From Oral History to Theater

Barrio Stories is a celebration of the history and heritage of Arizona’s historic Mexican-American neighborhoods. Conceived by Borderlands Theater in 2015, the project is an ongoing site-specific series intended to preserve and reflect the stories, people, and places that made these barrios so vital to the cultural fabric of the Southwest. Barrios Viejo (also known as “La Calle”) and Anita became the primary subjects of the Borderlands Theater project, each taking on a different process and presentation. For its third iteration, Barrio Stories will be presented over two nights in Nogales, Arizona.

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by Borderlands Theater Ensemble

June 17 & 18 2022

Historic Morley Ave in Downtown Nogales, AZ
6:30pm- 10pm
FREE / GRATIS (Donations Accepted / Se aceptan donaciones)

LIVE MUSIC
JUNE 17 – Renee Goust, Los Nasdrovia, Los Waldos
JUNE 18 – The Jons, Los Velvets, Priscilla Nefftys

Borderlands theater presents Barrio Stories Nogales, a celebration of Nogalense history and heritage in Downtown Nogales, featuring oral histories projected onto Morely Avenue’s historic buildings, giant puppets and shadow performances, kids activities, food, storytelling and LIVE MUSIC featuring: On June 17th, Renee Goust, Los Nasdrovia, and Los Waldos. On June 18th The Jons, Priscilla Nefftys, and Los Velvets. Experience this choose -your- own adventure theatrical festival.

El teatro Fronterizo Borderlands Theater presenta Barrio Stories Nogales, un festival teatral de historia y cultura Nogalense en Morley Avenue en el Centro de Nogales Junio 17 y 18 6:30- 10pm. Disfrute con su familia, teatro de sombra, teatro de titeres gigantes, juegos para los niños, cuentos familiares y música: Junio 17: Renee Goust, Los Velvets, y Los Waldos. Junio 18: The Jons, Priscilla Nefftys, y Los Nasdrovia.

Barrio Stories Nogales is supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts Our Town Grant, Arizona Humanities, Southwest Folklife Alliance as partner and sponsor through a grant from ArtPlace America, the University of Arizona Confluence Center for Creative Inquiry through the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Fronteridades Project, the Arizona Commission for the Arts Festival Grant and Flinn Foundation Grant.

Seeking Volunteers!

Borderlands Theater is seeking volunteers for Barrio Stories Nogales! There are numerous volunteer opportunities supporting the festival’s success, many located within the excitement – all are a short time commitment ranging from one to two hours, ensuring volunteers will have plenty of time to experience the festival! There will be a volunteer training held prior to the event, so volunteers can be confident in their support roles.

Borderlands Theatre está buscando voluntarios para Barrio Stories Nogales! Con su apoyo el festival sera un exito, las horas de voluntarios varían de una a dos horas, garantizando que los voluntarios tendrán mucho tiempo para disfrutar el festival! Habrá un entrenamiento de voluntarios antes del evento.

Link to view and register for volunteer opportunities: https://tinyurl.com/zpsazfet

For volunteer inquiries, Kaya Teyechea can be reached at: k.teyechea@gmail.com.

Previous Barrio Stories in Tucson, Arizona (2016, 2018)

Audio Talk-backs: Reflections on Barrio Stories by Audience Members

Memories Come to Life

Over a dozen current and former residents of Barrio Anita were interviewed, recounting memories of growing up in the neighborhood. Themes of Loss, Celebration, Adversity, Food, Family, and the Ways of the Barrio emerged, heavily shaping the Borderlands production. Residents were interviewed on video. The video oral histories and community memories made up a large part of the event.

View the Stories Here