“In the Time of the Butterflies” opens Oct. 3 at SUNY New Paltz
The Department of Theatre Arts at SUNY New Paltz is proud to present “In the Time of the Butterflies,” a surreal version of the real-life story of the Mirabal sisters, who inspired a national resistance against dictator Gen. Rafael Trujillo in 1950s Dominican Republic.
“In the Time of the Butterflies” is the first production of the Department of Theatre Arts’ 2019-20 Mainstage series. Performances will be given Oct. 3-6 and 17-20 at McKenna Theatre in the College Theatre building on the SUNY New Paltz campus.
This production is directed by Estefanía Fadul and was adapted by Caridad Svich from the best-selling 1994 novel by Julia Álvarez.
“While the characters and major events of the story are real, there is also a lot that has been fictionalized first by the author of the book, and then by the playwright,” said Fadul. “This allows for a truly theatrical experience – a dreamscape of memory and history that incorporates music and projections. Caridad’s adaptation makes for an exciting live theatre experience.”
Fadul says the “incredibly inspiring” story of the Mirabal sisters’ love for their country and fight for their people’s freedom will serve to remind audiences just how powerful individuals can be in affecting change, particularly “when that power is harnessed collectively.”
“I think we are living in a time when a lot of people are feeling helpless as we witness horrific abuses of human rights right in this very country,” said Fadul. “This play shows us what can happen in a country when those abuses of power continue to build, and reminds us that heroism is found in the everyday acts of resistance by regular people fighting for freedom and human dignity.”
Tickets are $18 for general public; $16 for seniors (62+), SUNY New Paltz faculty/staff, SUNY New Paltz alumni and non-New Paltz students; and $10 for SUNY New Paltz students.
Use this link to purchase tickets online, or contact the Parker Theatre Box Office at (845) 257-3880 or boxoffice@newpaltz.edu. The Box Office is open Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and is also open for one hour prior to each performance.
If you have accessibility questions or require accommodations to fully participate in this event, please contact the Box Office as soon as possible.
Visit the Department of Theatre Arts at SUNY New Paltz for more information.
About the Director
Estefanía Fadul is a Colombian-American stage director. Her recent work includes the world premieres of Christina Quintana’s “Azul” and “Scissoring,” Stefan Ivanov’s “The Same Day,” and the Spanish-language musical “Óye Oyá” by Rebecca Martínez and Rodolfo Ortega. Other credits include Raquel Almazan’s “La Paloma Prisoner,” Kate Hamill’s “Pride and Prejudice,” and “Pranayama” by James Anthony Tyler.
Fadul has developed new work off-Broadway and regionally at the Playwrights’ Realm, Long Wharf, the Drama League, Artists Repertory Theatre, LPAC, and Hi-Arts, among others. She is a recipient of the Eugene O’Neill Theatre Center/NNPN’s National Directors Fellowship, the Foeller Fellowship at the Williamstown Theatre Festival, the Drama League Directors Project’s Fall Fellowship and TV Directing Fellowship, and the Van Lier Fellowship at Repertorio Español.
She is a member of the New Georges Jam, the Latinx Theatre Commons steering committee, the Lincoln Center Theatre Directors Lab, and SDC. B.A. Vassar College. Learn more about Fadul at her website, estefaniafadul.com.