In ALTAR, Eugenio, a young Mexican immigrant living in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, experiences heartbreak when Benjamin, his new boyfriend, inexplicably “ghosts” him. Looking to the traditional Mexican holiday Dia de Muertos, Eugenio decides to build an altar in the hopes that he will be able to summon his boyfriend’s “ghost” and gain the closure he so desperately desires. In Urn, siblings Esteban and Mariana reconnect at their mother’s funeral after years of being estranged. Guzman explores the concept of “home” from the perspective of two immigrants who have to deal with the consequences of what happens when the only person who has grounded them in their cultural identity is gone.
About the Author
Santiago Guzmán (he/they) is an award-winning playwright, dramaturge, performer, and director originally from Metepec, Mexico, now based in St. John’s, NL. He is the Founder and Artistic Director of TODOS Productions, and Artistic Director for Playwrights Atlantic Resource Centre. Their work has been supported, developed and/or produced by theatre companies and festivals such as TODOS Productions (NL), Resource Centre for the Arts Theatre Company (NL), White Rooster Theatre (NL), Artistic Fraud of Newfoundland (NL), Poverty Cove Theatre Company (NL), Rising Tide Theatre (NL), Neighbourhood Dance Works (NL), Theatre Newfoundland and Labrador (NL), Eastern Front Theatre (NS), PARC (pan-Atlantic), Ship’s Company Theatre (NS), Theatre New Brunswick (NB), Boca Del Lupo (BC), Paprika Festival (ON), Stratford Festival (ON), Lemontree Creations (ON), Banff Playwrights Lab (AB) and the National Theatre School of Canada’s Art Apart Program (QC). Santiago’s work is very gay, very brown, and very real.
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