In the round

News and notes from the San Antonio theater scene

Ghosts

It's that time of year again. No, not last month's "that time of year" - while September is the beginning of the theater season, October is the beginning of what is, essentially, "Month of the Dead" here in SA. The folks at the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center are making sure it is, indeed, a month full of all things funereal.

Dead events kick off on the first with a Día de los Muertos Art Sale, billed as offering "everything you need to create your own altar." Workshops follow throughout the month, on practicalities such as how to make your own ofrenda, paper flowers, sugar skulls, Pan de Muerto and other delectables for offering to the ancestors. You can also learn how to create calaveras (a multi-purpose word), of either the satirical verse or papier mâché skeleton kind.

The Dia de los Muertos festival culminates, theatrically speaking, with a production of Johnny Tenorio, a classic teatro play by Carlos Morton about a modern cholo Don Juan, set on the eve of Día de los Muertos. The post-modern, multimedia production features dialogue in Spanish, English, and "calo" (Mexican slang) and is directed by Maria Ibarra. The show will run in the new intimate Guadalupe Teatro space, October 22-31. Call 271-3151 ext. 26 for reservations and information.

Pagan Gods

Rounding out this thematically linked, partial (in all senses of the word) listing of what's up in SA theater this month, Trinity University is producing Brian Friel's Dancing at Lughnasa, directed by Kristin Crouch as its season opener. Yes, it's another dour Irish play, but set during Lughnasa (variously spelled), the late-August festival sacred to the Celtic god Lugh and marked with the attendant pagan revelry. It's a beautiful show, even if the genre is becoming cliché. October 1-9, call 999-8515 for reservations and information.

Compiled by Laurie Dietrich