Destinos, 6th Chicago International Latino Theater Festival, Chicago’s annual citywide festival showcasing Latino theater artists and companies from Chicago, the U.S. and Latin America, returns September 28-November 9, 2023.
Each fall, Destinos is a cultural high point of Chicago’s Latino Heritage Month, showcasing Latino theater artists and companies from Chicago, the U.S. and Latin America.
The festival is produced by the Chicago Latino Theater Alliance (CLATA), and is presented annually to drive Chicago’s vibrant Latino theater scene to a more prominent level locally, nationally and internationally.
Today, CLATA unveiled the 2023 Destinos line-up – 17 productions all new to Chicago debuting at theaters large and small all over the city, including four world premieres, two North American premieres, one U.S. premiere, and five Midwest premieres. Tickets to most productions go on sale Friday, August 18 at destinosfest.org.
“This year's Destinos offers un poquito de todo for everyone! We cannot wait to celebrate the beauty and diversity of our Latinidad through the many theater productions we'll see playing all over the city this fall. Being able to bring international and national productions to Chicago is exciting. But shining a spotlight on local Latine theater gems is an honor. Chicago’s Latine theater companies, after all, are the heart of Destinos,” said CLATA Executive Director Jorge Valdivia.
Destinos performances, from new solo shows to large scale productions, do sell out, so mark your calendar for the ticket on-sale date, Friday, August 18.
Visit destinosfest.org for tickets and information. For first notice of festival events, follow Destinos on Facebook, Instagram and Threads at @latinotheater, and sign up for CLATA’s weekly e-newsletter.
Destinos, 6th Chicago International Latino Theater Festival will present (top) Prieto featuring Yosimar Reyes at Chicago Shakespeare, (middle, from left) Yo No Estoy Loca starring Colombian star Marce Valencia at The Den, Peter Malmo, a “ScandiMexican tragedy” by Chicago’s Collectivo el Pozo and Akvavit Theatre at Raven, (bottom) Conchi León’s La Tia Mariela, from Mexico, at the National Museum of Mexican Art and Armonía, a love triangle drama from Puerto Rico Theatre Lab at The Den.
The 2023 Destinos Festival is bringing three exciting international productions from Mexico, Puerto Rico and Colombia to Chicago:
La Tía Mariela, written and directed by acclaimed Mexican theater artist Conchi León, is a tale about 12 Mayan aunts whose names all begin with “M.” Co-presented by CLATA and the National Museum of Mexican Art for three shows only: October 3-5. Opens Tuesday, October 3.
The North American premiere of Puerto Rico Theatre Lab’s Armonía, written by Ricardo André Lugo, directed by Edgardo Soto. This is a story of a passionate love triangle that entangles Vincent, and his ex-partners, Daniel and Lucía. One weekend only: October 19-22 at The Den Theatre in Wicker Park. Opens Thursday, October 19.
Yo No Estoy Loca via Teatro Petra in Colombia, a North American premiere written and directed by Fabio Rubiano, featuring theater, television and film actor Marce Valencia. Rubiano and Valencia are co-founders of Teatro Petra, one the most prestigious theater companies in Colombia. Performances are October 26-28 at Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center in Hermosa. Opens Thursday, October 26.
U.S. productions, traveling from out-of-town for their Chicago debuts, include:
Taxilandia, a Midwest premiere written, directed and performed by Modesto Flako Jimenez, presented by ¡Oye! and Flako Studios, New York City. This one-man show, developed in Jimenez’s neighborhood, Bushwick, Brooklyn, was drawn from his nine years driving a taxi, documenting conversations with passengers, locals and immigrants to his neighborhood. Taxilandia runs October 12-14 at The Den Theatre. Opens Thursday October 12.
Acclaimed California-based artist and poet Yosimar Reyes takes audiences on a journey into his experience growing up queer in the ‘hood of East San Jose in his one-man show, Prieto. This Midwest premiere from Living Word Project in San Jose is co-presented by CLATA and Chicago Shakespeare Theater one weekend only, October 20-22. Opens Friday, October 20.
