By Teatro del Pueblo Teatro del Pueblo and Pangea World Theater are continuing their unprecedented collaboration project by working together to bring the beloved children’s novel, The House on Mango Street, to life on the stage in Minneapolis spring of 2012.

The House on Mango Street is the powerful coming-of-age story of Esperanza, a young Chicana, growing up in Chicago. Esperanza struggles with her identity as a Latina, her desire to leave her barrio and culture behind as she matures, and the love she feels for the community she grew up in. The adaptation is a series of vignettes of important moments during Esperanza’s upbringing. A grown-up Esperanza, who carefully watches her younger self stumble through her childhood memories, narrates the play.

In preparation for the spring show Teatro has reached out to the teachers in Minneapolis and St. Paul who use the novel in their classrooms. Dedicated to bringing the arts to as many students as possible Teatro hosted two free workshops to teachers this fall to give educators and introduction to elements of theater within the traditional House on Mango Street curriculum.

The workshops were received with excited support from every educator who attended. A few of the themes addressed in the workshops were identity, storytelling, dehumanization of immigrant communities and human rights. Teatro hopes to host another workshop early 2012 to continue their program of brining theater to Minnesota schools. Look for more updates on Teatro’s adaptation of The House on Mango Street in the upcoming months!