CLATA is supported by
Now in its third year, inicios: Chicago Latine Playwright Festival, is the culmination of three months of work from CLATA's inaugural playwriting cohort. Our fellows and semifinalists have developed their plays under the mentorship of Dr. Rey Andújar, and now invite the community to experience their works coming to life as staged readings at Collaboraction Theatre (1757 N. Kimball Ave.)
Three days, six plays, all new work celebrating Latinidad! Admission is free. ¡Nos vemos!
Friday, May 15th at 6pm
We follow sisters Adelina and Itzel to Mexico to attend the funeral of their grandmother Mama Juana. There we see friction between the sisters about responsibility, duty, and loss. Adelina is feeling distraught over the sudden death as it has been years since she had visited Mama Juana. She wishes she could have just one more conversation with her…until suddenly she can see and speak to Mama Juana! This story is inspired by the passing of the playwright’s great grandmother.
Friday, May 15th at 8pm
Welcome to The Dam Inn where the Palwaukee Airport is in the backyard and the Des Plaines River is knocking on the front door. Nature vs. Man collides and at its center is the owner- Mel. As the pressure mounts with the looming airport expansion Mel reckons with the future while struggling to honor her late father's legacy. Based on a real bar in a real town, this documentary style drama exposes the forces brought down upon a community and its institutions lost to time. KA-BOOM!
Saturday, May 16th at 6pm
Mami and Papi come together to celebrate the return of their son, Carlos. Daisy, a psychedelic Shaman and daughter of the family, arrives and brings with her a bag of bamaná, a psychedelic drug used in her ceremonies, for the next day. However, Carlos soon realizes that his family can never be together without one thing: puras peleas. Upset at the condition of his family, Carlos takes matters into his own hands, taking his family on a much needed trip.
Saturday, May 16th at 8pm
Twenty-one-year-old Lucia is GORDA. After canceling on her best friend's birthday dinner, Lucia is fed up with her insecurities getting in the way of her friendships and dreams. Determined to become a more confident person, she turns to the ancient texts of Tiger Beat magazines. After finding a manifestation spell, she conjures a magic Ozempic pen and wakes the next day a size 4. As Lucia navigates her exciting new world of thinness, she begins to lose more than she gains. GORDA is a play about fatness, ancestral connection, and the lengths we go to feel seen.
Sunday, May 17th at 4pm
Manny is poised to be the next Latin urban music star and the first gay reggaetonero to be signed at a major label. While he soundchecks his show at a small club in Miami, a series of events threatens his ascent and forces Manny to confront his own ideas of family relationships, manhood, and Latinidad. Through his songs and actions, we witness in real time what he could be and what he isn't quite yet. "Estrellazo" is a celebration of música urbana and a cautionary tale about the importance of forgiving others and yourself.
Sunday, May 17th at 6pm
Carmelo is unemployed, stuck in a rut, and living with his recently widowed Ama. After reluctantly agreeing to accompany her on a church trip to Bumblefuck, Ohio, they both return having had experiences they didn't go looking for but may have needed. La Virgen de Bumblefuck, Ohio is a play about the irregular journey of navigating grief.
LA VIRGEN DE BUMBLEFUCK, OHIO TICKETS