Today, November 1st, SOU’s Performing Arts: Theatre will be presenting “Marisol”, a story about a young Latina woman, Marisol, fighting her way through the chaos of a full-blown angelic war caused by a dying and senile God.
“It’s all about the apocalypse and it’s very religious. The first part of the play has all these crazy [things] happening to Marisol” explains Danny Walker, who will be playing Lenny, the brother of Marisol’s best friend, June.
Such events entail having to continuously wrangle her way past men who are sexually and violently threatening towards her. “It’s [Rivera’s] way of explaining how men are only one minded, they have one thing they really think about. It’s definitely from a girl’s perspective.”
Alyssa Rhoney, left, is Marisol’s guardian angel, played by Leah Sanginiti, in José Rivera’s award-winning “Marisol,” running November 1-11 in the Center Square Theatre at Southern Oregon University. Photo by Greg Eliason
Marisol will be played by SOU student Leah Sanginiti. “Marisol is ethnic and she’s worked her way up to this middle class job, so she’s very much relatable to a lot of people,” explains Walker.
The play, directed by SOU’s theater arts professor Jackie Apodaca, is a modern version of the original “Marisol”, written by José Rivera in 1993. “It’s very raw, very visceral, and very in your face about everything. It deals with issues that are happening now, especially at SOU. We [at SOU] are very diverse and into equal rights, and that is definitely an aspect of the show,” says Walker, “It’s about putting a mirror up to the audience.”
The production has been in preparation for the duration of this fall semester, beginning with tryouts the first week of school and improvisational exercises the following week, “We read the play and then we messed around with what sounds really creep people out and what looks really creepy,” explains Walker, “Go see it!”
Other cast members include Anasazi Bhakti, Jimmy Dix, Blair Fraser, Sierra Faulkner, Kurt Langmeyer, Corey Porter, Alyssa Rhoney, Grace Wolcott, Rusty Yamamoto and Kevin Young. Assistant Director: Nick Altishin; Scenic Design: Sean O’Skea ; Costumes: Hanna Wisner; Lights: Chris Sackett; Sound: Joel Ferrier; Stage Manager: Katie Kammerer.
Student tickets are priced at $6, seniors $18, and regular audiences $21.
Click for ticket purchasing and more information on the play.
Also – check out the article in the Medford Mail Tribune.