Teatrotaller, Cornell's Spanish and Latino theatre troupe, will celebrate its 20th performance since 1993 with a production of "Johnny Tenorio," a Chicano play in Spanish by distinguished playwright Carlos Morton.

The performance will be Friday, April 13, at 8 p.m. in Hollis E. Cornell Auditorium of Goldwin Smith Hall on campus, and it will be followed by a "talk back" session with the playwright. In addition, Morton, a professor of theater at the University of California-Riverside, will discuss Chicano and Latino drama Thursday, April 12, at 6:30 p.m. in the Latino Living Center, Anna Comstock Hall. Morton also will give a public talk at noon, Friday, April 13, in the Latino Studies Program (LSP) office, 434 Rockefeller Hall.

Tickets are available at the LSP office, the Latin American Studies Program in 190 Uris Hall, and from Teatrotaller members. For more information, contact Professor Debra A. Castillo, director of the Latin American Studies program, at (607) 255-3345 or dac9@cornell.edu .

A highly acclaimed and honored Latino playwright, Morton has written for television and radio as well as theater. His works combine elements of fantasy and humor with a serious social message. "Johnny Tenorio," is one of his most popular works.

Since its inception, Teatrotaller has produced challenging plays for diverse audiences and is one of the only groups in the area presenting Spanish, Latin American and U.S. Latino plays. The group has built a reputation for professional-level performances that both entertain and teach. In addition to its regular performance schedule at Cornell, Teatrotaller has recently presented plays in downtown Ithaca, at Penn State University, Barnard College and at international theater festivals in Belgium and Mexico.

"Johnny Tenorio" takes place in a Texas border town on the eve of Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), and tells the tragic story of a burlador or modern Don Juan. The dialogue is richly infused with Spanish, English and caló (Mexican slang). Encore performances will be given on Friday, April 20, and Saturday, April 21, both at 8 p.m. in Hollis E. Cornell Auditorium.