Quixote Nuevo: An epic journey into Dulcinea, therapy and PUPPETS!
Spring 2022 I’m spending my birthday in Denver, Colorado
QUIXOTE NUEVO by Octavio Solis & directed by Lisa Portes runs at Denver Center for the Performing Arts in the Wolf Theatre from May 13 - June 12, 2022.
¡Que viva el Quixote!
An inspiring modern reimagining of the classic
Set in the fictional modern-day Texas border town of La Plancha, Quixote and his luckless but trusty sidekick, Sancho, embark on a fantastical quest in search of long-lost love, Dulcinea. Infused with imagination, comedy, puppets, and Tejano music, Quixote Nuevo reveals the joys and perils of facing down Death and becoming the hero of your own story.
Quixote Nuevo will feature Sol Castillo as Padre Perez, Raúl Cardona as Papa Calaca/Cardenio, Laura Crotte as Magdalena/Perla, Ernie González, Jr. as Manny/Sancho Panza, Maya Malan-Gonzalez as Dr. Campos/Dulcinea, Marlene Montes as Understudy, Krystal Ortiz as Antonia/Inez, Christopher M. Ramirez as Understudy, Alexis B. Santiago as Rosario/Juana, Herbert Siguenza as Quijano/Quixote, and Lakin Valdez as Bruno/Young Quijano.
The production, led by director Lisa Portes, will include music direction by Jesse J. Sanchez, choreography by Marissa Herrera, scenic design by Efren Delgadillo, Jr., costume and puppet design by Helen Q. Huang, lighting design by Pablo Santiago, music and sound design by David R. Molina, fight direction by Geoffrey Kent, voice and dialect by Cynthia Santos-DeCure, puppetry movement consulting by Melissa Cashion, casting by Grady Soapes, CSA, and stage management by Michael G. Morales and Rick Mireles.
After 4 weeks of rehearsals learning lines, blocking, calaca dance choreography, songs, puppet work, mask work, a little kazoo playing, plus a crazy tech where we incorporate 4 trap doors and 2 platform lifts, we began having previews on May 13th and by Friday May 20th we are celebrating opening night! We had 4 great weeks of performances with awesome audiences including the Latinx Theatre Commons Comedy Carnaval.
In This production, I play a handful of very different characters; I open the show as a two headed Calaca with four arms, an angel of Papa Calaca. Next I appear as Dr. Campos, the therapist to Joe Quijano. My absolute favorite costume comes next, when I become Chola Dulcinea,. I have a brief stint as a cotton wood fairy, then sheep, then a bracera/ present day undocumented immigrant, followed by the sweetest of all- which isn’t just me, but rather me giving life to the sweetest little campesina Dulcinea puppet. I love my little puppet and these scenes are especially fun as I get to play opposite of Lakin and his young Joe Quijano puppet- Spoiler Alert (!): In the end we go from little rod puppets to huge backpack body puppets. There are all kinds of puppets and masks and so many costume changes, this play is seriously epic and full of spectacle.
Production Photos by Adams Viscom
“Like a Chorus from Greek Tragedy, the ensemble is a powerful force when all onstage together in costumes depicting Mexican culture – singing and dancing in spectacular costumes, crafts, and puppetry. It’s an overall fantastical live play experience. Kudos to all at the DCPA Theatre Company, in front of and behind the curtain!”
~ Jimmy McDonough, on Quixote Nuevo by Octavio Solis, Produced by Denver Center for the Performing Arts, Published in In Good Taste Denver
“As the main community members who also care about his wellbeing, Sol Castillo as Padre Perez and Maya Malan-Gonzalez as Dr. Campos are each authentic in their roles as faith leader and therapist.”
- Jon Bee, on Quixote Nuevo by Octavio Solis, Produced by Denver Center for the Performing Arts, Published in Broadway World
“Mind, psyche, soul, it’s all a single force.” - Dr. Campos
It makes perfect sense to me that Dr. Campos and Dulcinea are played by the same actress. The brain and the heart are deeply connected, after all Don Quixote searches for his lost love as he begins to lose his mind.
We don’t talk about self love and therapy enough- it is still a unique thing for a person to have a therapist, whereas I think going to see a therapist should be as mundane as going to see the dentist. I really appreciate how Octavio Solis crafted a therapist from the Barber role in Cervantes’ original Don Quixote. Joe Quijano is above any negative stigma connected with going to a therapist, he seeks out his comadre and former colleague, Dr. Campos to care for his mental health. Throughout Quijote Nuevo we learn about Joe’s history, his abusive father and his lost love, the woman he left behind in order to follow his career dream of being a professor. Joe chose intellect over love and lived with regret knowing he couldn’t have both.
Joe sought out Dr. Campos to care for his mind and in his final days he searches for his Dulcinea to care for his heart and soul. These women in his life are his guiding force….. I wonder how the play might differ if in place of Papa Calaca, we had Mama Calaca, La gran mera mera. After all, it’s Mama who gives us life and Mama who calls us home when it’s time for the sun to go down.
A Fun fact about the cast:
Almost exactly 10 years ago was the last time Lakin Valdez and I worked together in a full production. I played the Della to his Henry Reyna in San Diego Rep’s production of Zoot Suit. And in that show I got to meet the amazingly dashing Raul Cardona and the legendary Herbert Siguenza from Culture Clash. This production of Quixote Nuevo is the first time in 10 years that all four of us are sharing the stage again.
Octavio Solis surprised the cast by coming to see the show on the same night as the Latinx Theatre Commons Comedy Carnaval- Unfortunately, our Padre, Sol Castillo was not present for this cast photo as he was off officiating a beautiful wedding.