street design team includes Collette Pollard (sets), Christine Pascual (costumes), J.R. Lederle (lights), Tamara Roberts (original music composition), Kevin O'Donnell (sound) and Joel Valentin-Martinez (choreography). Chris Freeburg is the stage manager.
The House on Mango Street was developed as part of Steppenwolf's New Plays Initiative.
Public performances will be Fridays at 7:30 PM, Saturdays at 3 & 7:30 PM, Sundays at 3 PM. Weekday matinee performances are available for school groups only (Tuesdays-Fridays at 10 AM). Tickets are $20 ($15 student tickets available via phone/box office).
For more information call (312) 335-1650 or visit www.steppenwolf.org.
For information on Steppenwolf for Young Adult weekday school performances, contact the SYA Education Associate at (312) 654-5639.
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Steppenwolf for Young Adults' "unique approach combines play production with educational components to enhance arts education for young audiences, as well as their teachers and families. SYA creates two full-scale professional productions each season specifically for teens. Working closely with the Chicago Public and metropolitan area schools and other community partners, SYA annually ensures access to the theater for more than 15,000 participants from Chicago's diverse communities. The initiative also includes post-show discussions with artists; classroom residencies led by Steppenwolf-trained teaching artists in more than 30 classrooms in 14 public high schools; professional development workshops for educators; and the Young Adult Council, an innovative year-round after school initiative that uniquely engages high school students in all areas of the theatre's operations."
