“Haunting, harrowing… crescendos from a quiet whimper to an anguished cri de coeur. It’s difficult to watch [but] impossible to look away.” – Daily Herald

 

To the U.S.-owned factories in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, La Ruta is just a bus. But to the women who live, work and often disappear along the route, it’s so much more than that. Inspired by real testimonies, La Ruta is a visceral unearthing of secrets buried in the desert and a celebration of the Mexican women who stand resiliently in the wake of loss. Isaac Gómez is an award-winning Chicago-based playwright, originally from El Paso, Texas/Ciudad Juárez, Mexico.

 

The world premiere of La Ruta was produced and presented at Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Chicago, IL; Anna D. Shapiro, Artistic Director and David Schmitz, Executive Director This project was developed with support from the Pivot Arts Incubator Program at Loyola University Chicago.

BE A PART OF THE PROCESS

Communities are reflected in the stories we choose to tell. Once a story is told, it becomes as much a part of the listener as it is of the storyteller. To better understand our audience and enrich your theatrical experience, we invite you to share your views. Tell us about your interests. What do you want to see on stage?

Thank you for choosing to be a part of our story telling process.

Marisela Barrera, Director
Trevor Gagnon, Production Stage Manager

 

CAST

Featuring Briana Morales, Clarissa Ramos, Gloria Salazar, Maggie Livar Corona, Roze Livar, Sarah Livar, Anna DeLuna, and Keli Rosa Cabunoc Romero

 

La Ruta is performed without an intermission

 

THE TOBIN TEAM

President & CEO, Michael J. Fresher
Senior VP & CFO, Jeff LaSante
Senior VP of Brand and Engagement, Christopher Novosad
VP of Development, Renee Garvens
Director of Marketing, Lauren Keck
Graphics Manager, Rigo Ortiz
Digital Marketing & Promotions, Alyssa Mora
Graphic Design Coordinator, Lucy Coronado
Senior Manager Front of House, Chance Margotta
Technical Director, Hector Gutierez
Assistant Technical Director, Adam McCoy
Lighting Head, Gabriel Garcia IV
Video Head, David Sangiuliano 

BIOGRAPHIES
Briana Morales

Yoli

Briana is honored to be helping tell this vital story with the wonderful cast and team at 100A Productions. Before an 11-year hiatus from the stage to pursue the speech-language pathology field, she has treasured past roles in Grease (Miss Lynch); The Sound of Music (Sister Sophia); Rent (Joanne); Doubt: A Parable (Sister Aloysius); and Oleanna (Carol). She has now re-established her ambitions in the arts and is currently passing along her knowledge to award-winning middle school students as a 2nd-year theatre arts teacher with Judson ISD. She continues to seek all adventures and opportunities in performance and production for growth and for the thrill! (bri.morales129@gmail.com) Mil gracias to all of Briana’s family members, close friends, and colleagues for their support in her passions; as well as the notable 100A Productions and Tobin Center for this opportunity. Que los testimonios de estos personajes y las mujeres que representan nunca sean eliminados de la historia. 

Clarissa Ramos

Marisela

Clarissa is a San Antonio based artist and thrilled to be back for her second Industry Night Reading with 100A Productions. She studied and trained at TAMUCC and was a Lab Company member at the Hangar Theater in Ithaca, NY, where she learned to hone her craft in acting, devising, directing and value process. She was recently seen in Brilliant Traces (Rosannah) at St. Phillips College, the world premier of Lyric and The Keys (Miss Reed), Carmela Full of Wishes (Carmela) at Magik Theatre, and the national tour of Tomas and The Library Lady (Library Lady, Amà, Enrique). She would like to extend her thanks and love to the mujeres in La Ruta for all their love and encouragement in this process. ig: _clarissamramos_

Gloria Salazar

Ivonne

Gloria is a First-generation Hispanic graduate with a BFA in Theatre Arts from the University of the Incarnate Word. Gloria has been involved in UIW productions of Dancing at Lughnasa (MAGGIE), The Reluctant Dragon (SHY GIRL), and Taming of the Shrew (BIONDELLO/HABERDASHER). This is Gloria’s first time working with 100A Productions, and she is honored to be a part of an amazing show with such an amazing group of women! Gloria would like to thank her mother for being her otra mitad y inspiración! And her boyfriend Nick and his mother Maria, who are the funniest and kindest people she knows.

