Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre will open its 25th-anniversary season with the Midwest premiere of Refuge, a new play with music and puppetry from creators Satya Jnani Chavez and Andrew Rosendorf, with translations by Mari Meza-Burgos.
Refuge is set to begin previews Oct. 7, with performances Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 6 p.m. The regular run is Oct. 20-Nov. 13 with performances Thursdays through Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 6 p.m.
Chronicling the harrowing journey of one young Honduran girl as she crosses the U.S. border into the inhospitable, barren land of Texas, Refuge is an exploration of empathy and of the United States. Magical realism allows this multidisciplinary play to tackle the immigration crisis through a unique lens.
Chavez (she/they; co-director/music director) will lead the creative team alongside Valen-Marie Santos (she/her; co-director).
"I feel an immense responsibility to honor those who came before me with this work. Creating with radical acceptance of all of my identities, hoping to encourage those who come after me to fully express the breadth of theirs," Chavez said in a statement. "Inspired by my ancestors, my Duranguense father, and the people of this earth who managed to survive and thrive despite being plants expected to grow without water. May we continue to cultivate spaces that truly welcome our indigenous, queer, Latine, BIPOC and immigrant communities."
Theo Ubique continues to offer its pre-show dinner experience partnering with Evanston's Taco Diablo for all performances of Refuge. Dinner reservations can be placed when purchasing your tickets and are offered at an additional $30 per person.
Subscriptions are currently available for the 25th-anniversary season and single tickets for Refuge ($35-$55) will be available beginning Sept. 18. Tickets can be purchased online at theo-u.com or via phone at 773-939-4101.
