Into the Beautiful North (A Chicano-Mexican-American Play)

What do you get when you combine the barest of means and resources with the highest intentions and a great effort by a talented set of actors hungry to deliver quality performances? You get a standing ovation. That's exactly what happened last night after our performance of "Rumbo al Hermoso Norte," a play/dramatic reading adapted for the stage by Lucia Macias from the book "Into the Beautiful North," by Luis Alberto Urrea.

The circumstances surrounding the preparation for the performance were difficult ones. Working on a zero budget brings its own set of challenges aside from the typical ones of actually being able to get to rehearsals on time or at all. There are matters of health (I became ill during the last two weeks prior to the event and was not able to attend rehearsals). There is also the matter of each of our own responsibilities outside of the commitment to theatre. And yet, in spite of the obstacles we all were able to overcome. This is not easily achieved but only when the individual's dedication and a little luck intervene.

I want to thank Lucia and the rest of the members of Escenikos Art Club for inviting me to participate in this event. They are a group of professionals that are so passionate about their craft and so dedicated that they deserve to, and I am sure they will, achieve great things as actors and artists, and in life as well.