The story of Tomás and the Library Lady is coming to the stage at The Denver Children’s Theatre in the JCC Mizel Arts and Culture Center starting Feb. 11. This fun and entertaining bilingual adaptation brings the true story of Chicano writer Tomás Rivera to life with songs, laughs and inspiration.
“Be ready to have fun!” said Producing Director Matt Zambrano. “There’s a lot of really fun, exciting, inventive theatrical moments in the show and a lot of moments of real genuine connection and heartbreak.”
Based on the book by Pat Mora, Tomás and his family of migrant workers travel from Texas to Iowa to pick corn and other crops. Through his journey, Tomás struggles with the inability to speak English. After arriving in Iowa, Tomás meets a librarian at the Carnegie Library—which he misinterprets for “meat library” as carne is meat in Spanish. The librarian introduces Tomás to a world of books, where he dives in and creates vivid illustrations in his imagination. Over their shared love of learning, Tomás and the librarian’s friendship flourishes. Many books later, Tomás vocabulary begins to grow, but by then it’s time to bid his friend farewell. Tomás and his family return to Texas where he goes on to have a successful career.
“What makes this particular play special is that it’s based on a real person,” Zambrano said. “This is a story all about a kid (Tomas Rivera) who was able to find his love of literature, his place in the world through books.”
Zambrano was approached by the Denver Children’s Theatre to undertake the performance; he said they wanted the show to be authentic and to have as many Latine folks involved in the production. With a cast of four Latine actors, the show is performed in English and Spanish, allowing the audience to learn Spanish words as they follow along.
Zambrano believes it is important to tell Tomás’ story authentically because Denver has such a large Latine population. It’s especially valuable for kids, for whom few shows speak to them and their experiences or have the bilingual element. But he said regardless of whether kids are Latine or not, they will enjoy the heartwarming story.
“There are a lot of theaters for young audience shows that you can see, they’re all wonderful in theaters all across the city. But this show being specifically written by, for and with Latino performers and creative artists was their goal and we’ve been able to accomplish that in a really wonderful way,” Zambrano said.
Utilizing mime and the imagination of the crowd, the actors create props and environmental effects that can help the audience navigate through Tomás’s journey. The audience can expect shadow puppeteers and catchy songs that will create a memorable experience. Through story theater, the four actors portray different characters throughout the show while still giving each character individuality with costume and voice changes. The witty characters create fun entertainment for the whole family. Tomás and the Library Lady is an inspirational heartwarming production, providing children with an enriching experience.
“I think it’s going to be a really nice experience for anyone who comes to see the show,” Zambrano said. “There’s a little something in there for everybody.”
The story of Tomás shares the message of how influential reading and education can be. Not only did reading give him the ability to learn a new language, but it also gave him the confidence to pursue his education and earn his master’s degree in literature, in an era where it was uncommon for Latine folks to earn one. Zambrano said he fell in love with the script after reading it and believes it is special to be able to share Tomás Rivera’s story since many people don’t know who he is.
“I think the important message is to be curious. Be curious about the world, about your surroundings and have empathy for others,” Zambrano said. “I would hope that the audience will walk away thinking I could maybe open up my heart and my eyes to others in my community who I may have otherwise not seen before.”