Preview: InterAct Story Theatre Presents ‘One Gold Coin’ (‘Una moneda de oro’) 9/9-18, 2016 At Montgomery College Cultural Arts Center

This fall, InterAct Story Theatre revisits a favorite work in their repertoire of interactive plays for kids and families. Following up their successful 2015 production of The Hero of Everything, InterAct Story Theatre presents One Gold Coin-Una moneda de oro at the Montgomery College Cultural Arts Center.

As the Silver Spring-based company is primarily a touring theatre for young audiences, it is an amazing opportunity for InterAct Story Theatre’s local artists to perform for their hometown community, and it’s a wonderful opportunity for local audiences to enjoy a play that has delighted thousands of children throughout the region.

Written by Founding Director Lenore Blank-Kelner and directed by Executive Artistic Director Ali Oliver-Krueger, this fresh new production is performed in Spanish and English and features a sparkling musical score arranged and performed by award-winning Latin-American musical duo Cantaré.

One Gold Coin-Una moneda de oro, inspired by a Latin American tale, explores the power of giving selflessly to others. In this beautiful story for children and adults alike, the wise healer Doña Teresa visits the imaginary village of Regalo in El Salvador, bringing with her a special gold coin that can only be given to one who truly needs it. But who does the coin help more? The one who receives it, or the one who gives it away?

The cast, comprised of Javier del Pilar, Elicia Moran, and Elle Marie Sullivan, play a variety of characters, along with the audience members, who become part of the play from the comfort of their seats. The interaction among the audience and the actors are at the heart of every InterAct Story Theatre production, and One Gold Coin—una moneda de oro is no exception, says Oliver-Krueger: “On any given day, you could say there are 103 actors in our cast—three actors onstage, and 100 actors in the audience!”

When asked what excites her about this production, veteran InterAct Story Theatre artist Elicia Moran (who plays Doña Teresa) said, “One thing I really love about this show as is how much the El Salvadorian culture is immersed into it. We hear and see it in the music which features a number of cumbia tunes and marimba playing, to the colors and textures in the set. Being El Salvadorian myself, it brings me a great deal of pride to be able to share my culture with audiences who may not be as familiar with El Salvador and share fond memories with those who are.

I also love that this is a bilingual show and I’m excited to be able to reach a multilingual crowd! I think it’s so beautiful to be able to share my love for theater in both English and Spanish! It’s always extra special to see the kids whose first language is Spanish light up when they hear us speaking in Spanish. It’s a little personal connection to each of them and helps them engage in the play even more.”

Elle Marie Sullivan returns to the cast of One Gold Coin—una moneda de oro after a successful educational tour of the show, in which she performed daffy street performer Estelle Excelente and two other roles for nearly 20,000 students and teachers. As the cast prepares for the September 9th opening, Elle reflects on a specific moment toward the end of the show. “I keep coming back to a monologue by Juan the Thief late in the play,” she said.

“In this monologue, Juan recognizes that he isn’t the person that he used to be and accepts that his life has changed. It is such a sweet and powerful moment and is a great reminder of what we are doing.” Javier del Pilar, making his InterAct Story Theatre debut in FOUR roles, including the central character Juan the Thief, further underscores the theme of the play: “I hope that children in the audience leave the show with a better sense of what it means to be generous and selfless.”

As part of the performance run,InterAct Story Theatre is reaching out to various audiences with this production, with a Sensory Friendly performance at 1:30 pm on Sunday, September 11th, as well as Field Trip Fridays, a series of school-day performances for elementary school and home school audiences on September 9 and 16, 2016.

One Gold Coin-Una moneda de oro connects with multiple curriculum objectives in an engaging and fun way, and Teacher Resource Materials and Parent Guides are available for both pre-performance and post-performance activities.

One Gold Coin-Una moneda de oro plays at the Montgomery College Cultural Arts Center, Theatre II, Takoma Park/Silver Spring Campus – 7995 Georgia Avenue, in Silver Spring, MD – from September 9-18.

With performances on Fridays at 11 am & 1 pm, and Saturdays and Sundays at 11:30 am & 1:30 pm, this production is a perfect theatrical excursion for children and adults alike, and is recommended for children ages 4 and up.

Tickets are $10.00 for children ages 4 to 11; $12.50 for ages 12 and up; children 3 and under are free, and the running time is approximately 50 minutes.

PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS HERE OR HERE.

I hope to see you at the theatre for what is sure to be an entertaining and heartwarming hour of theatre!

One Gold Coin — Una moneda de oro 

A play in English and Spanish for the whole family