Q: What is We Stand Before You Juntas about?

A: Four great friends at their sexual peaks adventure through their days to make changes in their lives and their politics, as they are challenged daily by their own beliefs, and those of their loved ones. We Stand Before You Juntas is an unapologetic and bold celebration of being Latina, being a woman, Those who Love Us, and Loving All those we want to Love.

Q: What drew you to direct the play?

A: Mari Salinas performed four of the play's monologues at a Valentine's themed group show produced by WARP in the spring of 2007. they were bold and from the heart, and struck some difficult cords with me, which I sincerely appreciate. those monologues encompassed radical ideas and yet they are ideas that swim and boil all over our media and our traditional family gatherings. my goal as a director is to produce the kind of theatre that People can attend and then begin the necessary dialogue and action to create progress in our communities and our politics. the gorgeous poetry. the call to arms. this play takes place in a feminine world. the necessity for a bold dialogue about race and religion (that, to me, seems lacking) in Seattle. I am new to Seattle, from Los Angeles, the possibilities of meeting the Latino communities in Seattle, and working With you.

Q: What are your hopes for the play?

A: Honestly, my hopes for the play are that the audience can enjoy the play in its entirety and have something to think about, something to laugh about, and something to inspire them, of course. feel the hope and the intention from the performers, the hope that has carried almost 15 cast & crew members through 4 months of rehearsals. the excitement around creating an artistic space for a producing crew with audience to listen to each other and form a more progressive community - even if its just for one night. and also to perform it elsewhere in the world, we are currently in the planning stages to take Juntas for a weekend or a few in olympia.

Q: Who do you hope comes to see the show?

A: Everyone curious or excited about what I wrote above, or something else you've read or heard about this play. we will also host a discussion for audience and cast/crew following each performance for those from the audience who are interested in reflecting or making plans for action.

Q: What is your connection to El Centro? How did you decide to do two shows here?

A: Many connections to El Centro de la Raza. You are the community center for Latinos, as far as i've heard. I am new to Seattle, like I said earlier, and I was asking about something like Plaza de la Raza in Los angeles, my office mate's firend is Cristina , the facilities manager at El Centro. that's the first connection. Emmanuel Arrendondo's (Carlos) took his father there to attend the senior's program. Mari Salinas has donated to El Centro numerously before Juntas was even an embryo. el Centro de la Raza's mission is . . . . . which we are proud to support.

Q: Why should people come see We Stand Before You Juntas?

A: it's a beautiful story with interesting characters written by a local playwright, Mari Salinas. see something new. Visit with others.