Chicago Latino companies, artists and shows participating in the 6th Destinos Festival are:
Destinos Spotlight Weekend kicks off this year’s festival September 28-30 at Steppenwolf’s 1700 Theater with four nights of Chicago Latine artists performing four different genres: comedia, improv, musica and teatro fisico. The weekend kicks off with Vanessa Garcia’s sketch comedy revue La Carne Asada, Thursday, September 28; a comedy improv night Friday, September 29; Cabaret Parodia’s Dramaticas: A Telenovela & Musical Revue, Saturday, September 30; and an all-Latine Scratch Night with Physical Theater Festival Chicago, Monday, October 2.
A witch wants to get rid of all numbers, but discovers math is a beautiful subject in El Baile De Los Números, a world premiere production for families by Tomas Urtusastegui, directed by Karla Galvan. Presented September 30-October 8 by Teatro Tariakuri in Marquette Park, featuring the company’s Los Chilpayates Youth Ensemble. Opens Saturday, September 30.
Peter Malmo, a world premiere “ScandiMexican tragedy” by Raúl Dorantes and Mark Litwick, in a co-production from Colectivo El Pozo and Akvavit Theatre. This new play, inspired by Juan Rolfo’s classic novel "Pedro Páramo” and reset in wintery Wisconsin, runs October 6-29 at Raven Theatre. Opens Friday, October 6.
The American Dream, a world premiere by Juan Ramirez Jr., about a Guatemalan immigrant held captive by her human coyote, presented by Subtext Studio Theatre at Madison Street Theater in Oak Park. Omar Vicente Fernandez, formerly with 16th Street Theatre, directs. Performances are October 5-29. Opens Saturday, October 7.
Goodman Theatre and the Chicago Latino Theater Alliance (CLATA) present Prism Movement Theatre (Dallas)’s Lucha Teotl. Pro wrestling bursts onto the stage in this high-octane, immersive, 90-minute thrill ride, written and directed by Christopher Llewyn Ramirez and Jeff Colangelo. Audiences will sit ringside as actors and luchadores in masks representing Aztec gods play out an exciting wrestling story about family, honor, tradition and redemption. This Midwest premiere runs September 29-October 29. Opens Monday, October 9.
Teatro Tariakuri in Marquette Park presents the world premiere of Lotería: Dichos, Proverbios, Albures, written by Tomas Urtusastegui, co-directed by Karla Galvan and Esteban Pantoja. Lotería re-imagines the game of Mexican lottery, using traditional expressions and proverbs instead of the usual iconic images. Performances are October 14-29. Opens Saturday, October 14.
Lace up your gloves for Visión Latino Theater’s That Must Be The Entrance To Heaven, Franky D. Gonzalez’s play about four Latino prize fighters chasing their dreams of a world boxing title. Xavier M. Custodio directs this Midwest premiere, a poetic collision of combat and cosmos, October 14-November 5 at UrbanTheater Company in Humboldt Park. Opens Wednesday, October 18.
Repertorio Latino Theater presents the world premiere of La Jom Atenda by Dio-genes Abreu, about the deep human relationship developed between a home attendant and her aging client. Performances are October 19-November 5 at Chess Live in Bridgeport. Opens Saturday, October 21.
Aguijón Theatre, Chicago’s oldest Latino theater, will present a Spanish-language production TBA at the National Museum of Mexican Art, November 7-9. Opens Tuesday, November 7.
Your itinerary for the 6th Destinos Festival (at press time, chronological order, showtimes and ticket prices are TBA):
Opening September 25-October 1
Destinos Spotlight Weekend
- Co-presented by CLATA and Steppenwolf Theatre Company
- At Steppenwolf’s 1700 Theater, 1700 N. Halsted St. in Lincoln Park
September 28-30
- Thursday, September 28: La Carne Asada, a sketch comedy revue by Vanessa Garcia
- Friday, September 29: Improv Night
- Saturday, September 30: Dramaticas: A Telenovela & Musical
- Monday, October 2: Scratch Night with Physical Theater Festival Chicago
English and Spanish
70 minutes
Destinos 2023 kicks off with four fun-filled nights of Chicago Latine artists performing four different genres: comedia, improv, música and teatro físico.
