Esperanza

Trinity Street Players are bringing Esperanza to the Trinity Street Playhouse at 901 Trinity St, starting Thursday, October 15. It's a drama written and directed by Rupert Reyes, and it runs through two weekends: October 15–17 (Thursday–Saturday at 8 PM), October 18 (Sunday matinee at 3 PM), and October 21–24 (Wednesday–Saturday at 8 PM).

Esperanza started as an idea for Reyes back in 2016, when the U.S. was ramping up deportations of undocumented immigrants and families were being torn apart, with children separated from their parents. He took those women as the emotional starting point, and from there he began to wonder what it must feel like to leave everything behind in search of a better life, only to face the unimaginable pain of losing your child. He's clear that the play isn't about politics, but about people: their dreams, sacrifices, fears, mistakes, and the hope that keeps them moving forward. The title itself means 'hope,' and Reyes says he wants audiences to leave with a deeper understanding of the people who come to this country seeking a better future.

The production is staged by Trinity Street Players, a nonprofit theatre company committed to professional, thought-provoking, and entertaining stage productions in downtown Austin. This one is supported in part by a Nexus Grant from Austin Arts, Culture, Music and Entertainment. The cast features Idelisse Collazo, Karina Dominguez, Cherry Mendoza, and Benjamin G Bazán; Steve Williams handles the design, and Ivy Vidal is on stage management. ASL interpretation and audio description are available upon request.

Tickets run from $20 to $35. The show opens Thursday, October 15, at 8 PM, with a Sunday matinee on October 18 at 3 PM, and a second run from Wednesday, October 21, through Saturday, October 24, all at 8 PM.