House On Mango Street Takes To The Stage

They will not know I have gone away to come back. For the ones I left behind. For the ones that cannot out.
– Esperanza Cordero, The House On Mango Street


















Front to back: Sandra Delgado, Belinda Cervantes and Christina Nieves
photo by Saverio Truglia


The world premiere for the musical adaptation of The House on Mango Street opens this fall. The cast of the new play features: Belinda Cervantes, Gina Cornejo, Sandra Delgado as Esperanza, Liza Fernandez, Ricardo Gutierrez, Christina Nieves, Tony Sancho and Mari Stratton. Earlier this year Proyecto Latina had the opportunity to talk to some of the ladies that are now involved with this production.

Check out our interview archive to learn more about them:

• Sandra Cisneros: Compost your rage and fuel your art
  
  
• Tanya Saracho,The discipline and power of theatre
  
  
• Sandra Delgado in El Grito del Bronx
  
  
• Belinda Cervantes: Two sisters, one cd & lots of livin' & learnin'
  

The House On Mango Street by Chicago writer Sandra Cisneros has been adapted by playwright Tanya Saracho, who took on the challenge of bringing Esperanza and the people on Mango Street to the stage. Saracho also recently received two Jeff Nominations for her play Our Lady of the Underpass.

The House on Mango Street is a coming of age story of Esperanza, a Mexican-American girl, growing up in Chicago. The book gives voice to Esperanza and her working class family, as well as, the people that live on Mango Street. The book is not only a Chicago story but an American story.

Proyecto Latina congratulates all of these ladies for their artistic achievements and contributions to the arts in Chicago.

This World Premiere production opens October 13 – November 1. In the Steppenwolf Upstairs Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted St., in Chicago. For information on reservation and performance times visit www.steppenwolf.org or call (312) 335-1650.