Su Teatro is bringing back its original take on the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, with a bilingual twist. In 2005 The Denver Post called perhaps the most ambitious undertaking in Su Teatro’s history. 

(The DCPA NewsCenter regularly profiles actors performing in theatre productions throughout the state of Colorado.)

MEET JOELLE MONTOYA

Rudi in Su Teatro’s El Sol Que Tu Eres, or The Sun That You Are

• Hometown: Littleton
• Home now: Denver
• High School: Mullen
  
• College: BA in Performing Arts, acting emphasis, from the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley; MFA in acting from University of Essex (United Kingdom)
• What have you done for us lately? I played Crystal in Little Shop of Horrors at Miners Alley Playhouse
• What is the Sun That You Are all about? It is a modern adaptation of Orpheus and Eurydice. Set in Mexico, this classic myth weaves Mexican traditions (El Dia De Los Muertos), Aztec culture, beautiful music, poetry and modern day struggles to re-tell the story of Orfeo (Orpheus) and Rudi (Eurydice).
• Most challenging aspect for you as an actor: (Writer and director) Anthony J. Garcia made it clear that he wanted to give Rudi something he thought was missing in most other re-tellings of this famous myth. He wrote Rudi so she has a voice of her own. Rudi is definitely a spitfire. I love this attribute about her, and I love the challenge of bringing someone so obviously contradictory to life.
• What do you love most about Su Teatro? I absolutely love the Denver theatre community, but Su Teatro is unique because it has and will continue to provide a creative outlet to the Latino community. It is a theatre where my relatives, who are not typically theatre patrons, will go and see a show because they can relate. Su Teatro allows its audiences to witness something outside of the normal theatre scene and delve into another culture. That’s how I believe theatre can work its magic for change.
• What’s one thing most people don’t know about you? I Iove collecting rocks. Whenever I go for a hike or traveling, I have to find the right one because, to me, it is a piece of the place I visited, which is the best souvenir there is.
• What’s one thing you want to get off your chest? To believe is to create, and to create is to love. “Creer es criar, y criar es amor.” I am passionate about all artistic endeavors, because in our effort to create beautiful theatre in Denver and the world is our effort to give love. So please, let us all work together to create a better world for ourselves. Be brave and never give up.

Read John Moore’s 2005 review of The Sun That You Are

Su Teatro’s El Sol Que Tu Eres, or The Sun That You Are: Ticket information
• Written by Anthony J. Garcia and Daniel Valdez (music)
• Directed by Anthony J. Garcia
• Oct. 13-Nov. 6
• At 721 Santa Fe Drive
• Performances: 7:30 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays
• Tickets $20-25 at 303-296-0219 or suteatro.org

Cast list:
Rudi: Joelle Montoya
Orfeo: Miguel Martimen
Tia: Yolanda Ortega
Narciso: Jesse Ogas
Hector: Lorenzo Gonzalez
Tommy: Phil Luna
Annie: Sierra Fernandez
Lencho: Camilo Luera
Meghan: Joi Hyatt
Trisha: Gloria Gray
Alex: Iliana Barron
Ensemble: David Carrasco, Felicia Gallegos Pettis, Leslie Gomez.

Musicians
Band Leader/Guitar: Adolfo Romero
Bass: Eli Montoya Pablo
Percussion: Jared Rains

More ‘In the Spotlife’ profiles:
Meet Jeff Jesmer of Firehouse Theatre Company’s The Crucible
Meet Jessica Robblee of Buntport Theatre for All Ages’ Siren Song: A Pirate Odyssey
Meet Wayne Kennedy of BDT Stage’s Mid-Life 2
Meet Joelle Montoya of Su Teatro’s El Sol Que Tu Eres
Meet Sam Gregory of the Arvada Center’s Tartuffe
Meet Lauren Bahlman of Wide-Eyed West’s theMumblings
Meet Carley Cornelius of Colorado Springs TheatreWorks’ Constellations
Meet Emily Paton Davies of Miners Alley Playhouse’s God of Carnage
Meet Megan Van De Hey of the Arvada Center’s Sister Act
Meet Anne Oberbroeckling of Boulder Ensemble Theatre Company’s Ripcord

More Colorado theatre coverage on the DCPA NewsCenter