Andrew Gillis

Cornell and Ithaca College students cast in "Mother of Exiles/Madre de Migrantes" at the Schwartz Center include (top row, left to right) Zachary Wright '13, Deanalis Resto, IC '11, Liliana Aguirre Esparza '14, (middle row) Millicent Kastenbaum '16, Julie Locker '16, and (bottom) Juan Antonio Bustamante '14.

The Department of Performing and Media Arts will present Elaine Romero’s immigration-themed play “Mother of Exiles/Madre de Migrantes,” April 5-6 and April 12-13 in the Schwartz Center for the Performing Arts Flex Theatre.

The play, the second installment of Romero’s border trilogy, was commissioned by the department and is set in Ivy League-educated teacher Madga Andrews’ troubled classroom on the Arizona/Mexico border. Armed by the state and under pressure, Andrews uses a gun to teach her students about American civics.

“Our play is both a celebration of Latino culture and a cultural look at national identity and civil rights,” said director Melanie Dreyer-Lude, assistant professor of acting and directing. “Should we arm our teachers to keep our students safe? Is it ever acceptable to engage in racial profiling? Can we fix our broken education and immigration systems? These are some of the questions our story will engage.”

Romero has taught at Northwestern University, the University of Arizona and Linfield College, and is a resident playwright at Chicago Dramatists. An award-winning playwright, her work has been presented at the Kennedy Center, Alley Theatre, Actors Theatre of Louisville, and across the United States and abroad.

“The play stems from my reflection of the power of the gun in a landscape where racial harmony has given way to racial disharmony,” Romero said. “Arizona once was a bastion of racial harmony. The collisions of conservative politics, border strife and economic stress have shifted the tone of the region.”

Jimmy Noriega, Ph.D. ’11, assistant professor of theater at the College of Wooster, collaborated on the project.

“Together, we created a show that is not about immigration, but instead is about living in a zone where politics, history and democracy intersect in violent ways, and often at the expense of those who are most vulnerable,” said Noriega, who grew up along the border and addresses border issues in his work and teaching.

The play features interactive experiences for audience members, with elements of the U.S.-Mexico border patrol experience. An installation by graphic artist Alma Hoffman will be on view in the Schwartz Center lobby.

The cast includes Ithaca College alumnus Deanalis Resto ’11 as Madga Andrews; Cornell students Juan Antonio Bustamante ’14, Liliana Aguirre Esparza ’14, Sonia Gregor ’14, Millicent Kastenbaum ’16, Julie Locker ’16 and Zachary Wright ’13; with IC student Xavier Reyes ’14 and IC assistant professor Gustavo Licón.

Performances are April 5-6 and April 12-13 at 7:30 p.m. and April 13 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $13 for the general public, $11 for students and senior citizens. For tickets and more information, visit the Schwartz Center box office, 430 College Ave., open weekdays 12:30-4 p.m.; call 607-254-ARTS or see <http://www.schwartztickets.com&gt;.

Romero will speak in the University Lectures series on “Sources of Inspiration: A Latina Playwright’s Journey,” April 5 at 4:30 p.m. in the Schwartz Center Film Forum. Free and open to the public.

Hoffman, whose work explores issues of equality, diversity and cross-cultural communication, also gives a free public lecture, “The City of Ethnos,” Friday, April 12, at 4:30 p.m. in the Film Forum.

The play’s sponsors include Teatrotaller, the Latino Studies Program, Mario Einaudi Center for International Studies, University Lectures, Cornell Council for the Arts, the Office of Academic Diversity Initiatives and the Mexican Graduate Students Association.

Kathy Hovis is communications manager for the Department of Performing and Media Arts.