Glass Half Full Theatre Remounts ‘La Maleta de Maebelle’

News Summary

Glass Half Full Theatre (GHFT) will remount its celebrated production, ‘La Maleta de Maebelle,’ in April and May 2025 at Penfold Theatre and Dougherty Arts Center. This bilingual performance explores themes of migration and identity for young audiences, while also providing opportunities for community engagement. With performances tailored for school trips, GHFT aims to deliver an accessible cultural experience rooted in Colombian traditions.

Austin, Texas

What Happened

Glass Half Full Theatre (GHFT) has announced that it will remount its acclaimed Theater for All Ages production, “La Maleta de Maebelle” (Maebelle’s Suitcase), during April and May 2025. The performances will be hosted at Penfold Theatre Company’s new facility located in Round Rock as well as the Dougherty Arts Center in Austin. The production incorporates elements of Colombian culture and is designed to engage children through accessible bilingual storytelling and relevant thematic explorations.

Performance Details

GHFT will provide multiple performances tailored for school field trips at both venues. At Penfold Theatre, the performances are scheduled for April 5 and 12, 2025, at 4 PM, and April 6 and 13 at 2 PM and 4 PM. Tickets are priced at $15 for youth and $20 for adults, with complimentary admission for children under 2. At the Dougherty Arts Center, the performances are set for April 26, May 3, and 4, 2025, at 2 PM. The ticket pricing at this venue ranges from $10-$20 for youth and $15-$25 for adults on a sliding scale. Interested parties seeking more information regarding school performances are encouraged to contact GHFT through the provided email.

Who Is Affected

The remounting of “La Maleta de Maebelle” will impact various community members, including children, educators, and families in the Austin and Round Rock areas. By providing bilingual performances aimed at younger audiences, GHFT seeks to create an accessible cultural experience for children and foster an appreciation of themes such as migration and identity. The involvement in the production offers opportunities for volunteer participants in building puppets, thereby increasing community engagement.

Official Response

The original adaptation of “La Maleta de Maebelle” is based on a book authored by Tricia Tusa and adapted by Gricelda Silva and Caroline Reck. The performance features talents such as Stephanie Vasquez Fonseca, Sarita Ocón, and puppet understudy Maxwell Hanesworth, all under the direction of Caroline Reck. The show’s music is composed by Kiko Villamizar, contributing an original score that enhances the experience. The production has previously been recognized with 11 nominations at the B. Iden Payne Awards, securing two of those.

Impact

This upcoming production is not only a remounting of a well-received piece but also aims to delve into significant narratives related to migration and material possessions through the eyes of a bird and its human companion. The show embodies themes that resonate with audiences, particularly young viewers, around their connections to culture and heritage.

Furthermore, GHFT is also engaging the community through its performance project titled “The Serpents Fly at Sundown,” scheduled to commence after “La Maleta de Maebelle.” This new outdoor lantern puppetry piece aims to address contemporary environmental concerns, using puppetry as a medium for storytelling. Developmental presentations for this production will begin shortly after the opening of “Maebelle,” with performances slated for April 7, 9, and 10, 2025, at the University of Texas at Austin, aligning with the Cohen New Works Festival.

What’s Next

Following the performances of “La Maleta de Maebelle” and “The Serpents Fly at Sundown,” GHFT has announced a fall production titled “Los Frutos de la Muerte,” which is set to run from November 1 to 15, 2025, at CRASHBOX in Austin. This new piece will explore complex themes of family dynamics and the aftermath of loss, ensuring GHFT’s commitment to diverse storytelling and innovative theatre experiences.

Founded in 2011, Glass Half Full Theatre continues to pursue its mission of advocating for diverse narratives and community involvement in the performing arts, supported by funding from organizations such as the City of Austin Thrive Grant and the National Endowment for the Arts.

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Additional Resources

• Community Impact: Events in Round Rock
• Wikipedia: Colombian Culture
• Broadway World: La Maleta de Maebelle
• Google Search: Glass Half Full Theatre Austin
• Broadway World: GHFT Additional Programming
• Google Scholar: Bilingual Children Theater
• Community Impact: Penfold Theatre Venue
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Migration and Identity Themes
• Google Search: Glass Half Full Theatre Awards
• Google News: GHFT Round Rock Austin