Thank you for joining us for a concert reading of a musical-in-progress. This performance is presented as part of Paramount’s Spark Lab Series, a series dedicated to the creation and development of new theatrical work for the stage.
Mija
Mija is an original bilingual musical in development, featuring music and lyrics by Grammy Award-winning Gaby Moreno and Portland singer-songwriter Anna Gilbert, with a book by Broadway artist Evynne Hollens and Seattle playwright Rebecca Touriño Collinsworth. Inspired by the true story of a Latin American woman reconnecting with her roots, Mija explores themes of identity, womanhood, and the complexities of family.
At its heart, Mija follows the intertwined lives of three Latinas over two decades. It begins with Luisa, who leaves her sheltered life in the U.S. to reconnect with her heritage in Antigua, Guatemala. As her story unfolds, it intertwines with that of Gabriela, a high school senior in Oregon, searching for identity, belonging, and the truth of her own past. Set across two decades and two countries, Mija delves into the complexities of identity and choice through a bilingual lens. This poignant musical invites audiences to embrace the bonds of love and heritage that shape us all while reflecting on the experiences of the growing Latine population in the U.S.
MIJA es un musical bilingüe original en desarrollo, con música y letras de la ganadora del Grammy Gaby Moreno y la cantautora de Portland Anna Gilbert, con libreto de la artista de Broadway Evynne Hollens y la dramaturga de Seattle Rebecca Touriño Collinsworth. Inspirado en la historia real de una mujer latinoamericana que reconecta con sus raíces, MIJA explora temas de identidad, feminidad y las complejidades de la familia.
En su núcleo, MIJA sigue las vidas entrelazadas de tres latinas durante dos décadas. La historia comienza con Luisa, quien deja su vida protegida en Estados Unidos para reconectar con sus raíces en Antigua, Guatemala. Mientras su historia se desarrolla, se entrelaza con la de Gabriela, una estudiante de último año de secundaria en Oregón que busca su identidad, pertenencia y la verdad sobre su pasado. Ambientado en dos décadas y dos países, MIJA profundiza en las complejidades de la identidad y la elección desde una perspectiva bilingüe. Este emotivo musical invita al público a abrazar los lazos de amor y herencia que nos forman, mientras refleja las experiencias de la creciente población latina en los Estados Unidos.
Creative Team Digital Note
CULTURAL CONSULTANT NOTE
Mija takes place in multiple timelines, specifically in Guatemala in the 1960s–70s, early 2000s, and the present day. As one can imagine, Guatemala has undergone significant political, social, economic, and spiritual change during this time.
Antigua
Guatemala’s Antigua is currently one of the country’s most popular tourist destinations, with its picturesque cobblestone streets and trio of volcanoes. It is also a heavily gentrified city, having experienced an influx of luxury development that raises the cost of living (and stress) for locals.
War & Genocide
Dating back to the 1960s, Guatemala experienced the beginning of civil war and genocide, now historically marked as “The Silent Holocaust.”
By the 1970s, the country’s president, Carlos Arana, would enforce a stronger military presence and infiltrate a culture of military supervision, causing deadly casualties.
In the 1980s, the deadliest chapter of the war began with Dictator Ríos Montt, who disposed of political parties and the congress.
In 1996, the official peace treaty marked the end of the civil war with the help of humanitarian officials worldwide. However, the damage was done, with 200,000 people dead and an unknown number of people missing.
Religion
Certain scenes in Mija take place during Semana Santa – “Holy Week” – which in the Christian calendar are the 7 days leading up to Easter. This holiday is one of the most sacred and celebrated annual events in Guatemala.
During the period of the play, the relationship between the Catholic Church and Guatemalan government was a tense one. The Church’s vocal opposition to war crimes against the country’s poorest and most vulnerable population caused the government to begin seeing clergy as enemies to be targeted.
Safety, Law, & Patriarchy
Today, Guatemala has one of the highest rates of gender-based violence, especially in Indigenous and rural communities, in the world. Impunity – exemption from punishment – for gender-based violence is in the 90th percentile. In 2023, the Women’s Observatory of the Attorney General’s Office logged 22,000+ gender-violence complaints and 98 femicides. It should be noted that these numbers only account for reported incidents; there is still stigma in being vocal about such crimes.
For women like Luisa and Mishel, simply walking home after dark — or entering a hospital without proper representation for advocacy — can carry real risk. Similarly, the lack of accessibility to helpful resources creates multiple hurdles.
In 1996, the same year the war ended, Guatemala finally passed the Law on the Prevention, Punishment, and Eradication of Domestic Violence.
