Additional Resources: "Mojada: A Medea in Los Angeles"
Before seeing/reading the play:
- Research the meaning of the Spanish word “Mojado/a” and its evolution. Why does playwright Alfaro choose this for the name of the play? These and other websites provide information: Definitions
- Research the garment industry in Los Angeles. In what ways are immigrants taken advantage of? What obstacles do these workers face as they fight for equity in pay and their human rights? These and other websites provide information: Sweatshops Are Fashion's Dirty Little Secret. But They Don't Exist in L.A. -- Do They?
- Research the Mexican state of Michoacan and drug cartels. Cartels Announce Themselves in Michoacan
- Research the laughing falcon referred to in the play as
el guaco. Symbolically, what does a snake-eating bird represent to indigenous Mexican culture? What mythical and healing properties are attributed to el guaco? The History of Ophiophagy Behavior in Animals - Research U.S. sentiment on multiculturalism versus assimilation. According to these philosophies, what sacrifices, if any, do immigrants need to make to live and thrive in America? Multiculturalism VS. Assimilation
Join us at The Armory for our Immigration Symposium with Catholic Charities on November 19th:
Join a panel of diverse community leaders who will engage participants in dialogue, reflection and inspiration in facilitated round tables to address the ongoing need for individuals and communities to be advocates for the needs of their communities. Featuring a keynote address by Oregon's Attorney General, Ellen F. Rosenblum.
More information and RSVP for your free ticket here.
After seeing/reading the play
- Refer to your research on Aristotle’s definition of a tragic hero. To what extent does Medea fit the definition? What is her tragic flaw? What does Medea learn from her journey? What does the audience learn from her journey?
- At the beginning of the play, Tita says that being in the United States is Jason’s dream. What is his dream? How do Medea and Acan fit into his dream? What is Medea’s dream?
- Refer to your research on multiculturalism vs. assimilation. Which characters are able to assimilate to living in the United States? What are the benefits for those characters of being able to assimilate? Which characters are not able to? What is the cost of their inability to assimilate? Which characters are able to be in the United States and still maintain their native culture?
- In what ways are Medea and her family in exile? How does immigration and specifically the idea of exile help the audience understand Medea’s journey in the play?
More about Mojada: A Medea in Los Angeles:
"Mojada" Special Cocktails
Bar Supervisor (and resident mixologist) Melissa Larrabee introduces the specialty cocktails inspired by Mojada: A Medea in Los Angeles.
Ni de aqui, ne de alla (Not from here, not from there) Gallery
Through November, The Armory hosts a collaborative art project in support of the Center for Immigration Defense.
Immigration Resources for "Mojada: A Medea in Los Angeles"
If you or someone you know is in need of low cost immigration legal services, help is available.
"Mojada" Cast and Creative Team
The cast from the Oregon Shakespeare Festival production comes to Portland!
Reviews of "Mojada: A Medea in Los Angeles"
"What the American theater should be." - The Daily Tidings
"Mojada" Playwright and Director Interview
Mojada: A Medea in Los Angeles playwright Luis Alfaro and director Juliette Carrillo talk about working together and the meaning of the word "mojada."
Photos: "Mojada: A Medea in Los Angeles"
See photos from Oregon Shakespeare Festival's production of Mojada: A Medea in Los Angeles coming to The Armory Nov. 4 - 26, 2017.
Current & Upcoming
Art Exhibit: ¡Soy Yo! by Mika Martinez
¡Soy Yo!, is a multi-media project, created by Mika Martinez, that examines and celebrates Latinx identity featuring more than 50 portraits of the Hispanic/Latino community in Portland.
Piano Bar with Courtney Freed and David Saffert
Join us for this monthly event with local songstress Courtney Freed and Portland-based pianist David Saffert as they host a good old-fashioned PIANO BAR.
Improvisation Classes for Beginners
Whether you're looking to get more confident in social situations, think quicker on your feet, or get in touch with your imaginative side, these "one-off" improv classes will set you on the path to success!
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From Iranian playwright Nassim Soleimanpour (creator of the Off-Broadway smash hit White Rabbit, Red Rabbit) comes an audacious new theatrical experiment, presented in collaboration with Boom Arts. Each night, a new, unrehearsed local performer joins the playwright on stage, while the script waits, unseen, in a sealed box... Touchingly autobiographical yet powerfully universal, NASSIM is a striking theatrical demonstration of how language can both divide and unite us.
Art Exhibit: Garam Garam Chai by Yusra Siddiqui
Portland Center Stage will host Garam Garam Chai, an art exhibit by Portland-based multidisciplinary artist Yusra Siddiqui, featuring a series of hand-sewn teabag printmaking pieces that serve as a contemplation of the communal tea times shared between Desi and British culture.
Coriolanus
Shakespeare’s tragedy about the war hero Coriolanus and the fight between the elite and the deprived masses will be fueled by a dynamic female and non-binary ensemble with a muscular, movement-focused staging.
Portland Center Stage is committed to identifying & interrupting instances of racism & all forms of oppression, through the principles of inclusion, diversity, equity, & accessibility (IDEA).
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