We would like to acknowledge that we create this piece on the unceded territories of the Musqueam, Tsleil-Waututh, and Squamish Nations.

Catalina La O presenta: Ahora Conmigo was developed with the Playwrights Theatre Centre as the 2019-2020 Fringe New Play Prize winner. Catalina has received dramaturgy from Joanna Garfinkel, and creative support from Adrienne Dawes and Neworld Theatre. We acknowledge the support of the BC Arts Council and the Canada Council for the Arts. The live performance of Catalina La O will premiere in March of 2022 as a co-production of The Frank Theatre and an associate production of Neworld Theatre. If you have thoughts or questions about the script you can email your anonymous feedback to Joanna here.

~ Lyrics in English ~

LAGRIMAS NEGRAS
I weep
I am divine
I am delicious

Daughter of the Caribbean Sea
And from your shores I come
I am made from your sands
and from your mountain ranges

Yet you call me
Stranger

As if I were
Made of magic

As if my existence is
Without reason
Without worth
Without pain
Without flavour

And those
Anchored in tradition
Still worship
This topic
That no one speaks of
Because ‘There is no problem”

Falling out of my eyes
Are these strange tears
But they will come out of me
These black tears

HERMANO
Life is hard (The pineapple is sour)
But I’m great (But I am like a coconut)
Enjoy your life to the fullest (Enjoy life like a root vegetable)

Brother, I love you
You are going to love this

You and I are not so different
The world is on fire
Let’s put the fire out
By gifting compassion
With your words and deeds
Little by little we will learn
Even from this fire

You and I are not so different
The world is on fire
Wake up, my people!

Thank you to our donors!

Harvey and Kathleen Guion, Kris Larson, Touchstone Theatre, Lee Eddy and Macon Blair, Kalli Angel, Roberto Benavidez, Will Dibrell, Tirsa Ramos, Erik Secrest, Rob Jacques and Nitra Gutierrez, Rene Quiñones, Heather Hanna, Jay Byrd, Emilio Englade, Hilah Johnson, Laura Freeman, Natalie Vallot, Laurel Hilton, Yebuny Clark, Emily Zartman, Chris Krejci and Derek Mudd, Anna Nuttall, Andrés Quiñones, Nick Smith, Derek Rosenstrauch, Ashley Pearce, Jason Hays, JoAnn and Rupert Reyes, Stephen Heatley, Edgar Quiñones, Elle Mahoney, Katherine Hodges, Travis Hale, Frank, Leah Moss, El Casinader, Jacob Childress, Michael Joplin, Maria DuMond, Adrienne Dawes, Megan, Tamara Goheen, Rae Comeau, Heidi Taylor, Florinda Bryant, Jessica Gardiner, PJ Raval and Curran Nault, Eric Roach, Julia Henderson, Melba Martinez, Zuleyka Mendoza, Zac Crofford, Daniel Alexander Jones, Carrie Jakob, Eli Young, Lauren Dreyer, Annie McCall, Henna Chou, Sid Napier, Josh Meyer, Graham Reynolds, Sarah Saltwick, Erin Randall, Gwendolyn Barclay, Angelica Mcauley, Scott Roskilly, Elaine Holton, Adrienne Sneed, Chelsea Anderson, Julia Smith, Maddie Burns, Lise Wilson, Silky, Jorge Sermini, Edith Nee, Kayla Dunbar, Lucy Miller Downing, Kate Taylor, Kaci Danger, Cyndi Williams, Tamara Ramos, and Melicia Zaini.

The Canada Council for the Arts is Canada’s public arts funder, with a mandate to foster and promote the study and enjoyment of, and the production of works in, the arts. The Council champions and invests in artistic excellence through a broad range of grants, services, prizes and payments to professional Canadian artists and arts organizations. Its work ensures that excellent, vibrant and diverse art and literature engages Canadians, enriches their communities and reaches markets around the world. The Council also raises public awareness and appreciation of the arts through its communications, research and arts promotion activities. It is responsible for the Canadian Commission for UNESCO, which promotes the values and programs of UNESCO in Canada to contribute to a more peaceful, equitable and sustainable future. The Canada Council Art Bank operates art rental programs and helps further public engagement with contemporary arts.