Destinos Spotlight Weekend starts with Vanessa Garcia’s sketch comedy revue La Carne Asada, Thursday, September 28, followed by a night devoted to improv; Friday, September 29, Cabaret Parodia’s Dramaticas: A Telenovela & Musical Revue on Saturday, September 30; culminating in an all-Latine Scratch Night with Physical Theater Festival Chicago, Monday, October 2.
El Baile De Los Números
- World Premiere
- By Tomas Urtusastegui, directed by Karla Galvan
- Presented by Teatro Tariakuri, 3117 W. 63rd St. in Marquette Park
- Opens Saturday, September 30
- Runs through October 8, Saturdays and Sundays
- In Spanish with English subtitles
- 60 minutes
A witch wants to get rid of all numbers, but has a change of heart when she learns that math is a beautiful subject in El Baile de los Números, a new production for family audiences featuring Teatro Tariakuri’s Los Chilpayates Youth Ensemble.
Teatro Tariakuri dance and theatre performing arts (TTPA) is a non-profit community arts organization established in Chicago in 2004 to offer children and adults from Chicago’s Marquette Park and surrounding communities affordable access to performing arts classes and professional artistic training opportunities. teatrotariakuri.org
Opening October 2-8
Mexican theater artist Conchi León (left) is the writer and director of La Tia Mariela
La Tía Mariela
- U.S. Premiere
- Directed and Written by Conchi León
- Choreography by Oswaldo Ferrer
- Co-presented by CLATA and the National Museum of Mexican Art, 1852 W. 19th St. in Pilsen
- One week only: October 3-5
- Opens Tuesday, October 3
Renowned Mexican actor, director, dramaturg and playwright Conchi León, who won international fame with her play Mestiza Power, brings La Tía Mariela to Chicago. With Yucatan humor, audiences will laugh and cry throughout this saga about the pain and joy of 12 Mayan aunts whose names all begin with “M.”
Press play to screen and download a video trailer for La Tia Mariela.
Peter Malmo
Peter Malmo
- World Premiere
- By Raúl Dorantes and Mark Litwicki, directed by Chad Eric Bergman
- Co-presented by Colectivo El Pozo and Akvavit Theatre, Chicago
- At Raven Theatre Chicago, 6157 N. Clark St. in Uptown
- October 5-October 29
- Preview Thursday, October 5
- Opens Friday, October 6
- Through October 29
- Presented in English with Spanish subtitles
- 75 minutes
Peter Malmo is a reinterpretation of Mexican writer Juan Rolfo’s classic novel "Pedro Páramo." Johnny, the protagonist, arrives in a small town in wintery Wisconsin in search of his father. While encountering the ghosts of former residents, Johnny discovers his father’s, his family’s and the town’s past. He also meets a newly arrived immigrant couple determined to revitalize their new hometown. Strap in for this “ScandiMexican Tragedy” that brings new light to Rolfo’s themes of death, desolation and rebirth.
Peter Malmo, written by Raúl Dorantes and Mark Litwicki, directed by Chad Eric Bergman, is presented in association with Colective el Pozo and Akvavit Theatre. Since its inception in 2009, Colectivo El Pozo has expanded theatrical opportunities for Chicago artists interested in developing Spanish- language theater within the broader scope of immigration. facebook.com/ColectivoElPozo. Akvavit Theatre is a Chicago company with a focus on Nordic and Scandinavian works.
The American Dream
The American Dream
- World Premiere
- By Juan Ramirez, Jr., directed by Omar Vicente Fernandez
- Presented by Subtext Studio Theatre Company
- At Madison Street Theater, 1010 Madison St. in Oak Park
- October 5-29
- Preview: Thursday, October 5
- Press Opening: Saturday, October 7
- Through October 29
- Presented in English with Spanish subtitles
Corina is a Guatemalan immigrant who has smuggled her way across the border guided by her coyote Efren. Instead of finding freedom, she finds herself imprisoned by her human smuggler, who now holds her inside a safe house, awaiting final payment from her husband. Set in the last hour and twenty minutes, Corina begs for her freedom. But letting her go is against everything Efren stands for.
