| barriozona |
| Published by the Hispanic Institute of Social Issues |
From Phoenix, Arizona to the World Wide Web
Teatro Nopalero: Seeking Social Change,
Justice and Consciousness Through Theater
Justice and Consciousness Through Theater
A group of young activist actors bring forth a theatrical approach to deal with social issues at the
grassroots level.
grassroots level.
Interview and video by Eduardo Barraza | Watch Video
Phoenix, Arizona, February 1, 2010 - In the context of Arizona’s legislation and crackdown on
undocumented immigration, Teatro Nopalero emerges as a developing alternative to tackle
immigration issues and other social problems in Maricopa County. Barriozona Magazine presents this
exclusive interview with Silvia Rodriguez, the group’s leader and an actress.
BARRIOZONA: How was Teatro Nopalero formed?
Silvia Rodriguez: In 2006, when the human rights marches began in Arizona, students united
against Prop 300, and in an effort to educate the community about all the issues that were going
on with immigration, I decided to use theater. I have had experience with doing Theater of the
Oppressed, and invited my friends to join me. We never wanted to become anything professional
or a big deal. We just wanted to educate other students and voters on what was happening.
Somehow, I became the director of the group, since I was the one with the most theater
experience. People in other places began to ask us to do theater at their events and soon we were
named “El Teatro Nopalero.” It began as a joke, however, soon after that we were known for what
we were doing, and that became our official name. Many of the original members such as Dulce
Juarez have continued to act, and work with other theater companies. Others started their own
groups, but theater became a part of all of our lives.
BARRIOZONA: In essence, what is Teatro Nopalero trying to accomplish?
Silvia Rodriguez: To create social change and consciousness through theater. We want to work
with the community and find solutions to the problems we have. We want to empower others to
use their talents to help others. One of the main motivators for our group is fighting for justice,
particularly with the Dream Act, and immigration reform. But all of our plays have positive
messages, dealing with family issues, drugs, education, relationships, discrimination, violence, and
all sorts of messages about oppression and liberation.
BARRIOZONA: What are some of the plays your group has presented?
Silvia Rodriguez: We have been presenting theater for social change since 2006, when Prop 300
was on the ballot; that is how the group began. Some are "Cuando el Mojado se Seca," "La Tripa
no Sabe de Leyes ni Fronteras," "Aliens in the Cage," "Las Comadres y El Sheriff," "Al Otro lado de
la Tortilla," "Cholas Going to College," and others...
We have performed at schools, churches, community centers; we run workshops at national
conferences on how to use street theater for social change.
BARRIOZONA: Who writes and directs the plays?
Silvia Rodriguez: Most of the time we meet as a group and develop everything together: the
costumes, the lines, and the stories. At times I have crazy ideas like (the play) “Aliens in the Cage”
and the group members are bravely willing to help me develop them, and present them no matter
how controversial they might be.
BARRIOZONA: What is the focus of your plays?
Silvia Rodriguez: All of the plays have a message for social change, and has strong roots in Theater
of the Oppressed. Many times the message is contentious and political, which helps the goal of the
group. The goal is to create consciousness through the art of theater.
BARRIOZONA: What are the main challenges and obstacles for your group?
Silvia Rodriguez: The main challenge is that we all are students, have jobs and families, so getting
together many times is hard to do. Other challenges for some of the group members is that many
times our work is presented in an underground sort of way, because of the controversy and heavy
criticism we have towards the sheriff and the leaders of this state; we do some of our work
anonymously.
BARRIOZONA: Does your group receive funding/donations or is it based on volunteer work?
Silvia Rodriguez: We have done all of our performances and community workshops for free. We
never charge people, we believe that teatro should be free, and because it is used to create
consciousness, we believe that everyone should have access to it. But we do accept and welcome
any donations that will help us in our efforts to bring theater to the community.
BARRIOZONA: What feedback have you received from the community?
