Professor’s play directed by former student coming to Crown Point 4/27-29

A play written by a Purdue University Northwest professor and directed by one of his former students will be presented April 27-29 at the Crown Point Community Theatre.

Jose Castro-Urioste

“Ceviche en Pittsburgh,” written by PNW Professor of Spanish and respected playwright and author Jose Castro-Urioste, will come to Northwest Indiana after presentations April 14, 15, 21 & 22 at Dallas/Ft. Worth, Tex. as a production of the Calavera Theatre Co., established by Purdue Northwest Hammond Campus 2000 alumna Summer Coronado.

Crown Point performances are at 8 p.m. Thursday, April 27 and Friday, April 28, and 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., Saturday, April 29. The Crown Point Community Theatre is located at 1125 Merrillville Road.

Coming home

Summer Coronado

“Professor Castro and I met when I was a student and director of Teatro Del Sol, a Latino theatre company,” Coronado, formerly of East Chicago, said. “Additionally, I was part of a project that translated the play into English.”

Continuing, she said, “I started Calavera Theatre Co. in 2016. It was then that I asked Professor Castro if we could perform ‘Cevich…’ in Dallas/Ft. Worth as our debut at the Bath House Cultural Center, then bring it to Northwest Indiana for performances.”

“Ceviche…” focuses on the reuniting of estranged brothers Carlos and Tono who struggle with jealousy, competition for their father’s respect, and their personal feelings of guilt and abandonment.

Spanish & English

The play will be performed in Spanish. Non-Spanish-speaking attendees can access a pre-recorded English audio version by bringing their tablet or cell phone and earbuds/headphones to the theatre. A Q&A session with Castro-Urioste, Coronado, cast and crew will follow each evening performance.

“Due to the fact Summer is from Northwest Indiana, and this area also is a big part of my life, we consider it important to offer ‘Ceviche en Pittsburgh’ to local audiences,” Castro-Urioste, PNW’s 2015-16 Outstanding Faculty Scholar Award recipient, said. “Summer was one of my first students when I came to (the former) Purdue University Calumet, taking courses I taught in Latin American Literature and Latin American Civilization.”

General adult admission to “Ceviche…” is $15. For senior citizens, military personnel and students displaying their ID card, admission is $12. Tickets can be purchased online or at the door as long as they remain available.

Impressive background

Castro-Urioste has been a PNW faculty member since 1998. His plays have been performed in the United States, Uruguay and Peru. He also has authored novels and short stories. His book, “Hechizo” [Bewitched] was considered among the top published works of 2015 in Peru. He also has been a two-time finalist in literary contests sponsored by the University of Miami and a Buenos Aires, Argentina newspaper.

Other information about performances of “Ceviche en Pittsburgh” in Northwest Indiana can be obtained by phoning 219-838-1505 or visiting www.CalaveraTheatreCompany.com.