11/07/2024
Forbes Recommends Water People Theater
"The Delicate Tears of the Waning Moon"
"Las Delicadas Lágrimas de la Luna Menguante"
Don't miss it in New York from July 11th to 14th at Repertorio Español's venue.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/jerylbrunner/2024/07/10/for-24-years-water-people-theater-has-been-devoted-to-amplifying-unheard-voices/
For 24 Years Water People Theater Has Been Devoted To Amplifying Unheard Voices
For more than two decades Water People Theater has created bilingual theater that is devoted to promoting social and human values. At its core, this Latina and immigrant-led nonprofit believes that theater has the power to spark conversation and transform people.
Through their performances and educational offerings Water People Theater seeks to inspire audiences to become changemakers and foster equitable and inclusive communities.
“Theater has the power to profoundly move and transform us,” says Rebeca Alemán, Water People Theater’s executive director and founder. “It's an art form that reaches our humanity's depths, evoking empathy, compassion, and a shared sense of purpose. This transformative experience is a profound act of faith in humanity, a constant celebration of life. Through theater, we engage in a continuous act of love, connecting with others and inspiring change.”
Alemán always believed in the theater’s unique ability to revolutionize souls. A veteran of dozens of theater productions, soap operas, and films, Alemán has produced and directed multiple short films focused on her passion for raising awareness for protecting children and families from violence around the world.
“I believe in people and their immense potential to bring about change,” says Alemán. “Art, when deeply committed to humanity, can unite us, foster solidarity, and defend our rights. Alemán adds that her life’s work is to advocate for human rights, justice, and freedom. “I am inspired by the courage it takes to stand up for what we believe in, and I wanted to create a space where these values can thrive and where people can come together to inspire, challenge, and transform the world around us.”
When she founded the theater in 2001 Alemán, who is an actress, journalist, and pianist discovered herself at a crossroads with her three professions. She saw that Water People Theater could be the ultimate place to fuse all those passions.
“In addition to being a theater organization, it is a space where, through our productions in defense of Human Rights and educational programs like STUDIO Kids, we seek to inform, denounce, generate action, change lives, and build the future,” says Alemán who adds that the company was founded on September 21, 2001, the International Day of Peace.
As they continue to create works that amplify those who are victims of violence and spotlight stories that advocate for human rights, Water People Theater's latest production is the Delicate Tears of the Waning Moon (The Delicate Tears of the Waning Moon). Playing at New York’s Teatro Repertorio Español through July 14, the Delicate Tears of the Waning Moon addresses the issue of human rights violations against journalists who strive to report the truth.
“The play draws from a profound reality that resonates deeply with me. Women's rights and the freedom to pursue one's profession have profoundly shaped my life's choices,” says Alemán who wrote the piece that is directed by Iraida Tapias. ”I’ve witnessed firsthand numerous human rights abuses and the impunity surrounding violence growing up in my home country, Venezuela.”
Delicate Tears of the Waning Moon centers on Paulina, (Alemán), a human rights journalist, who has been viciously attacked and has just emerged from a coma. As she struggles to uncover and remember her past Rodrigo, (Fernando Then), a fellow journalist, goes to unimaginable lengths to assist her.
Based on true events Alemán was inspired the stories of prolific journalists Anabel Flores Salazar and Miroslava Breach Velducea who were known for covering crime and corruption. They were both murdered in 2016 and 2017, respectively.
“When I learned about the tragic fates of Miroslava Breach and Anabel Flores, their stories haunted me,” says Alemán. “Miroslava's son was just 8 years old, and Anabel's newborn was only two weeks old. Their unimaginable loss compelled me to use theater as a platform to humanize the staggering statistics of violence against women and journalists. Behind each number lies a face, a story, a life—these are the voices I am driven to amplify through our production.”
If you are interested in seeing this work of art, you can purchase tickets at the following link:
https://repertorio.nyc/show/1569/the-delicate-tears-of-the-waning-moon
CHICAGO TRIBUNE (Chris Jones)
https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/theater/reviews/ct-ent-destinos-cuban-revolutionary-waning-moon-1010-20191009-h7256mmzqfg35mue4t5xyufxvm-story.html
CHICAGO TRIBUNE (Gisela Orozco)
https://www.chicagotribune.com/hoy/entretenimiento/ct-hoy-los-peligros-de-la-verdad-the-delicate-tears-20191011-ad3jzqtnkjeuzhhuilfrdatofa-story.html
CHICAGO READER (Kerry Reid)
https://chicagoreader.com/arts-culture/in-the-delicate-tears-of-the-waning-moon-a-journalist-tries-to-recover-her-memory/
3CR (Nancy Bishop)
https://thirdcoastreview.com/2019/10/04/review-delicate-tears-of-the-waning-moon/
The Dueling Critics, Kerry Reid and Jonathan Abarbanel
https://theartssection.org/home/2019/10/10/theatre-review-the-delicate-tears-of-the-waning-moon
The Dueling Critics, Kerry Reid and Jonathan Abarbanel, review Water People Theater’s world premiere THE DELICATE TEARS OF THE WANING MOON.