The policy urged a halt to domestic violence, yet it did not fully criminalize it. Marital rape was not criminalized until 2006, and domestic-violence cases still face long odds in court.
In 2008, the Law Against Femicides and Other Forms of Violence Against Women was passed. This law finally criminalized violence motivated by gender in all its capacities: physical, sexual, psychological, and economic.
These patriarchal structures shape Javier’s “machismo” worldview and the life-or-death choices our heroines confront.
I hope that this information sheds light on some of the realities of the characters you will hear from.
B’antyox (Thank you in Maya Q’eqchi),
Kiara Rivera
Maya Q’eqchi Nation
Want to know more?
Learn more about this show’s journey at www.mijamusical.com
@mijamusical on social media.
SPECIAL THANKS TO THE GENEROUS SUPPORT FROM
The Aurora Women’s Empowerment Foundation and Healing Illinois. Healing Illinois is funded by the Illinois Department of Human Services in partnership with The Field Foundation of Illinois and YWCA Northwestern Illinois Foundation.
Coffee provided by Anticonquista Café
Baked goods provided by Markello’s Baking Company
Cast catering provided by Alice’s Corner
Content Guide
Important Advisory
This musical contains topics and themes of a sensitive nature. Please review the list below for details.
Content Warning:
- References to violence against women
- Child abuse and abortion
- Misogynist and homophobic slurs
Trigger Warning:
- Depictions of a high-risk pregnancy and childbirth
Aviso Importante
Este musical aborda temas y cuestiones de naturaleza sensible. Por favor, revise la siguiente lista para más detalles.
Aviso de Contenido:
- Referencias a violencia contra las mujeres
- Abuso infantil y aborto
- Insultos misóginos y homofóbicos
Aviso de Gatillo:
- Representaciones de un embarazo de alto riesgo y parto
Meet the Cast
Marina Pires*
Luisa
Making Paramount debut.
Adriana Ripley
Gabriela
Making Paramount debut.
Crystal Claros
Mishel
Making Paramount debut.
Omar Lopez-Cepero*
Javier
Making Paramount debut.
Satya Chávez*
Ensemble
Making Paramount debut.
Isabel Quintero*
Ensemble
Making Paramount debut.
Tommy Rivera-Vega*
Ensemble
Previously in My Fair Lady and In The Heights.
Tatiana Bustamante
Ensemble
Previously in Streetcar Named Desire.
Andres DeLeon
Ensemble
Previously in Groundhog Day, Rock of Ages, and Fun Home.
WHO’S WHO IN THE CAST
MARINA PIRES (Luisa) is a trilingual Brasileira living in NYC. She was seen most recently in Nine at The Kennedy Center, and on Broadway in How to Dance in Ohio. She has toured in On Your Feet! The Story of Gloria and Emilio Estefan, performed with Phish at Madison Square Garden, and sung on Lin-Manuel Miranda’s/Sony Pictures Animation film VIVO! @marinampires
ADRIANA RIPLEY she/her (Gabriela) is a senior at CU Boulder, majoring in Musical Theatre, Psychology, and French. Credits as Gabriela (Mija) include NAMT’s 35th Annual Festival of New Musicals and the 2024 reading in Guatemala. She recently made her 54 Below debut in Let’s Be Bad: Celebrating Broadway’s Villains. @adriana.ripley
CRYSTAL CLAROS they/any (Mishel) is so excited to be making their Paramount Theatre debut! Some notable projects include a feature role on Chicago Med, Michael (Tick, Tick…Boom), Vivienne (Legally Blonde at MTW) as well as other readings/workshops and productions around the Windy City.
SATYA CHÁVEZ (Ensemble) is an award-winning actor, composer and designer, whose work has been featured at Goodman Theatre, American Repertory Theatre, Denver Center, John F. Kennedy Center, Steppenwolf 1700, Dallas Theater Center, Cleveland Playhouse, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Eugene O’Neill Theater Center and more. Follow them at satyachavez.org or @officialmrchavez on all socials.
ISABEL QUINTERO she/her (Ensemble) Regional: Nuncrackers Christmas Musical (Milwaukee Rep); Mojada: A Medea in Los Angeles (Indy Shakes); Quixote Nuevo (Roundhouse); The Roommate (Renaissance Theaterworks). Chicago: a home what howls (Steppenwolf); In The Heights (Porchlight); La Osa Menor/Ursa Minor/the Little Bear (Steppenwolf LookOut) — her self-produced play with original Latin music.
