ABOUT SOMETHING MARVELOUS
Something Marvelous cultivates new works of MAGICAL REALISM, using theatricality to awaken imagination and inspire empathy for new perspectives.
As a 501(c)(3) theatre company based in Chicago we produce a new play each year. In addition, we conduct workshops of work in progress in collaboration with playwrights, and produce a night of short new works.
Firefly Love, a Chicago premiereFirefly Love by Alejandro Ricaño with translation by Héctor Garza tells the story of a young Mexican girl, Maria, who goes on a journey to the homeland of her favorite playwright, Henrik Ibsen. She dreams of being inspired, but instead finds another woman who is identical to her, except better in every way. She enlists the help of her best friend Lola, and together they follow the other Maria to the other end of the world.
Why We Need YOUWe are so excited to bring this beautiful play about friendship and finding oneself to Chicago audiences, but we need YOUR help to make it happen.
Something Marvelous has been able to explore magical realism in theater for the past five years because of the wonderful strong support of our of donors--this support is truly what makes the work we do possible.
Your assistance will help us rent rehearsal spaces, purchase building materials, and provide stipends to many incredible artists. If we exceed our fundraising goal of $3,000, we will use the additional funds to increase artist stipends.
The production features a lot of firsts for Something Marvelous--the play is translated directly from Spanish, and includes shadow puppetry and intimacy design, all new endeavors for the company.
We are very excited about the production, but we need to your help to make the magic come to life.
Why this play, Now...At this moment in time, we believe theatre has a duty and distinct opportunity to share perspectives of all the different people who make up our world. We also believe that the stories we tell need to be told by the individuals who best represent these perspectives; the production features a director and cast who all identify as Latinx.
It’s also important to represent Latinx individuals in “everyday” stories--and Firefly Love, with its messages about friendship, love, and self-discovery, does just that.
Meet the Artists
Firefly Love
by Alejandro Ricaño, with translation by Héctor Garzadirected by Rinska Carrasco-PrestinaryMARÍA ........ Steph Vondell
LOLA ........ Allyce Torres
RÓMULO ........ Martin Diaz-ValdesRAMÓN ........ Víctor MarañaMARÍA/LOLA u/s ........ Alexa Fajardo EldridgePRODUCTION MANAGER & STAGE MANAGER ........ Andrew C. DonnellySCENIC DESIGNER ........ Nicholas James SchwartzLIGHTING DESIGNER ........ Cat DavisCOSTUME DESIGNER ........ Uriel Gómez<SOUND DESIGNER ........ Jeffrey LevinPUPPET DESIGNER ........ Isabella Karina CoelhoINTIMACY DESIGNER ........ Jessica RenaeDRAMATURG ........ Sean DouglassTECHNICAL DIRECTOR ........ Nicholas James SchwartzSOMETHING MARVELOUS TEAMProducing Artistic Director ........ Emmi HilgerExecutive Director........ Mary SiegelAssociate Artistic Director ........ Laura NashLiterary Manager ........ Sarah MayhanCasting Director ........ Cruz Gonzalez-CadelCompany Manager ........ Allyce TorresDramaturg ........ Sean DouglassVideo features Royalty Free Music from Bensound.
THANK YOU!!!!
June 17, 2018
On behalf of the Something Marvelous staff, board, and the cast and design team of Firefly Love, thank you for your support of our show. With your help, we raised $3,492 for our production. Funds will be used to purchase materials for design elements and to pay our hardworking artists for their time and talent.
Firefly Love opens on June 30 at the Athenaeum Theatre. We hope you'll join us for this wacky tale of friendship and self-discovery. (And magic, of course!)