Silvia Rodriguez: The community loves our theater, we always try to use humor and incorporate as
many characters from the barrio, so people could identify with it. Such as the cholos y cholas, the
comadres, the college students, eloteros (corn vendors) and other characters.
BARRIOZONA: What makes your group different than others that do similar work?
Silvia Rodriguez: Most of our work is improvised; we do not have scripts, we don’t focus on doing
main stage work. We are not in this to become famous; we are in it because we know the powerful
tool that theater is to create and promote freedom. To educate the community, to transmit
messages of hope and change.
We believe in the power of the people, and draw of strength from our roots and pre-colonial
cultura. We challenge the status quo and we are not afraid to question. But most of all we do
theater from a place of love.
BARRIOZONA: What are some of the short and long term goals for Teatro Nopalero?
Silvia Rodriguez: To be more active as a theater group, to do park performances this summer
where people of all backgrounds and children who have nothing to do during the summer can come
and learn, have fun, and be inspired.
BARRIOZONA: How can the community support Teatro Nopalero?
Silvia Rodriguez: By asking us to go perform for them, and telling others about our group, by joining
and becoming involved.
Teatro Nopalero's MySpace Page
undocumented immigration, Teatro Nopalero emerges as a developing alternative to tackle
immigration issues and other social problems in Maricopa County. Barriozona Magazine presents this
exclusive interview with Silvia Rodriguez, the group’s leader and an actress.
BARRIOZONA: How was Teatro Nopalero formed?
Silvia Rodriguez: In 2006, when the human rights marches began in Arizona, students united
against Prop 300, and in an effort to educate the community about all the issues that were going
on with immigration, I decided to use theater. I have had experience with doing Theater of the
Oppressed, and invited my friends to join me. We never wanted to become anything professional
or a big deal. We just wanted to educate other students and voters on what was happening.
Somehow, I became the director of the group, since I was the one with the most theater
experience. People in other places began to ask us to do theater at their events and soon we were
named “El Teatro Nopalero.” It began as a joke, however, soon after that we were known for what
we were doing, and that became our official name. Many of the original members such as Dulce
Juarez have continued to act, and work with other theater companies. Others started their own
groups, but theater became a part of all of our lives.
BARRIOZONA: In essence, what is Teatro Nopalero trying to accomplish?
Silvia Rodriguez: To create social change and consciousness through theater. We want to work
with the community and find solutions to the problems we have. We want to empower others to
use their talents to help others. One of the main motivators for our group is fighting for justice,
particularly with the Dream Act, and immigration reform. But all of our plays have positive
messages, dealing with family issues, drugs, education, relationships, discrimination, violence, and
all sorts of messages about oppression and liberation.
BARRIOZONA: What are some of the plays your group has presented?
Silvia Rodriguez: We have been presenting theater for social change since 2006, when Prop 300
was on the ballot; that is how the group began. Some are "Cuando el Mojado se Seca," "La Tripa
no Sabe de Leyes ni Fronteras," "Aliens in the Cage," "Las Comadres y El Sheriff," "Al Otro lado de
la Tortilla," "Cholas Going to College," and others...
We have performed at schools, churches, community centers; we run workshops at national
conferences on how to use street theater for social change.
BARRIOZONA: Who writes and directs the plays?
Silvia Rodriguez: Most of the time we meet as a group and develop everything together: the
costumes, the lines, and the stories. At times I have crazy ideas like (the play) “Aliens in the Cage”
and the group members are bravely willing to help me develop them, and present them no matter
how controversial they might be.
BARRIOZONA: What is the focus of your plays?
Silvia Rodriguez: All of the plays have a message for social change, and has strong roots in Theater
of the Oppressed. Many times the message is contentious and political, which helps the goal of the
group. The goal is to create consciousness through the art of theater.
BARRIOZONA: What are the main challenges and obstacles for your group?
Silvia Rodriguez: The main challenge is that we all are students, have jobs and families, so getting
together many times is hard to do. Other challenges for some of the group members is that many
times our work is presented in an underground sort of way, because of the controversy and heavy
criticism we have towards the sheriff and the leaders of this state; we do some of our work
anonymously.