TOMMY RIVERA-VEGA he/him (Ensemble) Originally from Puerto Rico, credits include: Teatro Vista, Paramount Theatre, Marriott Theatre, Goodman Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre, BlackBox Theatre, Huntington Theatre, Drury Lane, Chicago Children’s Theatre. Jeff Award: Performer in a Principal Role (Tebas Land). Film: Ghostlight (2024 Sundance Festival). Proud member of Teatro Vista’s Artistic Collective. Represented by Stewart Talent.
TATIANA BUSTAMANTE she/they (Ensemble) is excited to be back at Paramount for Mija! Chicago credits include A Streetcar Named Desire (Paramount Theatre); Fen (Court Theatre); A Christmas Carol (Drury Lane Oakbrook); Gypsy (Porchlight Music Theatre); Refuge (Theo Ubique); Fefu and her Friends (Snails on a Bike); National Merit (BoHo Theatre); Lizzie (Firebrand Theatre). They hold a B.F.A. from the Chicago College of Performing Arts and an M.A. from the University of Miami. Tatiana is proudly represented by Gray Talent Group.
ANDRES DELEON he/him (Ensemble) is thrilled to be returning to the Paramount Theatre! Originally from Plainfield, IL, DeLeon has been seen at theatres across the Chicagoland area — most notably as El Piraguero in In The Heights (Marriott Theatre). Many thanks to his family and friends for their constant support! IG: @ajiodeleon, www.andresjdeleon.com
Artistic Team
Evynne Hollens
Book
Rebecca Touriño Collinsworth
Book
Anna Gilbert
Music and Lyrics
Gaby Moreno
Music and Lyrics, Lyric Translations
Denise Yvette Serna
Co-Director
Wendy Mateo
Co-Director
Celia Villacres
Music Director
Jessica Forella*
Stage Manager
Kiara Rivera
Cultural Consultant
Javièr Alejandro Flores
Dialect Consultant
Alyssa Vera Ramos
Intimacy Consultant
Kory Danielson
Music Contractor
Kurt Crowley
Vocal Arrangements
Chris Glassman
Vocal Arrangements
Nathan Alef
Vocal Arrangements
Charlie Arthur
Vocal Arrangements
Kara Davidson
Director of New Works/Associate Artistic Producer
Creg Sclavi
Artistic Associate and Marketing Liaison
Trent Stork, CSA
Artistic Producer/Casting Director
Elena Gerk
Casting Associate
Ellen Dillenburg
Company Manager
Madeline M. Scott
Assistant Company Manager
Sloane Johnson
Company Management Associate
Adam Dooley
Vice President of Production
Yesenia Esparza
Director of Production
Erin Nicole Eggers
Production Manager
Rachel Campbell
Production Associate
Nathan Knapke
Lighting and Media Manager
Sean Slaber
Audio Manager
Adam Jezl-Sikorski
Assistant Audio, Lighting, and Media Manager
Kelly Lipsey
Crew Manager
Logan Jordan^
Lead Stagehand/Audio Engineer
Trent Bronson^
Head Electrician
* Indicates member of Actors’ Equity Association (AEA)
† Indicates member of United Scenic Artists (USA)
‡ Indicates member of Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC)
^ The stage crew is represented by IATSE-Local 2
Who’s Who Behind the Scenes
EVYNNE HOLLENS she/her (Book) is a singer, writer, and director with a passion for bringing communities together through music and storytelling. She has performed professionally around the world, including on Broadway and most recently at 54 Below in NYC. As a digital performer and creator, she has released over 200 music videos, amassing more than 58 million views on YouTube and 115,000 monthly Spotify listeners. Based in Eugene, Oregon, Evynne is a mother of two and an active part of the local arts community. She stage directs for her local high school and performs with the Eugene Symphony and The Shedd, where she created The Contemporary Songbook Project concert series. A proud member of Actors’ Equity, she also serves on the board of the Eugene Ballet and recently reopened her private voice studio, Hollens House Studio. Evynne co-founded Divisi, the award-winning college a cappella group that inspired the Pitch Perfect movies. After performing at sea with Royal Caribbean for four years, she co-created Voices, a live a cappella show currently running aboard RCCL’s Wonder of the Seas. Evynne has been developing Mija for nearly a decade—from Oregon to New York to Guatemala—and is now thrilled to see it take shape with the support of Paramount. She hopes its story resonates deeply with the Aurora and Chicago communities. www.evynnehollens.com.
