Las Nuevas Tamaleras cooking up laughs

Date of Release: 10/18/2006

SAN MARCOS —The popular bilingual comedy, Las Nuevas Tamaleras, returns to Texas State University-San Marcos with a 7:30 p.m. show Oct. 28 in Evans Auditorium.

Written and directed by San Antonio playwright Alicia Mena, Las Nuevas Tamaleras has played to sell-out audiences throughout Texas, New Mexico, California and Colorado since its world premiere at El Teatro Bilingue de Houston in 1991.

This charming one-act play captures three Chicanas in an uproariously comical attempt at making tamales for the first time. The show erupts when the spirits of Doña Juanita and Doña Mercedes--two veteran tamaleras (tamale-makers) appear on the scene to invisibly guide the younger generation of women. The spirits’ “guidance” takes and unexpected turn, however, when the old tamaleras disagree on the proper way to make the perfect tamale. The new tamaleras blunder through the daunting task, frustrating their spiritual guides and delighting the audience.

Las Nuevas Tamaleras will be presented in Evans Auditorium on the Texas State campus with free parking in the Pleasant Street Parking Garage. Admission prices are $10 for the general public and $5 for students. All seats are reserved. Advance tickets are available through the Texas State Box Office and can be purchased by calling (512) 245-2030 or (877) TIC-TXST, or ordered online at http://uweb.txstate.edu/gao/ffa/. For more information, contact the Events Coordinator at (512) 245-3501.