By News and Internal Communications

By Santana Peralez

EDINBURG, TEXAS – APRIL 17, 2023 – Science fiction meets fantasy and cottagecore (rural aesthetic) meets the apocalypse in the last production of the Spring 2023 season for UTRGV’s Department of Theatre.

“Somewhere: A Primer for the End of Days” is a bittersweet “The Last of Us”-esque performance that follows two siblings – prophetic entomologist Cassandra and her engineer brother Alexander – as they follow the last monarch butterflies in the world to the West Coast where they arrive at a farm inhabited by four strangers: former bookkeepr Sybil; her sister, Diana, a former librarian; Sybil’s husband, Eph, a former contractor; and Eph’s former apprentice Corin.

The migrating butterflies aren’t all that has brought the siblings to the West Coast. Cassandra sometimes has visions of the future, and as the siblings spend time with Sybil, Eph, Diana, and Corin, aspects of Cassandra’s latest vision begin to fall into place.

“Somewhere: A Primer for the End of Days,” written by award-winning playwright and poet Marisela Trevino Orta, will run April 21- 23, 2023 at the Albert L Jeffers Theatre on the Edinburg Campus.

Performance times are as follows:  

• April 21, 7:30 p.m.
• April 22, 7:30 p.m.
• April 23, 2 p.m.

A TIMELY TALE

The production was chosen to end the season as it felt timely in terms of environmental welfare awareness, said Jennifer Saxton-Rodriguez, director and associate professor in Theatre.

“Monarch butterflies were added in the fall to the endangered species list. This is a play that I teach in my online script analysis class, and it's one that the students seem to really love reading,” Saxton said. “It's a beautiful story and while it's about environmental collapse, it's also hopeful."

“Somewhere” will not only feature six actors, but also nine goddesses who will dance, sing and puppeteer the butterflies throughout the play.

“The students have given me so much energy because they are so excited and committed to telling this story,” Saxton said.

 

This project has been largely student-led with a student costume designer, lighting designer, assistant director, stage managers, and prop designer, along with actors, musicians, and dancers.

“It's been a delightful collaboration and I'm just really excited to see this story told the way we are telling it.” Saxton continued. “I've had some wonderful collaborations with so many fellow artists who happen to be students on this project but none of it would happen without the organizational skills of the stage management team.” 

Saxton’s sentiments were echoed by Dinorah Trevino, stage manager and senior Theatre major concentrating in Design, who has had the opportunity to work on a few UTRGV productions – “Coriolanus,” “Frankenstein,” “Moliere” and “Picasso at the Lapin Agile.”

“It has been amazing working on ‘Somewhere,’” Trevino said. “I get the opportunity to learn and grow as I watch the rehearsal process progress. I love walking into rehearsal and really feeling the creative energy from all ends of the rehearsal space, it truly is one of the best feelings.”

Trevino said that while every member of the cast has been amazing, she wanted to give a special recognition to Dominique de los Reyes, who is playing the role of Cassandra.

“Her love and dedication to the role of Cassandra has allowed the rehearsal process to unfold beautifully,” Trevino said. “And her collaboration skills with the rest of the cast and crew is something I admire about her as an actress.”

Ticket prices are $15 for general admission, $10 for seniors/military and $5 for UTRGV students, faculty, and staff with valid ID. The box office will open one hour prior to showtime.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit the UTRGV Theatre Box Office or call 956-665-3581.

The Albert L Jeffers Theatre is located on UTRGVs Edinburg Campus, in East Liberal Arts Building South (ELABS) and the closest parking lots for audience members will be E7/E8.