About the play: Siblings Esteban and Mariana reconnect at their mother’s funeral after years of being estranged. Guzmán explores the concept of “home” from the perspective of two immigrants who have to deal with the consequences of what happens when the only person who has grounded them in their cultural identity is gone.
Staging Requirements: Casting Breakdown (1M; 1W)
-MARIANA: Mexican immigrant in Newfoundland and Labrador. We see her at different stages in her life, a lifespan of 14-32 years old. Doctor. She’s comfortable in her brown skin and with her Mexican heritage.
-ESTEBAN: Mexican immigrant in Newfoundland and Labrador. 9-27 years old. A Businessman. He seems comfortable in his brown skin, but deeply aspires to be seen and treated like a white man.
Production History: Urn was developed with the support of Playwrights Atlantic Resource Centre (PARC) through the PARC/Eastern Front Theatre’s RBC Emerging Playwrights Unit since 2019, with dramaturgy by Pamela Halstead.
Urnpremiered in 2022 at Eastern Front Theatre’s “STAGES Festival” in Dartmouth, NS, and then was presented in St. John’s, NL, at the LSPU Hall, all produced by TODOS Productions, with the following creative team:
Playwright/Performer (Esteban): Santiago Guzmán Performer (Mariana): Vanessa Cardoso-Whelan Dramaturge: Pamela Halstead Director: Nora Barker Assistant Director: Robyn Huxter Stage Manager: Sheldon Downey Lighting Design: Alison Crosby Sound Design: Michelle Lacour Wardrobe Consultant: Charlotte Reid Producing Mentor: Ruth Lawrence Urn received the Senior Dramatic Script Award of the Newfoundland and Labrador 2022 Arts and Letters Awards, and was shortlisted for the NLCU Fresh Fish Award 2022.
Get the script: Purchase a copy of the script HERE.For producing rights, please contact Santiago directly.