American Dream is written by Juan Ramirez, Jr. It was selected for the New American Voices Play Reading Series at The Landing Theatre in Houston, was part of the inaugural Broadway Bound Theatre Festival at the 14th Street Y, and was a semifinalist for Stage Left Theatre’s 2016 Downstage Left residency.
This world premiere is directed by Omar Vicente Fernandez, a Mexican American theater artist, born in Berwyn, a former staff member at 16th Street Theatre, and co-founder of Subtext Studio. In 2022, he joined forces with Dragonfly Theatre Company’s Jean Gottlieb to create Subtext Studio Theatre Company. subtextstudiotc.org
Opening October 9-15
Goodman Theatre and the Chicago Latino Theater Alliance (CLATA) present Prism Movement Theatre (Dallas)’s Lucha Teotl
- Midwest Premiere
- Written and directed by Christopher Llewyn Ramirez and Jeff Colangelo
- At Goodman Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn in downtown Chicago
- September 29-October 29
- Previews September 29-October 8
- Opens Monday, October 9
- Runs through October 29
- Presented in English and Spanish
- 90 minutes
Pro wrestling bursts onto the stage in this high-octane, immersive, 90-minute thrill ride, written and directed by Christopher Llewyn Ramirez and Jeff Colangelo. Audiences will sit ringside as actors and luchadores in masks representing Aztec gods play out an exciting wrestling story about family, honor, tradition and redemption.
Taxilandia
- Midwest Premiere
- Written, directed and performed by Modesto Flako Jimenez
- Presented by ¡Oye! and Flako Studios, New York City
- At The Den Theatre, 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Wicker Park
- One weekend only: October 12-14
- Opens Thursday, October 12 at 8 p.m.
- Presented in English and Spanish
- 75 minutes
Taxilandia, created by Dominican-born Modesto Flako Jimenez, immerses its audience in the flavors, sounds, sights, and dynamic history of a neighborhood confronting social stigmas and the realities of gentrification. Originally developed in Jimenez’s own neighborhood of Bushwick, Brooklyn, the piece was inspired and drawn from his nine years driving a taxicab and his documentation of conversations with passengers, residents, locals, and immigrants to the neighborhood.
Weaving a dramatic, performative ‘tapestry’ that interconnects generations, social classes, races, and cultures, Taxilandia complicates our notion of what it means to be a local, an immigrant, or a resident of a place, challenging us to answer: “What is my personal roadmap of home?”
Lotería: Dichos, Proverbios, Albures
- World premiere
- Written by Tomas Urtusastegui, co-directed by Karla Galvan and Esteban Pantoja
- Presented by Teatro Tariakuri, 3117 W. 63rd St. in Marquette Park
- October 14-29
- Opens Saturday, October 14 at 7:30 p.m.
- Runs through October 29: Saturday at 7:30 p.m.; Sunday at 3 p.m.
- Performed in Spanish with English subtitles
We’ve all seen the oversized game cards and colorful, iconic images of the traditional Mexican game, Lotería. Now Teatro Tariakuri brings the excitement of the game to the live stage in this hilarious new interactive comedy. But instead of figures like a ladder, policeman or death, Lotería is played using traditional Mexican proverbs.
