Teatro Vista Presents William Mastrosimone's TAMER OF HORSES at the Richard Christiansen Theater at The Victory Gardens Biograph Theater, November 8 - December 14

Teatro Vista Artistic Associate Ron OJ Parson Directs Artistic Associate Juan Villa in the Story of Youth Violence, the value of Education and the Importance of One’s Potential

CHICAGO – Teatro Vista begins their 2014 – 2015 season with William Mastrosimone’s Tamer of Horses, playing at The Richard Christiansen Theater at The Victory Gardens Biograph Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Ave., November 8 – December 14. Tamer of Horses is directed by Teatro Vista Artistic Associate Ron OJ Parson and stars Artistic Associate Juan Villa. Preview performances are Saturday, Nov. 8 at 3 and 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 9 at

3 p.m. Opening/Press night is Thursday, Nov. 13 at 7:30 p.m. Regular performances are Thursdays – Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. Preview performances are $20, regular run weeknight and matinee performances are $25 and Saturday night performances are $30. Discounts are available for groups of 10 or more, students and seniors (65+) with ID. Tickets may be purchased by calling the Victory Gardens box office at 773.871.3000 or by visiting www.victorygardens.org. For more information on Tamer of Horses and Teatro Vista, please visit www.teatrovista.org.

Tamer of Hoses examines the intersecting themes of youth violence, education and the realization of one’s own potential. The piece tells the story of a runaway from a detention center that finds refuge living on a farm in New Jersey, under the condition that he learn to read. Hector (Joshua Torrez), a troubled youth whose talent for rap rivals his penchant for criminal behavior, is befriended by Ty (Juan Villa^*), a former teacher who takes Hector under his wing. Ty forges a bond with him that has the power to redeem or destroy them both.

The cast for Tamer of Horses includes: Juan Francisco Villa* (Ty), Sari Sanchez (Georgiane), and Joshua Torrez (Hector).

The production team for Tamer of Horses includes: Ron OJ Parson+ (director), Christopher Kriz (sound design), Brian Sidney Bembridge (scenic and lighting design). Other members of the production team will be determined at a later date.

^ denotes member of Actor’s Equity Association, * denotes Teatro Vista Ensemble Member,

+ denotes Teatro Vista Artistic Associate

ABOUT DIRECTOR RON OJ PARSON

Ron OJ Parson is a Teatro Vista Artistic Associate, the co-founder and former artistic director of the Onyx Theatre Ensemble of Chicago, a co-founder and co-director or Ripe Mango Productions and a resident artist at Court Theatre. Since moving to Chicago from New York in 1994, Parson has worked as both actor and director. Chicago acting and directing credits include The Chicago Theatre Company, Victory Gardens, Goodman Theatre, Steppenwolf, Chicago Dramatists, Northlight Theatre, Court Theatre, Black Ensemble Theatre, TimeLine Theatre Company and Writers Theatre, among others.

His many regional credits include Virginia Stage Company, Portland Stage Company, Studio Area Theatre, Studio Theatre, Roundabout Theatre, Wilshire Theatre, The Mechanic, Center Stage, The Actors Theatre of Louisville, Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, St. Louis Black Rep, South Coast Rep, Pasadena Playhouse, Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati and The Stratford Shakespeare Festival.

Parson’s select TV and film credits include ER, Early Edition, Turks, American Playhouse, Vamping, Ali, Barbershop 2, Primal Fear, Drop Squad and Boss.

ABOUT PLAYWRIGHT WILLIAM MASTROSIMONE

William Mastrosimone is an American playwright and screenwriter from Trenton, New Jersey who has worked on Hollywood feature films, network and cable television and theatre since 1980 and considers writing for young people a vital part of his life’s work. He attended high school at The Pennington School and received a graduate degree in playwriting from Mason Gross School of the Arts, a part of Rutgers University.

Mastrosimone’s plays include The Woolgatherer, Extremities, Tamer of Horses, Shivaree, Cat’s Paw, Bang Bang You’re Dead, A Stone Carver, The Afghan Women and Nanawatai, upon which the film The Beast is based. His screenwriting credits include Into the West and the adaptation of his play Extremities. He won a Daytime Emmy Award for Bang, Bang You’re Dead and was nominated for a Prime Time Emmy for Into the West and The Burning Season.

ABOUT TEATRO VISTA

Teatro Vista, Theatre with a View, is firmly committed to sharing and celebrating the riches of Latino culture with Chicago theater audiences and beyond.

This commitment stems from the belief that there are as many similarities between people as there are differences, and perhaps the answer to breaking down the walls of prejudice and stereotypes lies in understanding these similarities and differences. Ultimately, it is through this “view” that Teatro Vista intends to bridge the gap between Latino and non-Latino cultures in Chicago.

The company believes in the transformative power of theater, inclusiveness through the idea that everyone is intricately connected to each other and that sharing stories through performance is an exceptionally potent way to bring people together.

Teatro Vista is the vanguard of Latino theater in the United States, a place where Latino and non-Latino artists can expressively flourish and excel to the highest level of theatrical professionalism. It is dedicated to sharing new work by new playwrights in cutting-edge productions and presenting classic plays featuring artists of color.

Teatro Vista begins their 2014 – 2015 season with William Mastrosimone’s Tamer of Horses, playing at The Richard Christiansen Theater at The Victory Gardens Biograph Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Ave., November 8 – December 14. Tamer of Horses is directed by Teatro Vista Artistic Associate Ron OJ Parson and stars Artistic Associate Juan Villa. Preview performances are Saturday, Nov. 8 at 3 and 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 9 at 3 p.m. Opening/Press night is Thursday, Nov. 13 at 7:30 p.m.. Regular performances are Thursdays – Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. Preview performances are $20, regular run weeknight and matinee performances are $25 and Saturday night performances are $30. Discounts are available for groups of 10 or more, students and seniors (65+) with ID. Tickets may be purchased by calling the Victory Gardens’ box office at 773.871.3000 or by visiting www.victorygardens.org. For more information on Tamer of Horses and Teatro Vista, please visit www.teatrovista.org.

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