The work “Eight Tales of Pedro” narrates the trajectory that immigrants go through when they cross the border in search of a future with better opportunities. And on this occasion the destination of this theatrical tour will be the stage of the Queens Theater.
Written by playwright Mark-Eugene Garcia, the play takes place in two time periods, showing us stories from the past intertwining with the present.
In the past, which I know dates back to the 17th century, we see Pedro and his companions travel from a small town in Mexico to the city of Veracruz, and in the present, we see the trajectory of a van with six people on board that is on its way. to cross a border. In this adventure-filled story, the storytellers risk everything to reach his destiny as they share stories filled with insights and unforgettable moments.
“I hope the audience can understand the community that comes to the United States from other countries,” says Rodrigo Bolaños, director of the play.
Bolaños points out that the story was born after the writer, García, was a victim of racism, something he had never experienced before. That fact inspired the California native writer to highlight the importance of the immigrant voice, and the importance of remembering the trajectory many face when leaving their country.
“Eight Tales of Pedro was born from the concept that we are all equal regardless of where we come from,” says its director, Rodrigo Bolaños./Courtesy
The name of the work is based on the character of Spanish tales “Pedro Urdemales”. These tales and the famous character reached Latin America and each region or country gave its own version of the story.
Queens Theater wants to continue highlighting the voices of immigrants with this presentation that, in addition to having stories that highlight Latin American folklore, has an entirely Latino cast and music composed by Luis D’Elias.
“Eight Tales of Pedro was born from the concept that we are all the same no matter where we come from,” Bolaños added, highlighting the importance of having a Latino cast that can be more relatable to the story.
The show will open this Friday, April 28 and will be playing at the Queens Theater (14 United Nations Ave S) for three weeks. For more information and times, visit https://queenstheatre.org/event/eight-tales-of-pedro/.