Teatro Tariakuri dance and theatre performing arts (TTPA) is a non-profit community arts organization with a storefront space, robust education program, and beautiful new sign illuminating a busy stretch of 63rd Street in Marquette Park. teatrotariakuri.org
That Must Be The Entrance To Heaven
- Midwest Premiere
- By Franky D. Gonzalez, directed by Xavier M. Custodio
- Presented by Visión Latino Theater Company, Chicago
- At UrbanTheater Company, 2620 W. Division St. in Humboldt Park
- October 14-November 5
- Previews Saturday, October 14 and Sunday, October 15
- Opens Wednesday, October 18
- Runs through October 29
- Presented in English
Glory. Survival. Legacy. Citizenship. Four Latino boxers all chase a world title to achieve their personal versions of heaven. But to get there, they must battle each other, their own battered bodies, and the universe itself. All four men walk the line between life and death in this poignant, poetic collision of combat and cosmos.
Visión Latino’s is only the second production of That Must Be the Entrance to Heaven. It premiered at Urbanite Theater in Sarasota this summer, where it was hailed “an excellent debut” with “beautiful characters and gorgeous dialog” (Bradenton Times).
Playwright Franky D. Gonzalez is the recipient of numerous awards and was a staff writer for 13 Reasons Why. His work has appeared at Urbanite Theatre, The Lark, the Sundance Institute, the Ojai Playwrights Conference, the Latinx Playwrights Circle, the Great Plains Theatre Conference, the Goodman Theatre (Live @ Five Series), The New Harmony Project, Repertorio Español, LAByrinth Theater Company, Ars Nova (ANT Fest 2021), Dallas Theater Center, Austin Latinx New Play Festival, among others.
Vísión Latino Theater’s Artistic Director Xavier M. Custodio directs. His credits include Sancocho, Vísión Latino’s breakout hit at last year’s Destinos Festival. visionlatino.com
Opening October 16-22
La Jom Atenda
- Midwest Premiere
- Written by Dio-genes Abreu, directed by Joaquin Catana
- Presented by Repertorio Latino Theater, Chicago
- at Chess Live, 3622 S. Morgan St. in Bridgeport
- October 19-November 5
- Previews Thursday and Friday, October 19 and 20
- Opens Saturday, October 21
- Runs through November 5
- Presented in Spanish with English subtitles
La Jom Atenda narrates the close professional and human relationship developed between a home attendant and Don Tuto, her aging client. Don Tuto is a widowed, retired man. A deep human relationship and emotional interdependence has developed between them that will allow them to share moments of joy and sadness.
La Jom Atenda is written by Dio-genes Abreu and directed by Joaquin Catana. Repertorio Latino Theater was founded in 1998 by a group of actors committed to elevating Spanish language theater in Chicago. repertoriolatino.org
Armonía
Armonía
- North American Premiere
- Written by Ricardo André Lugo, directed by Edgardo Soto
- Presented by Puerto Rico Theatre Lab, Puerto Rico
- At The Den Theatre, 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Wicker Park
- One weekend only: October 19-22
- Opens Thursday October 19
- Presented in Spanish with English subtitles
- 80 minutes
Things take an unexpected turn at couples therapy, where Vincent reunites his two exes, Daniel and Lucía, with the bold plan to reveal that he does not want to be with either of them, but together with all three of them. Through memories, confessions, and fights, the three of them stir up a solution to a passionate love triangle.
Armonía premiered in February 2020 at the Teatro Victoria Espinosa in Santurce, PR, and made its second appearance as an official selection of Festival de Teatro Puertorriqueño del Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña.
Yosimar Reyes in Prieto
Prieto
- Midwest Premiere
- Written by and starring Yosimar Reyes, co-directed by Kat Evasco and Sean San José
- by Living Word Project, San Jose, CA
- Co-presented by Chicago Shakespeare Theater and CLATA
- In the theater Upstairs at Chicago Shakespeare, 800 E. Grand Ave. on Navy Pier
- One weekend only: October 20-22
- Opens Friday, October 20 at 7:30 p.m.
- Runs Saturday and Sunday, October 21 and 22 at 7:30 p.m.
- Presented in English with sprinkles of Spanish
Chicago Shakespeare and the Chicago Latino Theater Alliance (CLATA) co-present Prieto, an autobiographical coming-of-age story written and performed by Yosimar Reyes.