REBECCA TOURIÑO COLLINSWORTH she/her (Book) is a Seattle-based writer and director whose plays include Skint, Cowboys With Questions, Crumbs/Migas, cherubin, Stamina, Maiden Voyage, What She Means, and Quickening. She is also the co-book writer (with Evynne Hollens) of the musical Mija (music and lyrics by Anna Gilbert and Gaby Moreno). Her work has been produced and/or developed by the National Alliance for Musical Theatre Festival of New Musicals, ACT Contemporary Theatre, Book-It Repertory Theatre, Washington Ensemble Theatre, Oregon Contemporary Theatre, Latiné Musical Theatre Lab, Trial and Error Productions, Coyote REP, Lungfish, Invisible, LLC, Lucid By Proxy, and Teatro de Cámara “Hugo Carillo” in Guatemala City. Rebecca is a founding editor of the literary magazine Parley Lit and the founding artistic director of Parley Productions, for which she has developed, directed, and produced more than 90 world premieres of important new plays by underrepresented writers in the last decade. MFA (Acting), UC Irvine; BA (English), UC Berkeley; Pacific Conservatory Theater.
ANNA GILBERT (Music and Lyrics) is a full-time musician, songwriter, and high school English teacher based in Portland, Oregon. With a B.A. in English Literature from the University of Oregon and a Master’s in Teaching, she blends her passion for education with a thriving music career. Her songs have shown up in all kinds of places—on Broadway, in movies, and tucked into other artists’ albums and projects. She’s collaborated with renowned producers like Grammy-winner Charlie Peacock (The Civil Wars), Troy Welstad (Hilary Duff, Selena Gomez), and Jeremy Larson (Kacey Musgraves, Sucre). As the lead singer and founder of her band Shy Honey, Gilbert has also had music featured in shows and projects on Apple TV and CBS.
GABY MORENO (Music and Lyrics, Lyric Translations) is a 3x Grammy-winning Guatemalan singer-songwriter, guitarist and producer known for her soulful fusion of blues, folk, and Latin/Americana genres. Moreno has released nine albums, including X Mí (Vol. 1) (2023), which earned her a Grammy for Best Latin Pop Album in 2024. She also won a Latin Grammy for Best New Artist in 2013. Her collaborations span artists like Hugh Laurie, Omara Portuondo from Buena Vista Social Club fame, Calexico, Punch Brothers, Chris Thile and Golden Globe winning actor/musician Oscar Isaac, with whom she recorded “Luna de Xelajú,” a cherished Guatemalan classic. She recently released a musical short film titled LAMENTO, a poetic meditation on memory, migration and climate change, set in a hauntingly abandoned Guatemalan beach resort and starring Moreno alongside Guatemalan/American actor Tony Revolori (Spider-Man, Grand Budapest Hotel).
Beyond music, Moreno co-wrote the theme song for NBC’s Parks and Recreation which earned her an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Theme Song. She also sings the theme song on Disney’s Elena of Avalor. A passionate advocate for immigrant rights and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, she uses her platform to uplift marginalized voices and celebrate Latin American culture.
WENDY MATEO (Co-Director) is the Producing Artistic Director of Teatro Vista and an actor, writer, director, and filmmaker. Mateo has been seen throughout Chicago’s stages including the Second City and Lookingglass Theatre where she is an ensemble member. Mateo’s directing credits include the play Not for Sale 2.0 by Guadalis del Carmen at UrbanTheater Company and ¡Bernarda! By Emilio Williams at Teatro Vista and the upcoming world premiere of The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao at the Goodman Theatre. On television and film, Mateo can be seen on Chicago Med (NBC), as Ronnie in Station Eleven (HBO), and Steve McQueen’s Widows. As a filmmaker, Wendy has written and produced 3 short films including the latest, Hair written and directed by Lorena Diaz and Wendy Mateo, now on a film festival tour.
DENISE YVETTE SERNA she/ella (Co-Director) is an award-winning theatre practitioner in Chicago, Illinois. Her directing and curating credits include productions with Teatro Vista, Lyric Opera of Chicago, The Museum of Contemporary Art, Steppenwolf Theatre Company, The Neo-Futurists, Goodman Theatre, Writers Theatre, Steep Theatre Company, Strawdog Theatre Company, Victory Gardens Theater, Prop Thtr, and The Latinx Theatre Commons. She is a member of the faculty at The University of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago, and The Theatre School at DePaul. She is a member of Teatro Vista Productions, and co-founder of Global Hive Laboratories, a collective of international practitioners working toward a global theatre. Deniseyvetteserna.com.
CELIA VILLACRES she/her (Music Director) Celia is a music director, pianist, and conductor born and raised in Chicago. Past Paramount credits include Waitress, Frozen, Beautiful, and many others. Other favorite credits include Beehive (Marriott) and The Band’s Visit (Writers Theatre). Much love to Chris. Disfruta!
