# Teatro Luna

Teatro Luna is an all-Latina theatre ensemble based in Chicago. The group was founded by Coya Paz and Tanya Saracho in 2001 in response to their experiences with a lack of representation of Latinas in the media and theatre scene. Teatro Luna focuses on creating work with other Latinas that reflects a variety of Latina experiences. Since 2001 the group has created over 13 collaborative productions, including Generic Latina (2001) and MACHOS (2007). The company has performed in a variety of theatres across Chicago, and expanded to a location in Los Angeles in 2014.

## History

In 2000 Coya Paz and Tanya Saracho met at an audition and began discussing their observations of a lack of spaces for Latina actresses in the Chicago theatre scene and beyond. This led to a later meeting at a coffee shop where they discussed the idea of forming an all Latina theatre group that would create its own works based on Latina experiences. The original company consisted of Paz, Saracho, and ten women from varying Latina backgrounds. Together the company worked to put together shows that consisted of stories of each of the women that reflected the multitudes of stories and experiences in the Latina community. These pieces spoke against the stereotyping of Latinas into a few specific roles and experiences in the wider theatre community.

## Collaborative process

The collaborative process of creating pieces includes seven different steps in which the members of the group share their different ideas and experiences with the group and then come back with more structured research or scripts. They then work these pieces and ideas in smaller groups and approach the piece from multiple different angles. They then present these different approaches to the other members, who are welcome to try out their own ideas, and the group decides on the preferred approach. One member then scripts the 'official' version, but changes are continually made throughout the rehearsal and performance process.

## Productions

The first collaborative piece the company performed was Generic Latina in 2001. The play consists of 20 vignettes based on the personal experiences of the company member and each provide a different take on what it means to be a Latina. In 2003 the company performed their first single author play, Kita Y Fernanda, by founder Tanya Saracho. The company developed one of their hit shows, MACHOS, in 2007 in which they examined traditional Latino male gender roles and what it means to be a Latino man. The play was developed after conducting hundred of nationwide interviews with Latino men, but was performed by the all female company. In 2009 founder Coya Paz left the company and in 2010 she was followed by fellow founder Tanya Saracho.
In 2010 Teatro Luna performed GL 2010: Not Your Generic Latina to reassert themselves under new administration as well as address the changes in the lives of Latinas in the ten years since the company's founding. In 2013 the company partnered with playwright Emilio Williams to perform their first show written by a man, Your Problem With Men, at the world premiere in Chicago. Teatro Luna took this show with them to their new location in Los Angeles, Teatro Luna West, in 2014 for the west coast premiere. The company then took their collaborative show Luna Unlaced on tour across the nation to different colleges and theaters in 2013. In 2015 Teatro Luna premiered Generation Sex at their Los Angeles location after a year long workshop tour. In 2017 the company returned to Chicago to perform Lovesick, a collection of stories about the violence inflicted on Latina bodies as a part of the Chicago International Latino Theater Festival: Destinos.

## Other projects

In addition to their collaborative shows, Teatro Luna also supports individual works. In the company's early days they implemented SÓLOS Latinas Project in which they fostered the efforts of local Latina writers. This program was a collection of workshops in which the women worked on their own individual works and several were selected to be produced in the SÓLOS Latinas production in 2005. This project was followed by a second installment of workshops and stories in SÓLO Tú (2008).
The company also offers numerous labs for directing, new works, producing, and PlayLab for developing new playwrights. Teatro Luna also offers different workshops and classes year round in an effort to increase the availability of creative resources and training to Latinas. They also have labs and classes available for youth in the community.
The company also takes their shows and workshops on tours nationally and internationally in order to spread their message and increase awareness nation and world wide. Teatro Luna will visit a variety of locations such as universities, festivals, and private settings.