Reyes gives a playful performance as his younger self in this defiant and joyful celebration of self-discovery, taking audiences on a journey through his childhood growing up queer with an overprotective grandmother in the ‘hood of East San Jose. Against a backdrop of poverty and politics, Reyes comes to understand the complex intersection of his queerness and identity as an undocumented American, navigating topics typically entrenched in struggle with levity.
Prieto premiered at San Francisco’s Brava Theater in October 2022. Now on tour with The Living Word Project, Prieto has seen productions at San Jose Theater and Movimiento de Arte y Cultura Latino Americana (MACLA) in San Jose, CA. livingwordject.org
Opening October 23-29
Marce Valencia in Yo No Estoy Loca
Yo No Estoy Loca
- North American Premiere
- Written and directed by Fabio Rubiano, featuring Marce Valencia
- Presented by Teatro Petra, Colombia
- At Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center, 4046 W. Armitage Ave. in Hermosa
- One weekend only: October 26-28
- Opens Thursday, October 26.
- Runs Friday and Saturday, October 27 and 28.
- Presented in Spanish with English subtitles
- 80 minutes
Colombian star of stage and screen Marce Valencia stars in this story of a woman who lives outside the norm within a society where the norm means to let things go, keep quiet, and deal with it. While her stories seem like fiction, they are all based on real life. Everything you are about to see…happened!
Yo No Estoy Loca is written by Fabio Rubiano, who co-founded Teatro Pena in Bogotá with Marce Valencia. teatropetra.com
Opening November 6-9
Aguijón Theatre, Chicago’s oldest Latino theater, will present a Spanish-language production TBA at the National Museum of Mexican Art, November 7-9. Opens Tuesday, November 7.
About the Chicago Latino Theater Alliance (CLATA)
The Chicago Latino Theater Alliance (CLATA) is a transformative cultural engine helping drive the city’s local Latine theater community to a more prominent level.
CLATA's signature program is Destinos, the Chicago International Latino Theater Festival, an annual, citywide festival showcasing Chicago’s Latine theater artists and companies alongside top Latine artists from the U.S. and Latin America. Every fall, Destinos presents a rich, diverse array of bilingual, Latine-themed shows, panels and student performances at marquee venues downtown, as well as storefront theaters and cultural institutions in predominantly Latine neighborhoods throughout the city.
Earlier this year, in a new initiative to help foster the creation of new plays by Chicago’s Latine writers, CLATA introduced its first-ever Inicios: Chicago Latine Playwright Festival, June 2-4 at UrbanTheater Company, Aguijón Theater and Teatro Tariakuri. Plays selected for workshop and presented as free staged readings were New Personalidad by Chicago actor and playwright Nelson A. Rodriguez, Dulcci by Raúl Dorantes and Emily Masó, and Gasping: A Nicaraguan Fever Dream by Claribel Gross.
Additionally, CLATA provides local Latine theater groups ongoing organizational and financial support, and is working to create a permanent home for Chicago’s Latine theater artists. Ultimately, CLATA works year round to enhance Chicago’s reputation as one of the most exciting and culturally diverse theater cities in the world.
CLATA was co-founded in 2016 as a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization by the late Myrna Salazar and Chicago’s three most prominent Latine arts organizations: the National Museum of Mexican Art (NMMA), the International Latino Cultural Center (ILCC), and the Puerto Rican Arts Alliance (PRAA). Jorge Valdivia, formerly Director of Performing Arts at the National Museum of Mexican Art, was appointed CLATA’s Executive Director in November 2022.
CLATA gratefully acknowledges general operating support from the Ford Foundation, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Joyce Foundation, Arts Work Fund, Paul M. Angell Family Foundation, Driehaus Foundation, Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelly Foundation, Excellerator Fund, Shubert Foundation, NALAC, a CityArts grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, Illinois Travel & Tourism Grant Program and Illinois Arts Council Agency. Project Supporters are Allstate, Choose Chicago, ComEd, National Endowment for the Arts and Wintrust.
For more information, visit clata.org, or follow CLATA on Facebook, Instagram and Threads at @latinotheater.