Making The Refugee Hotel

So, I feel really, really lucky to have married a man with so many talents. He (my husband Peter) is a filmmaker, a web designer, graphic designer, carpenter, father...my point is, when you are doing the biggest project of your life, with not a lot of money to do it with, it really helps to have a man like Peter in your life. He's designed the website (check us out at www.alamedatheatre.com), he's designed all of the marketing materials for this show (see above) and, AND he's making a documentary film about The Refugee Hotel (this enormously ambitious play that I decided to produce back in 2004). I have to count my lucky stars. Truly.

So, what exactly is this little documentary about, you ask? It's about a play, written by a Latin American Canadian, produced by a Latin American Canadian, with some Latin American Canadian (and non-Latinos as well) actors in it. The play was written by Carmen Aguirre over ten years ago. It's never been produced. Ever. We will be producing the World Premiere. A small, independent theatre company run by Latinos. Yes, we are crazy. I think as the documentary unravels it will capture the essence of the play we are producing. Love, Exile, Love...But you never know with documentaries. I may have a nervous breakdown along the way, there may be some screaming, there will be tears (of joy and frustration, for sure!). I have money to raise (I don't want to scare the cast and crew) and we are 10 weeks from opening. Just writing that scares the shit out of me. This journey has been really, really difficult. I will not lie. But, it has been a labour of love for me and all those involved. The play, this play, is so good. When we did the staged reading in 2007 at Harbourfront's Lakeside Terrace, 300 people showed up. I was staggered! Three hundred people to hear a reading of a play? Unheard of, I was told. And when the audience leapt to their feet at the end, and a gentleman yelled out, "Viva Chile!", we cried. Tears of joy. (I'm Chilean and so is the playwright).

This play is big. Twelve actors in a hotel...I will leave it at that for now. Join me, join us on this journey. I promise you, you won't be disappointed. Thanks for coming here today. - Marilo Nunez