Fresno State’s University Theatre presents the Fresno premiere of “Fade,” written by Tanya Saracho and directed by associate professor Gina Sandí-Díaz.
Performances are at 7:30 p.m. March 13 and 14 and March 17 through 21, and at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 15, at the Dennis and Cheryl Woods Theatre on campus. Tickets are $20 for adults; $18 for Fresno State faculty, staff, alumni and military; $5 for Fresno State students; and $10 for all other students. This production contains mature content and themes. Children under 5 will not be admitted.
When Lucia, a Mexican-born novelist, gets her first TV writing job, she feels a bit out of place on the white male-dominated set. Lucia quickly becomes friends with the only other Latino around, a janitor named Abel. As Abel shares his stories with Lucia, similar plots begin to find their way into the TV scripts that Lucia writes. “Fade” is a play about class and race within the Latinx community and at large, and how status does not change who people are at their core.
“Playwright Tanya Saracho delves into race and class differences through the relationship of our two characters,” director Sandí-Díaz said. “She unveils how presumption and prejudice sneak into even the most well-intentioned interactions and suggests race and class are indeed the driving forces of American inequality.”
“Fade” features performances by Paulina Marin-Contreras as Lucia and Henry Mercado as Abel. Cristian Gonzalez will play the role of Abel on Tuesday, March 17 and Wednesday, March 18.
A Latine affinity night is open to all on Thursday, March 19, featuring Latine student organizations and campus partners as they table, share resources and celebrate community before the performance. Participating departments and clubs will be announced at a later date.
Doors open 30 minutes prior to curtain. Latecomers will not be seated after curtain: no refunds or exchanges. The box office is open Tuesday through Thursday from noon to 3 p.m. and one hour before each performance, accepting cash, check and credit card.
Parking is free for Friday through Sunday evening performances. Tuesday through Thursday evening performances require a parking permit, available at campus parking dispensers.For more information, contact the box office at 559.278.2216 or universitytheatre@csufresno.edu.
By Miguel A Gastelum