BARRIOZONA: Does your group receive funding/donations or is it based on volunteer work?
Silvia Rodriguez: We have done all of our performances and community workshops for free. We
never charge people, we believe that teatro should be free, and because it is used to create
consciousness, we believe that everyone should have access to it. But we do accept and welcome
any donations that will help us in our efforts to bring theater to the community.
BARRIOZONA: What feedback have you received from the community?
Silvia Rodriguez: The community loves our theater, we always try to use humor and incorporate as
many characters from the barrio, so people could identify with it. Such as the cholos y cholas, the
comadres, the college students, eloteros (corn vendors) and other characters.
BARRIOZONA: What makes your group different than others that do similar work?
Silvia Rodriguez: Most of our work is improvised; we do not have scripts, we don’t focus on doing
main stage work. We are not in this to become famous; we are in it because we know the powerful
tool that theater is to create and promote freedom. To educate the community, to transmit
messages of hope and change.
We believe in the power of the people, and draw of strength from our roots and pre-colonial
cultura. We challenge the status quo and we are not afraid to question. But most of all we do
theater from a place of love.
BARRIOZONA: What are some of the short and long term goals for Teatro Nopalero?
Silvia Rodriguez: To be more active as a theater group, to do park performances this summer
where people of all backgrounds and children who have nothing to do during the summer can come
and learn, have fun, and be inspired.
BARRIOZONA: How can the community support Teatro Nopalero?
Silvia Rodriguez: By asking us to go perform for them, and telling others about our group, by joining
and becoming involved.
Teatro Nopalero's MySpace Page
Eduardo Barraza is a journalist and writer,
Barriozona Magazine's editor, and director of
the Hispanic Insitute of Social Issues.
E-mail: editor@barriozona.com
Barriozona Magazine's editor, and director of
the Hispanic Insitute of Social Issues.
E-mail: editor@barriozona.com
| M U L T I M E D I A |
| CLICK TO WATCH VIDEO |
ON STAGE Prior to an immigrant march
in Phoenix, members of Teatro Nopalero
present a play based on Maricopa
Sheriff's immigration raids and
separation of families. Photo by
Eduardo Barraza/BARRIOZONA.
in Phoenix, members of Teatro Nopalero
present a play based on Maricopa
Sheriff's immigration raids and
separation of families. Photo by
Eduardo Barraza/BARRIOZONA.
| Hispanic Institute of Social Issues © 2006-2010 All rights reserved. webmaster@hisi.org |
FENCED IN First performed at Arizona
State University in April of 2008, the
play "Aliens in the Cage", depicts
human beings confined inside cages,
representing the criminalization of
undocumented immigrants. On the
picture, Dulce Juarez (left) and Silvia
Rodriguez (right). Photo courtesy of
Teatro Nopalero.
State University in April of 2008, the
play "Aliens in the Cage", depicts
human beings confined inside cages,
representing the criminalization of
undocumented immigrants. On the
picture, Dulce Juarez (left) and Silvia
Rodriguez (right). Photo courtesy of
Teatro Nopalero.
| Documented Dreams |
| A bilingual book based on a collection of letters written by students struggling to continue with their education due to their immigration status. The letters document the socio-economic plight of Arizona immigrant students who were brought to the United States as children, and due to their legal status are forced to abandon college or pay out-of-the state tuition. A fully bilingual book in English and Spanish; includes black and white photographs. |
A book published by the Hispanic Institute of Social Issues to serve and educate.
| RELATED ARTICLES: Marches and Demonstrations Do Work, For A Variety of (Good and Bad) Reasons Thousands of Immigrant Families March to Protest Arpaio and Remind Obama his Promise of Reform En Español: Marchan Inmigrantes por Reforma Migratoria Por Eduardo Barraza (Publicado en La Crónica de Mexicali, Baja California) |
| LA HISTORIA ESTÁ A PUNTO DE CAMBIAR Periodismo de Base Comunitaria |
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