JESSICA FORELLA she/her (Stage Manager) is delighted to be back at Paramount (Dreamgirls). Additional favorite past credits include: A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Twelfth Night, Malvolio (The Classical Theatre of Harlem); Twelfth Night, Richard III (Chicago Shakespeare Theater); Fun Home, Mies Julie (Victory Gardens Theater); The Polar Express (Rail Events Productions); The Hound of the Baskervilles, James and the Giant Peach (Theatre-Hikes); Numbers Nerds (CPA Theatricals), Million Dollar Quartet (Barter Theatre); Burn the Floor (Norwegian Cruise Lines), The Hunchback of Notre Dame (RWCMD), A Small Oak Tree Runs Red (Congo Square Theatre), and Sondheim on Sondheim (Porchlight Music Theatre).
KIARA RIVERA she/her (Cultural Consultant) is a Q’eqchi Guatemalan and Mexican theatre artist from Chicago. She holds a B.A. in Theatre and a Certificate in Public Policy from Connecticut College. Her credits include The American Dream, In the Back/On the Floor, and To Love and Be Loved. Rivera has worked with the International Latino Cultural Center in their Chicago Latino Film Festival, Centro Romero, and the League of Chicago Theatres. Earlier this year, Rivera was awarded the DCASE New Play Residency for her written play, Your Hands Are Like Mine. This upcoming fall, she will pursue her M.F.A. in Theatre Management at Yale University.
ALYSSA VERA RAMOS she/ella (Intimacy Consultant) is a queer, Boricua, multi-hyphenate theatre artist dedicated to pleasure and practice. As an Intimacy Director, credits include Waitress (Paramount), Never Better (Theo Ubique), Skyflint: Part One (Director’s Haven 7), and the forthcoming webseries Eat Cute (The Ampliverse). She has also served on intimacy teams at The Gift, Metropolis, and Raven Theatre. Passionate about new work, Alyssa recently directed a reading of Tacos LA Brooklyn (UrbanTheater Company), assistant directed the rolling world premiere of Wipeout (Rivendell Theatre), and co-developed and directed the audience participation-infused We Could Be (About Face Theatre) and Upstream (Mixed Blood Theatre). Alyssa is a proud Curator of Swarm Artist Residency and Steering Committee Member of the Latinx Theatre Commons. Read her writing in the recently-published texts “Into Abolitionist Theatre: A Guidebook for Liberatory Theatre-making” and “Applied Theatre and Gender Justice.” In the day to day, Alyssa can be found drumming and dancing at La Escuelita Bombera de Corazón, reading picture books to babies, and laughing very loudly. Alyssa holds a degree in Theatre from Northwestern University.
JAVIÈR ALEJANDRO FLORES (Dialect Consultant) is a Mexican American actor from Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico. Javièr is a graduate student at the Theatre School at DePaul University pursuing an M.F.A. in Acting, expected to graduate in June 2025. His credits include Her Father’s Daughter, Journey’s End, Lysistrata, We, the Invisibles and Burnt to Death at The Theatre School. Javièr has a bachelor’s degree from Oklahoma State University.
KARA DAVIDSON she/her (Director of New Works and Associate Artistic Producer) Kara Davidson joined the Paramount team as the Director of New Works in 2023. Previously, she was the Producer of the NOW Lab with the Omaha Playhouse in Nebraska and the co-director/co-founder of The Lab Chicago.
TRENT STORK, CSA they/them (Artistic Producer and Casting Director) Trent Stork serves as the Casting Director for Paramount Theatre, casting both the Broadway Series and the Bold Series. Trent has cast over 40 productions for Paramount and they also serve as an Artistic Producer and Director of several productions.
JIM CORTI he/him (Artistic Director) is a Joseph Jefferson Award winning actor, director, and choreographer. He inaugurated Paramount’s Broadway Series with Tim Rater in fall of 2011, and by 2023, Paramount became the largest subscription-based theatre in the country, and soon became Jeff Award eligible in 2015, garnering 71 nominations with 20 wins in 3 years, including Best Musical awards for Les Misérables, West Side Story, and Sweeney Todd, which he directed. Recent collaborations: Fun Home, Into the Woods, Next to Normal, A Streetcar Named Desire, Million Dollar Quartet and The Full Monty. Next up, he is opening Paramount’s Bold 2025/2026 Series directing True West.
TIM RATER he/him (President & CEO) has been with Paramount Theatre since 2010. Under Tim’s leadership, the productions at Paramount Theatre, RiverEdge Park, Copley Theatre, Stolp Island Theatre, and the Paramount School of the Arts have helped establish downtown Aurora as an entertainment destination. Tim and his team continue to expand the artistic and institutional boundaries and strive for new ways to energize downtown Aurora. With love, as always, to Bridgette, Alana and Evan.