Esperanza Rising

Emerson Stage continues its dedication to Theatre for Young Audiences with a story of immigration in Esperanza Rising playing the Cutler Majestic Theatre November 12-21. Directed by Roxanne Schroeder-Arce, this play follows the journey of a young girl, Esperanza, from her native Mexico to the fields of Southern California. Based on the book by Pam Munoz Ryan and adapted for the stage by Lynne Alvarez, the play confronts cultural difference while sharing a message of hope.

Creative Staff

Scenic Designer		Crystal Tiala
Costume Designer		Rafael Jaen
Lighting Designer		Tracy Wertheimer
Sound Designer		Brendan Doyle
Props Master		Michele Teevan
Dramaturgs		Cheyenne Postell Justine Spingler

Cast

Esperanza		Chelsey Lebel
Hortensia		Victoria Gomez
Mariachis		Nathan Chang Nick Lee Dru Serkes
Ramona		Abigail Vega
Servant Girl		Michelle Macedo
Marielena		Jessica Naimy
Miguel		Miguel Septien
Luis		Vinny Cueva
Don Sixto		Adrian Hernandez
"Okie Family" Father		Noel Carey
"Okie Family" Mother		Olivia Brownlee
"Okie Family" Boy		Chris Nicolosi
Isabel		Alyssa Gomez
Modesta		Sara Holt
Alfonso
Marta		Jill Waters
Women Workers		Nora Reilly Hannah Tehrani Fernanda Vazquez
Ensemble		Peter Anderson Chris Brindley Vanessa Moyen

Pam Muñoz Ryan

Bio: Born in Bakersfield in California’s San Joaquin Valley on December 25th, 1951. She comes from a very large family of four children and twenty-three grandchildren, and her aunts, uncles, and grandparents were always nearby. She was the oldest of three sisters and the oldest of twenty-three cousins on her mother’s side. Although she considers herself to be truly American, she is Spanish, Mexican, Basque, Italian, and Oklahoman.

As a child, Muñoz Ryan spent a lot of time at the air-conditioned local library in order to keep cool because her family did not have a swimming pool. She became very interested in reading and books during her childhood. She earned her bachelor’s degree in education at San Diego State University. She decided that she wanted to do something that had to do with her love for books, so she later became a bilingual teacher.

Muñoz Ryan married and had four children of her own. When she returned to San Diego State University to get her master’s degree in education, a professor suggested that she should consider writing books. In 1994 she published her first picture book, differing greatly from her niche of writing fiction for adults. She currently writes and lives with her husband and family in San Diego. (Scholastic Inc.) (WETA Washington, D.C.) (Gale Cengage Learning)

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