MARIN THEATRE COMPANY PRESENTS A WORKSHOP PRODUCTION OF
AMERICAN TRIAGE by Marisela Trevino Orta

(Spanish translation by Caridad Svich)

FEBRUARY 16-17 & 22-23

MILL VALLEY, CA –Marin Theatre Company is proud to present a workshop production of American Triage by Marisela Treviño Orta, as the culmination of MTC’s The Canal Project, Saturday and Sunday, February 16 and 17, and Friday and Saturday, February 22 and 23. Starting in 2006 Marin Theatre Company brought Marisela to San Rafael to teach bilingual playwrighting classes for students in the Canal community. American Triage was inspired by her experience working with those students, and by the immigration raids that took place in San Rafael during the time she was teaching her class. Directed by Nicolas C. Avila, the play was a part of Marin Theatre Company’s Nu Werkz series in December 2007. Performances are February 16 and 17 at 7:30 p.m. in Marin Theatre Company’s 99-seat Lieberman Theatre located at 397 Miller Ave in Mill Valley; and February 22 and 23 at 7:30p.m. at Pickleweed Community Center located at 50 Canal Street in San Rafael.

There will be festival seating for the performances at Pickleweed Community Center and a simultaneous live translation in Spanish (via headphones) done by renowned playwright Caridad Svich. After each of the four performances, JuanCarlos Arauz, Youth Education Development Director at San Rafael’s Canal Alliance, will be a guest speaker in conversation with the playwright about the play and the recent immigration raids in Marin County. All performance are FREE with a suggested donation of $10. For reservations, call the MTC box office at 415-388-5208 or www.marintheatre.org <http://www.marintheatre.org/>

In AMERICAN TRIAGE, Fatima is a teenage girl growing up in the Canal district of San Rafael. Ever since a near-death experience following a soccer game accident, her little brother Lalo has been able to see his guardian angel -- who happens to be a statue in the San Rafael church. When their parents are deported in the immigration raids, Fatima and Lalo are left alone. Lalo sends his guardian angel to Mexico to protect his parents as they attempt to cross back into the United States -- but in order to separate from Lalo, the angel must remove her wings and live as a mortal human.

The Canal Project is made possible by generous grants from the Joseph R. Parker Foundation, the San Francisco Foundation, and the James Irvine Foundation.

Entering its 41st year, Marin Theatre Company, a non-profit arts organization, is the largest professional regional theatre company located in San Francisco’s North Bay. MTC produces an annual season of more than 200 performances on its two stages. In addition, MTC provides a forum for contemporary, classic and emerging playwrights and, through the new Expanded Programs forum, an environment that introduces people of all ages to the transformative power of theatre. Through its public performances, school tours, and various educational programs, MTC serves more than 40,000 people annually. Located in Mill Valley, California, just north of San Francisco, MTC’s annual operating budget is approximately $2.5 million.

www.marintheatre.org