About the play: Eugenio, a young Mexican immigrant living in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, is experiencing heartbreak when Benjamin, his new boyfriend, inexplicably “ghosts” him. Looking to the traditional Mexican holiday Día de Muertos, Eugenio decides to build an altar in the hopes that he will be able to summon his boyfriend’s “ghost” and gain the closure he so desperately desires.
Staging Requirements: Casting Breakdown (1 M)
-EUGENIO: 19 years old. A charming, passionate, funny, and loving guy. Mexican immigrant in Newfoundland and Labrador.
-LUPITA: 16 years old. Eugenio's caring, younger sister. Mexican. Although she knows how to speak English, she refuses to do so and only speaks Spanish with Eugenio.
-PAPÁ: Eugenio's father. Mexican. Only speaks Spanish.
-DIANA: 19 years old. Outspoken, sincere, and direct. Eugenio’s best friend from Mexico. Mexican. Speaks Spanish and English with a thick accent.
-BENJAMIN: 19 years old. Newfoundlander and Labradorian. Eugenio’s… ghost.
Please note: -The actor playing EUGENIO could play DIANA and BENJAMIN. -LUPITA and PAPÁ could be pre-recorded voiceovers. -Eugenio is talking to the audience at all times unless otherwise indicated.
Production History: A workshop production of ALTARwas presented in September of 2019 at the 4th Annual St. John’s Short Play Festival in Newfoundland and Labrador. It was produced by TODOS Productions, starring Santiago Guzmán, directed and dramaturged by Meghan Greeley, with initial dramaturgy by Robyn Huxter, and stage-managed by Azal Dosanjh.
ALTARreceived further development supported by the Resource Centre for the Arts Theatre Company, St. John’s, NL, in the fall of 2020, as part of their 2020-2021 season, with continued dramaturgy by Meghan Greeley.
ALTARreceived its mainstage production by the Resource Centre for the Arts Theatre Company (Nicole Rousseau, Artistic Animateur; Laura Williams, Artistic Associate) in the Fall of 2021 in St. John’s, NL, at the historic LSPU Hall, with some special performances in Corner Brook, NL, at the Rotary Arts Centre with the following creative team:
ALTARhas been adapted into a digital offering to tour across schools in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador in April 2022.
In 2022, ALTARhad national presentations at the Prismatic Arts Festival, (NS) and Aluna Theatre’s RUTAS Festival (ON); the Gros Morne Theatre Festival with TNL in 2023, an Atlantic Canadian tour in 2024, and a performance at the SpotOn Festival in Lancashire (UK), with the support of the Atlantic Presenters Association.
ALTAR received a second production by Theatre New Brunswick in the winter of 2023 and toured their province with the following team and crew:
Director: Sharisee LeBrun Performers: Santiago Guzmán, Jillian Hanson, and Lucas Gutiérrez-Robert. Stage Manager: Teagan Keith Set and Props Designer: Zach Faye Costume Designer: Sherry Kinnear Sound Designer: Carlos (Vitta) Morales
Get the script: Purchase a copy of the script HERE.For producing rights, please contact Santiago directly.