poster art by Brian Ceely
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Monsters we create
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5 (M), 3(W) 1 (GNC)
Sci-Fem, Latinx Futurity, Dystopia, Apocalyptic, Frontera Funk The play is set in a dystopian future where rising sea levels have submerged the U.S. coasts, leading to a mass migration to the Southwest. In this new reality, the government enforces sterilization camps to control population growth. The narrative follows two immigrant women detained in these camps, highlighting issues of identity, survival, and resistance.Escobar's guidance ensured that the students' voices were integral to the storytelling, fostering a sense of ownership and creative agency among the participants. Beyond the production, Monsters We Create served as a platform for Escobar to further develop her "sci-femme frontera" aesthetic, blending speculative narratives with feminist and borderland perspectives. This approach aligns with her broader artistic vision of challenging traditional forms and embracing the complexities of identity and culture. The play's development was particularly poignant given the context of the 2019–2020 UTEP theater season, which focused on Latinx works in response to a lack of BIPOC representation. Additionally, the timing coincided with the tragic mass shooting at a Walmart in El Paso, underscoring the importance of storytelling that reflects and responds to community experiences and challenges. |
PRODUCTIONS
World Premiere, UTEP | TX 2020 CLICK HERE for Production Photos PRESS The Prospector UTEP News Consafos Magazine KVIA TV Interview |
From the playwright
"In 2019, the University of Texas at El Paso hired me as a Visiting Assistant Professor of Practice in order to conceive, lead, and write a new play for their 2019-2020 season. The goal was to lead a group of writers through a 'writer's room' type collaboration and the course was designed to fit alongside an acting and a design collaboration course. I came in with the only the title. In the course of 15 weeks, 12 writers, split into groups I coined as Wrights, World Builders, and the Smiths. Each team lead the first part of the creation starting with images, tag lines, themes, mood, genre and outlines. I then Brough the first scene with a group of characters and we worked to create new characters that could live in this world. Lastly, we engaged in prompt-driven scene creation and revision. After our first read, I took the helm as Executive Writer and finished the draft. The writers then engaged in feedback for my rewrites, and if inspired, pitched new scenes or monologues to be considered for our rehearsal draft. At the end of the semester, the writers heard the script out loud for the first time with the entire department. In late November, director Kim McKean cast the play and soon thereafter rehearsals started. At rehearsals, I functioned as playwright and made changes and revisions according to the discoveries made with the director, dramaturge, and cast. The entire process was unique, rewarding, and incredibly humbling!" G. Escobar