CALLING PUERTO RICO: FROM THE ISLAND AND TO HOPE
Presented by Pa'lante Theater Company, Waterbury, CT
Educators & School Access
Study Guide
LEARNING CONENT DEVELOPERS:
RAFAEL FELICIANO-ROMAN
ZELEST CARABALLO
ANGELICA HUERTAS
AFRO CARIBBEAN CULTURAL CENTER
Waterbury-based Pa'lante Theater Company presents its critically acclaimed "based off of true events," play using imagery sounds and powerful stories about Puerto Rico before, during and after Hurricane Maria devastated the island. This play tackles family, resilience, helping others, colonialism and survival.
Most enjoyed by ages 14+.
RELEASE DATE:
August 1, 2023
AVAILABLE
October 1 - November 30, 2023
at Live Theaters in Waterbury, Bridgeport, New Haven & Bridgeport
About the Performance:
In this presentation, you'll:
-
explore a bilingual play "Calling Puerto Rico: For the Island and To Hope," by playwright Juan Ramirez Jr. directed by Waterbury-based company, Pa'lante Theater
-
Examine the ways art forms like poetry and theater use digital media and visual displays to express information and enhance the understanding of presentations.
-
experiment through auditory cues, a tool Pa'lante Theater uses to tell stories in imaginative ways using real sounds that trigger imagination and senses.
In New York City, Joel is an amatuer radio operator who has not been out of his attic apartment for about a year. He gets news about Tropical Storm Maria and the potential it has to harm Puerto Rico. Worried, he decides to reach out over the radio to a man he hasn’t spoken to in a long time, his grandfather, Aníbal. Pa'lante Theater from Waterbury Connecticut presents its critically acclaimped "based off of true events," play using imagery sounds and powerful stories about Puerto Rico before, during and after Hurricane Maria devastated the island. This play tackles family, resilience, helping others, colonialism and survival. Rafael Feliciano-Roman directs a stunning show of loss, love and hope.
Educational Standards Alignment:
National Core Arts Standards:
TH:Pr4.1.I., TH:Re7.1.I., TH:Re8.1.I, TH:Cn11.1.I, TH:Cn11.2.1
CT Common Core Standards:
CCS-ELA_6-12 RL.11-12.7, CSS-ELA_6-12 RL 9-10.5 & RL 11-12.5, CCS-ELA_6-12 W.11-12.5
Curriculum Connections:
Fine Arts: Performance, Music
Language Arts: Rap (Poetry), Spanish, English
History/Social Studies: Puerto Rican Studies
Social/Emotional Learning: Bravery, Resilience, Believing in yourself, helping others. Self-Awareness, Self Management and Relationship Sills.
What to Expect:
This performance is approximately 90 minutes long and takes place in three different locations (Stage Left: Juana Matos, Puerto Rico, Stage Right: Bronx, New York, and in the rear and all around Space at the International Space Station.) In New York City, Joel is an amatuer radio operator who has not been out of his attic apartment for about a year. He gets news about Tropical Storm Maria and the potential it has to harm Puerto Rico. Worried, he decides to reach out over the radio to a man he hasn’t spoken to in a long time, his grandfather, Aníbal. Joel is visited by his landlord / love interest Melosa, and speaks to his best friend and astronaut on the ISS Debra. Anibal has a neighbor and friend named Rolan who is instrumental to his life.
What to Look and Listen For:
-
objects in Anibal's and Joel's apartment are there items that speak to their character and their culture?
-
The sounds of the Coqui (Puerto Rican Frog), Hurricane Winds, the beeps of the ISS, and Salsa Music.
-
The images that are projected throughout the show showing you the weather maps and the radar images of Hurricane Maria as it forms.
-
A grandfather and grandsons unspoken body language and what isn't said or spoken - How are Anibal and Joel the same/different from one another?
-
Melosa's rap!
Think About:
-
What challenge is Joel facing in this play?
-
How does Melosa help Joel?
-
What is Debra's role in this play?
-
Is Rolan a hero or a villen?
-
Joel suffers from mental health issues in what way do they present and what are his coping mechanisms?
-
Has you or anyone you know been effected by a natural disaster? How have they recovered or still trying to recover?
-
The Island of Puerto Rico, what has changed / stayed the same since Hurricane Maria.
Activities
1
Write a journal entry from one of the Characters perspective
Write a journal entry from one of the characters that spoke most to you leading up to the storm about to hit the island. What do you think they are thinking? Going through? What are they most fearful of? Proud of? Hopeful for?
2
Write to the following prompt:
What would the play look like without one of the supporting characters. Remove one Melosa, Debra or Rolan, How would the show be different? Would Joel / Anibal's story be the same or different? Do you feel all parts are important?
3
Write a RAP!
In the play Melosa, comes in and performs a Birthday Rap to to celebrate her special day. Write a new RAP! For Melosa for her Bday! Taking and using principals of poetry as your foundation! Write an updated B-day Rap for Melosa!
4
Explore Puerto Rican Culture
Explore how Puerto Rican Culture (belief systems, political, historical, etc effected the writing and creative choices in Calling Puerto Rico). Have a group discussion on this and share any and all cultural research you have done on the Puerto Rican culture. If you identify as Puerto Rican how did this play speak to you?
5
Create a Digital Media Presentation
Create a Digital Media piece (e.g. textual, graphical, audio, visual and interactive elements) in a presentation and present to the rest of the class on one of the following topics;
-
Effects of Hurricane Maria on the Island of Puerto Rico
-
Puerto Rico's Colonial/Political Status.
-
Migration patters of Puerto Ricans in your City.
6
Discuss Calling Puerto Rico
After watching the play hold a group discussion on the play. What was powerful about the play? What do you feel was accurate or inaccurate? What did you learn from the play that you did not know before? Who was your favorite character? How does the play tackle family, mental health, loss, and survival?