## Production history

Production History :
| Play | Playwright | Director | Theatre | Year |
| Probadita | Teatro Luna Collaboration | Arati Kasturirangan | Victory Gardens | 2000 |
| Mas Probadita | Teatro Luna Collaboration | Arati Kasturirangan | Victory Gardens | 2000 |
| Generic Latina | Teatro Luna Collaboration | Arati Kasturirangan | Phoenix Ascending Theatre | 2001 |
| Generic Latina | Teatro Luna Collaboration | Tanya Saracho | Teatro Luna at Pilsen in Chicago | 2002 |
| Dejame Contarte | Teatro Luna Collaboration | Alexandra Lopez | Storefront Theatre, Chicago | 2001 |
| Otra Probadita | Teatro Luna Collaboration | | psNBC at HERE, NYC | 2002 |
| Kita Y Fernanda | Tanya Saracho | Marcela Muñoz | Teatro Luna at Pilsen in Chicago | 2003 |
| The Maria Chronicles | Teatro Luna Collaboration | Coya Paz and Tanya Saracho | Goodman Theatre | July 2003 |
| The Maria Chronicles | Teatro Luna Collaboration | Coya Paz and Tanya Saracho | Teatro Luna at Pilsen in Chicago | Oct.-Nov. 2003 |
| The Maria Chronicles | Teatro Luna Collaboration | Coya Paz and Tanya Saracho | Theatre-on-the-Lake, Chicago | August 2004 |
| Sólo Latinas Readings | SÓLO Latinas Workshop | | No Exit Café, Chicago | August 2004 |
| Sólo Latinas | Miranda Gonzalez, Diane Herrera, Tanya Saracho, and Marisabel Suarez | | Chicago Dramatists | January 2005 |
| Adnakiel (Reading) | Tanya Saracho | | with Chicago Dramatists | February 2005 |
| Probadita de S-E-X-Oh!* | Teatro Luna Collaboration | Coya Paz and Tanya Saracho | Athenaeum Theatre (PACedge), Chicago | March 2005 |
| Sólo Latinas | Miranda Gonzalez, Diane Herrera, Tanya Saracho, and Marisabel Suarez | | Theatre-on-the-Lake, Chicago | June 2005 |
| S-E-X-Oh! | Teatro Luna Collaboration | Coya Paz and Tanya Saracho | Chicago Dramatists | 2006 |
| Quita Mitos | Tanya Saracho | | Viaduct Theatre | Nov-Dec 2006 |
| LUNATIC(A)S | Tanya Saracho | Tanya Saracho | Chicago Dramatists | June–July 2007 |
| MACHOS | Teatro Luna Collaboration | Coya Paz | Chicago Dramatists | November 2007 |
| MACHOS | Teatro Luna Collaboration | Coya Paz | 16th Street Theatre | Jan.-Feb. 2008 |
| SÓLO Tú | Teatro Luna Collaboration | Tanya Saracho | Chicago Dramatists | 2008 |
| Jarred (Reading at Goodman Latino Theatre Fest)* | Tanya Saracho | | | 2008 |
| Jarred: A Hoodoo Comedy | Tanya Saracho | | Chicago Dramatists | Nov.-Dec. 2008 |
| S-E-X-Oh! (The Remix) | Teatro Luna Collaboration | Yadira Correa and Dana Cruz | 16th Street Theatre | 2009 |
| Probadita de Luna* | | | | 2009 |
| LUNATIC(A)S | Tanya Saracho | Tanya Saracho | Chicago Dramatists | Nov.-Dec. 2009 |
| GL 2010: Not Your Generic Latina | Teatro Luna Collaboration | Miranda Gonzalez | Chicago Dramatists | June–July 2010 |
| Lullaby | Diane Herrera | Maria Enriquez and Miranda Gonzalez | Greenhouse Theater Center | 2010 |
| THE NORTH/SOUTH PLAYS | collaboration with Teatro Luna and Bailiwick Chicago | | Chicago Center for the Performing Arts | Oct.-Nov. 2011 |
| CROSSED Probadita* | Teatro Luna Collaboration | | | 2011 |
| CROSSED: Immigrant = Mexican? (World Premiere) | Teatro Luna Collaboration | Miranda Gonzalez | Luna Central, Chicago | Feb.- March 2012 |
| Living Large in a Mini Kind of Way | Diane Rodriguez | Diane Rodriguez | The Viaduct Theatre | May–June 2012 |
| Solo Tres, Three full length Solo Plays: Cry Wolf, Sexomedy, and PUTAS! | PUTAS! - Liza Ann Acosta Cry Wolf - Kristiana Colón Sexomedy - Melissa Duprey | PUTAS!- Alexandra Meda Cry Wolf-Coya Paz | Luna Central, Chicago | Oct.-Nov. 2012 |
| A Very Luna Christmas | Paula Ramirez, Abigail Vega, and Teatro Luna Ensemble | Paula Ramirez and Abigail Vega | Luna Central, Chicago | December 2012-January 2013 |
| Your Problem With Men (World Premiere) | Emilio Williams | Alexandra Meda | Stage 773 | March–April 2013 |
| Your Problem With Men (West Coast Premiere) Part of Encuentro 2014* | Emilio Williams | Alexandra Meda | Los Angeles Theatre Center | 2014 |
| Generation Sex (World Premiere)* | Teatro Luna Collaboration | Alexandra Meda | Los Angeles Theatre Center | April–May 2015 |
| Talking While Female | Solo stories | | Milagro, Portland | June 2017 |
| Lovesick | Teatro Luna Collaboration | Alexandra Meda | Victory Gardens Theater/ Richard Christiansen Theater | October 2017 |
*indicates Probaditas or workshop performances

## Tours and workshops

Tours and Workshops :
| Tour | Location | Year |
| Generation Sex Workshop | | March 2013 |
| Luna Unlaced National Tour | 16 cities across Southwest, West Coast, and New York City and Boston | June-Aug. 2013 |
| Luna Unlaced International Tour | Edinburgh Fringe Festival, The Republic of Ireland, and Dublin | Aug.-Sept 2013 |
| Generation Sex Workshop Remix | Chicago Fringe Festival | Sept.-Oct. 2013 |
| Generation Sex National Development Tour | Texas, Louisiana, and Connecticut | March–April 2014 |
| Generation Sex Workshop Tour | Fools Fury Factory Ensemble Festival | July 2014 |
| Generation Sex Full Workshop | Instituto Cervantes | June 2014 |