An Historic Theatrical Partnership Celebrating the First People of Texas Receives Accolade From Dallas County Officials

Front Row (left to right): Robyn Flatt (DCT Executive Artistic Director), Evelio Flores (Director of Mitotiliztli Yaoyollohtli Danza Azteca) and his grandmother; Jennifer Reyna (cast roles: Yana Wana / Ancestor), Tiffany DeSena (cast roles: Consuelo / Ancestor), Linda Cantu (Cara Mía Theatre Co. board president), and Daniel Casillas (Cara Mía Theatre Co. board member). Back Row (Dallas County Commissioners)(left to right): Dr. Theresa Daniel (District 1), Mike Cantrell (District 2), Clay Jenkins (Dallas County Judge), John Wiley Price (District 3), and Dr. Elba Garcia (District 4).
This week, the Dallas County Commissioners Court gave special public recognition to co-producers Dallas Children’s Theater and Cara Mía Theatre Company for creating YANA WANA’S LEGEND OF THE BLUEBONNET. This landmark play puts front and center the contributions and legacy of the Coahuiltecans who originated in Texas more than 14,000 years ago.
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Yana Wana’s Legend of the Bluebonnet
Dallas County Resolution
Presented March 20, 2018 starting at 9 a.m.
Title
Yana Wana’s Legend of the Bluebonnet
Dallas Children’s Theater and Cara Mía Theatre Company, co-producers of Yana Wana’s Legend of the Bluebonnet, encourage all citizens to focus on the key message of the Coahuiltecan’s Legend of the Bluebonnet – Identity. Responsibility. Community.
Resolution
Whereas, Dallas Children’s Theater under the direction of Robyn Flatt and Cara Mía Theatre Company under the direction of David Lozano collaborated to bring the Coahuiltecan’s legend to life with a world premiere production of Yana Wana’s Legend of the Bluebonnet; and
Whereas, Dallas Children’s Theater commissioned the play and worked throughout the state of Texas and beyond with Roxanne Schroeder-Arce, Austin playwright, Dr. Mario Garza and María Rocha of the Indigenous Cultures Institute in San Marcos, Héctor Martínez Morales of Sonora Mexico, Fernando Hernandez and Evelio Flores of Dallas to bring authenticity and relevance to Yana Wana’s Legend of the Bluebonnet; and
Whereas, co-producer Cara Mía Theatre Company and David Lozano served as Dramaturg and devoted valuable cultural expertise and resources to the project including the costume design created by Frida Espinosa-Müller; and
Whereas, it is important to preserve the heritage and value of everyone’s cultures including stories, customs and traditions such as found in Yana Wana’s Legend of the Bluebonnet; and
Whereas, Yana Wana’s Legend of the Bluebonnet demonstrates how powerful it is in finding your identity and, how important it is to own it and to be proud of it; and
Whereas; Yana Wana’s Legend of the Bluebonnet demonstrates how every individual has to have a sense of responsibility to always do the right thing for family, friends, neighbors and our Earth’s resources; and
Whereas; Yana Wana’s Legend of the Bluebonnet demonstrates how each of us is an important and integral part of our community and how together with identity and responsibility, we look out for our community and strive to make it better;
Now, therefore, I, Dr. Elba Garcia, County Commissioner of Dallas County, and on behalf of the Dallas County Commissioners, do hereby proclaim March 23, 2018* as Yana Wana’s Legend of the Bluebonnet Day in Dallas County, Texas.
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Wonder who might have discovered the first bluebonnets in Texas? Don’t miss this world premiere!
A Dallas Children’s Theater/
Cara Mía Theatre Company Co-Production
YANA WANA’S LEGEND
OF THE BLUEBONNET
By Roxanne Schroeder-Arce and María F. Rocha
Music by Héctor Martínez Morales
March 23 – April 8, 2018
Ages 6 and up
Ten-year-old María is having trouble in school, so her mom sends her to stay with her Coahuiltecan grandmother in distant Laredo for discipline and perspective. There, María is told an ancient story of young Yana Wana who followed a revered deer to find water to save her people. Yana Wana’s story exposes an amazing and unknown ancestral connection to the bluebonnet that gives María a renewed sense of self and family pride. You may have read one version in school; now we invite you to come see the legend through the eyes of Yana Wana in this world premiere. A beautiful, original play that illustrates the power of heritage and the value of one’s own story – especially one as ancient as the petroglyphs of Texas.
TITLE SPONSORS:
TACA Donna Wilhelm Family New Works Fund and Diana and Thomas Klein
To purchase tickets and obtain additional information about the show, visit dct.org, or call the Box Office at 214-740-0051.
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Commissioned by Dallas Children’s Theater, Robyn Flatt, Executive Artistic Director, Dallas, TX
in partnership with Cara Mía Theatre Co., David Lozano, Artistic Director, Dallas, TX
with contributions by Mitotiliztli Yaoyollohtli Danza Azteca, Evelio Flores, Director, Dallas, TX
and the Indigenous Cultures Institute of San Marcos, TX
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Photos by: Sandra Session-Robertson and Karen Almond (third photo)