A story of passion and power, La Malinche won the 1995 National Hispanic Playwriting Contest sponsored by Arizona Theatre Company and will open there Jan. 17.

Carlos Morton's drama mixes the classic Greek myth, Medea, with Mexican history. Upon discovering that explorer Cortez will take a Spanish wife, his Mayan mistress -- "La Malinche" -- seeks to ruin the nuptials. Cortez vows revenge, leading to all to tragedy.

Director Abel Lopez called it, "a simple tale of love between two people caught in a moment of time that changed the world forever. Although Malinche and Cortez were doomed, their passion and union live on today in the peoples of the Americas -- still challenged and enriched by the differences of culture, language and traditions."

Playwright Morton has worked with the San Francisco Mime Troup, Puerto Rican Traveling Theatre and Denver Center Company. His plays have been anthologized in the volumes, "The Many Deaths Of Danny Rosales & Other Plays" (1983) and "Johnny Tenorio & Other Plays."

Appearing in La Malinche are Karmin Murcelo (Malinche), Christopher Michael Bauer (Cortez), Yolande Bavan, Richard Russell Ramos, Steve Ramshur, Dawnnie [sic] Mercado, Annabelle Nunez, and Joseph P. Concannon/Patrick B. Concannon alternating in the child role. Sets are by Monica Raya, costumes by Rose Pederson, lighting by Tracy Odishaw. Rebecca Million serves as dramaturg, and sound designer David Maddox has composed the background music. For tickets ($18-$27) and information on La Malinche, call (520) 622-2823. The drama runs Jan. 11-Feb. 1 at the Temple of Music & Art's Alice Holsclaw Theatre on Scott Avenue in Tucson. Jan. 21, 22 & 29 are the dates for post-performance discussions with ATC staff members and members of the cast. As with most ATC productions, this one will then move to the Herberger Theatre Center in Phoenix, Feb. 7-23. For information on that engagement, call (602) 252-8497.

--By David Lefkowitz