The Spring 2025 season for Grupo de Teatro Vida celebrated 20 years of theatrical performances. Taking place April 25^th and 26^th at the Waldron Arts Rose Firebay Theater in downtown Bloomington, the opening night performance included an intimate Q&A with Teatro Vida’s founder and first president, Marda Rose. The Q&A was followed by this year’s show Nada es lo que Parece, featuring a lively and eclectic group of monologues, original readings, and musical moments performed by undergraduate and graduate students and IU community members, with Marda Rose directing and performing the final piece.

During the Q&A session, Rose, accompanied onstage by past directors Laís Lara Vanin and Ari Plymale, along with current president Isidora Gacitúa-Diaz, spoke about Grupo de Teatro Vida's 2005 origins, with special acknowledgement of Professors Cathy Larson, Josep Sobrer, and Steven Wagschal as early supporters of the group. A question from the audience provoked reflection on the organization's many positive impacts on participants and community members, highlighting authentic cultural and linguistic exchange, empowerment of heritage speakers' voice, and opportunities for immersive language, literature, and community experiences. Rose shared that she continues the theatrical tradition of Teatro VIDA in her current teaching and community work in San Diego, California. As the Q&A concluded, all expressed their appreciation to Rose for putting Teatro Vida in motion.

The show then opened with a monologue performance by Spanish undergraduate student Kyleigh Brown titled Vagina de Barbie. The piece was Spanish translation of her original addition to The Vagina Monologues, a 1996 play annually performed at IU with support of the Office for Sexual Violence Prevention and Victim Advocacy. Directed by Kylie’s S250 instructor Laís Lara Vanin, the defiant and witty piece offered a fierce confrontation of societal expectations around gender and sexuality.

Next up was a short video montage entitled Doblale de Agradecimento e Legado created by former Teatro Vida director and Brazilian Ph.D. candidate Laís Lara Vanin. The piece highlighted memories from her time directing VIDA in 2023 and culminated in a moving expression of gratitude which combined interpretive dance with spoken words of appreciation in Portuguese.

Following was a musical performance by undergraduate Portuguese major and thrice Teatro VIDA participant Jules. Jules’ captivating vocal performance included an interpretation of Amor Traumatizado by Carol Biazin and an original, bilingual English/Portuguese piece titled “Jump Right In”, which celebrated the opportunities and support she experienced as she began her university studies.

Next, IU African American Dance Company performers Minhwa Choi, Samantha Hyde, and Frances Garcia, along with Spanish and Portuguese’s Laís Lara Vanin, took to the stage to perform Ageless:100 Idades. This creative and visually impactful piece, choreographed by Hyde and Vanin, explored themes of age and aging for women and was dedicated to grandmothers everywhere. Following the original piece, the company electrified the theater by dancing to Sérgio Mendes’s lively Magalenha, inviting audience members to the stage to dance along!

Concluding the evening was Marda Rose’s performance of Los recuerdos arden como un bosque encendido by Venezuelan playwright Victor Vegas. In this whimsical piece, Rose portrayed an older woman, Trinidad, reflecting on life with her deceased husband as she prepares to scatter his ashes. Little does she know that his ghost is close by, listening to every word! The audience eagerly followed along as Trinidad expressed her nostalgia, irritations, and a few surprises – and laughed along at her husband’s incredulous reactions!

Nada es lo que parece showcased outstanding performances from all participants, and the opening Q&A with founder Marda Rose marked a heartfelt moment of reflection and gratitude to commemorate 20 years of celebrating VIDA: Vision, Identity, Drama, and Art.

This year’s production was made possible through the sponsorship of the Department of Spanish and Portuguese, La Casa, the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies, and OLAH. The show was directed by Isidora Gacitúa-Díaz, with lighting and technical support by Ari A. Plymale, and faculty sponsorship by Israel Herrera-Cárdenas.

A special thanks to Marda Rose for returning to Bloomington to help honor this meaningful 20-year milestone.