Maggie Livar Corona,
Roze Livar,
Sarah Livar,

Maggie Livar Corona

Brenda

Maggie is a Freshman at Providence High School, where she has been active in various Theater Productions.

100A at the Tobin has provided her with her debut performance in La Ruta, Industry Reading.

Roze Livar

Zaide

A community actor and advocate for the Seniors of San Antonio. She has been active with various theater companies.

Sarah Livar

Woman of Juarez

Sarah had been active in Theater in High School and College and recently returned to the stage with La Ruta, Industry reading.

She is looking forward to the opportunity of participating in more San Antonio Theater.

Anna DeLuna
Woman of Juarez

Anna is a south Texas based actor, playwright, educator and HIV prevention activist.   She received her BA in Women’s/Mexican-American Studies at UTSA and graduated from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.  These experiences influenced her theatrical focus on feminisms and racial inequalities.  Anna received grants from the National Association of Latino Arts and Culture and the City of San Antonio to create her solo-plays The AIDS Lady and Carmen From Mexico.  Ms. De Luna also works part-time with Jump-Start Performance Company teaching theater to the girls-only program Historias y Cuentos and to houseless adults at Corazon Ministries.

Keli Rosa Cabunoc Romero
Desamaya

Keli Rosa is an award winning Chicana dancer, musician, actor, performer, artivista, first-generation scholar, and profesora of Mexican American Studies at Northwest Vista College. She has toured internationally as a musician and performer, and danced professionally in New York, Los Angeles, and México. Keli Rosa comes with a long record of community activism, social justice, and involvement in traditional music and dance. She’s a grant writer for San Anto Cultural Arts, and is honored to be the secretary on the board of the Cesar E Chavez Legacy and Educational Foundation.  Over the last two decades, Keli Rosa has taught several talleres, workshops, grant writing classes, and presentations throughout California, New York City, the Southwest,  Washington DC, and Texas.

Marisela Barrera
Director

Marisela Barrera (Writer/Director/Actor) is a working-class Tejana cultural agitator who challenges expected behaviors of Artista/Mujerista. She has a BFA in Acting from Southern Methodist University and MA/MFA degrees in Creative Writing, Literature and Social Justice from Our Lady of the Lake University. Marisela writes short stories, profiles, and nonfiction essays and turns them into transmedia performances. She was Artistic Director of Cara Mia Theater, Theater Director at the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center, and has performed in Latino cultural centers in Dallas, Houston, Austin, and San Antonio.Her work has appeared in The Brooklyn Rail, San Antonio Report, Latina Critical Feminism, Out in SA, Texas Matters, and The San Antonio Current, among others. She has directed 100+ plays and cultural ondas since the 90s. She teaches writing at Northwest Vista College and is a two-time recipient of the National Association for Latino Arts and Culture Fund for the Arts grant. She was awarded two Individual Artist Grants from the City of San Antonio and was the Spring 2024 Artist in Residence with Democratizing Racial Justice at the University of Texas at San Antonio. Marisela recently returned from training and performing with La Pocha Nostra in Mexico City.

Trevor Gagnon
Production Stage Manager

Trevor began his entertainment career as an acrobat in the Edmonton Opera’s production of The Mikado in 1991.  He parlayed that experience into an acrobatic and performing career that spanned 23 years and six countries with such acclaimed companies as Dragone Entertainment and Cirque du Soleil.  After retiring from performing full-time, Trevor worked as a Show Manager and Artistic Director in San Diego, California. His show, Cirque Electrique went on to win the IAAPA award for Best Show in 2017.  Trevor is proud to have worked at the Tobin Center in a variety of roles since 2021 and is excited and thankful to be a part of 100A Productions. All of us at the Tobin and 100A are grateful for Trevor’s recent return from his adventure as Company Manager of House of Dancing Water in Macao, China.

VIDEOS