by Diane Thornton | photos courtesy of Cazateatro
Dorimar Ferrer, Executive Director of Cazateatro Bilingual Theatre Group, laughingly started off our interview with of bit of an explanation. “First lesson: (our name) is two words, a compound word. I understood it to be one word on the 501(c)(3) form, so it’s been Cazateatro, ‘hunting theatre’, ever since. Second lesson,” she said, “it’s caza with a ‘z’, not casa with an ‘s’.”
The first original company, Cazateatro Independent Theatre Group, was founded in 2006 by Giovana Lopez. In 2010, the second generation, Cazateatro Bilingual Theatre, was born. Ferrer and Artistic Director Monica Soraya Sanchez helped form the new group alongside Lopez, Sandra Figueroa, Laura Alba, and Mirna Fernandez. In the second generation, the group decided to identify by the name Cazateatro Bilingual Theatre Group as a nod to inclusiveness.
“But we were married with kids,” Ferrer pointed out.
“So soon, everyone was involved and we became a family. People in community theatre need volunteers for everything so there are opportunities for many people to be involved, especially husbands, kids and friends.” As the troupe grew, so did their opportunities.
Caza’s presence in the LGBT+ community started with Brent Davis. When Caza called Germantown Community Theatre trying to rent theatre space, Davis was the first to open the doors to them, Ferrer said. “We had one play only, a Christmas show. Brent was so excited (because) even though our play was completely in Spanish, some non-Spanish speaking patrons said they could understand it. Brent said it was not the language but the energy that the people understood.”
Sanchez was later approached by Friends of George’s (then) board member Tracy Love who knew that Theatreworks had space for another resident company. Love is their “fairy godmother” according to Sanchez.
“We had the show, we had the actors, but we were always looking for theatre space. Theatreworks changed everything,” Ferrer said. “We became a resident company (in 2015).”
When fellow Theatreworks company Friends of George’s cast Sanchez as “Maria” in “Truck Stop”, her natural comedic timing and bilingual delivery were scene stealers. Cast as her understudy, Ferrer feared that her thick Puerto Rican accent would make it difficult to understand her. “I took my low confidence into the role and FOG embraced me. We worked, they guided me. It was a great opportunity,” Ferrer said.
Bilingual theatre is unique. If you have attended one of their productions you know Cazateatro is much more than a theatre company, it is a bridge builder. A ticket to one of their shows yields an evening of theatre — and a taste of Latin culture. The group includes people from all over Mexico, Central and South America. Each brings a rich history with them and they are eager to share that history through the arts.
Their next production, “The Latin Soul in You,” runs September 21, 22, 28, 29. It includes LGBT advocates Alexandra Carpenter and Hugh Busby. The show features music and dance unique to each cast member’s native country. It
is awash in color and sound and brings the audience to its feet. Tickets for the show are available at cazateatro.org.
Not an actor? Be part of the theater’s activities by joining in their Dia De Los Muertos Parade on October 27 (application/ payment deadline is September 7). The parade and festival follow in the Mexican tradition of celebration to honor deceased relatives. You can sign up to volunteer and/or sponsor the parade at cazateatro.org
