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October 25, 2017 The Skanner Page 7 OSF Play “Mojada: A Medea in Los Angeles” to Open at The Armory Retelling of ancient Greek play through the lens of Mexican immigrants; lead actress Sabina Zuniga Varela interviewed By Melanie Sevcenko Of The Skanner News PHOTO COURTESY OF THE ARMORY A ft er a six-months run at the Oregon Shakespeare Fes- tival, “Mojada: A Medea in Los Angeles,” offi cially opens on Nov. 10 for a limited-engage- ment run. Written by Chicago playwright Luis Alfaro and directed by Juliette Carrillo, the play is an interpretation of the ancient Greek tragedy “Medea” -- a story of love, vengeance and transfor- mation. Alfaro’s version, however, is set in mod- ern-day Los Angeles, where Medea and her im- migrant family struggle with new life in Ameri- ca. The three-week run at The Armory features the same cast as the Ore- gon Shakespeare Festival production. Los Angeles-based ac- tor Sabina Zuniga Va- rela was awarded the best lead performance award for her portrayal of Medea by the Los An- geles Drama Critics Cir- cle. The Skanner spoke with Varela about the connection between peo- ple and their land from her native New Mexico. Oregon Shakespeare Festival production of “Mojada: A Medea in Los Angeles.” This interview has been edited for space and clar- ity. Previews of “Mojada: A Medea in Los Ange- les” begin on Nov. 4 and performances run until Nov. 26. For more infor- mation and to purchase tickets, visit: www.pcs. org/mojada The Skanner News: The original ancient Greek play “Medea” is a story of love, betrayal and revenge. Luis Alfa- ro’s “Medea” interprets that play through the lens of Mexican immi- grants coming to the United States. How does the original text lend it- self to the modern retell- ing? Sabina Zuniga Varela: I feel like the tragedy of Medea, in terms of the Greek literature, is ac- tually one of the most misunderstood. Folks like to zero in on Medea’s revenge – a woman’s re- venge. But what it’s ac- tually about – the root of it – is a woman who is removed from her land. And when a people is re- moved from their land or loses the connection to their land, there’s a lot See MOJADA on page 11 Arts & Entertainment Book cont’d from pg 6 transpired last Novem- ber when the nation elected the candidate running on the slogan “Make America great again!” The author cites how, in the wake of the Civil War, the ex-slaves were bitterly disap- pointed when the egal- itarian Reconstruction plan for the South was dismantled by the for- mer Confederate states and replaced by the Jim Crow system of segre- gation. That devastating de- velopment inspired black South Carolina Congressman Thomas Miller (1849-1938) to lament, “We were eight years in power” in ref- erence to the brief peri- od of African American optimism in terms of securing equality un- der the law. The quote serves a dual purpose, here, as it talks about a dream rudely deferred while simultaneously issuing a dire warning that history might very well repeat itself. Thus, “We Were Eight Years in Power” serves as a clarion call for vig- ilance about the possi- ble erosion of African American advances presumed sacrosanct. Consider these riv- eting, well-reasoned ruminations of the most-prodigious Black visionary around a must-read indeed. To order a copy of We Were Eight Years in Power, visit: TheSkan- ner.com. 2018 THE SKANNER FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIPS APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN Multiple Scholarships Available APPLICATION DEADLINE: OCTOBER 31, 2017 For more information and to download an application, go to: www.theskanner.com/foundation/scholarship Scholarships awarded at the MLK, Jr. Breakfast, January 15, 2018. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA • Undergraduate student or high • Plans to att end for entire academic school student transitioning to year, beginning in fall, 12 credits per college quarter • Minimum grade point average of 2.5 • 20 hours of active community service • Att ending a post secondary, accredit- within past 12-months ed institution or planning to att end • Leadership involvement