81 (English): Merendiando with Santiago Guzmán‪.‬ Radio Aluna Theatre

I won’t take no for an answer, in the most you know positive and you know like dedicated way, but I think that, that is very important. I feel like that has given me that hunger and like that desire of figuring it out has led me to where I am today. If I had been discouraged by the rejection of Caminos in 2019 I wouldn’t be here. I am very proud and very happy and I always say if Santiago did it, you can do it too. - Santiago Guzmán
Meet Santiago Guzmán, a writer, performer, director and producer for theatre and film originally from Metepec, Mexico, now based in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. He is the  Artistic Director of TODOS Productions and his work is very brown, very queer, and very real.  Santiago is the creator and performer of “Altar” that was part of this year’s Rutas Festival.
Altar tells the story of Eugenio a queer young immigrant living in St. John’s, Newfoundland & Labrador. Less than a year has passed since his move from Mexico, but in that time, he experienced deep love and deeper heartbreak when his new boyfriend, Benjamin, inexplicably “ghosted” him. No, Benjamin isn’t dead; he just stopped calling and texting. And the thing is…Eugenio’s still not over it. Looking to the traditional Mexican holiday Día de Muertos (The Day of The Dead) and his father’s previous experience with paranormal activities, Eugenio decides to build an altar (a central part of the Día de Muertos ritual) in the hopes that he will be able to summon his boyfriend’s ‘ghost’ to sort out the end of their relationship once and for all. Through the altar, Eugenio realizes that he has been something of a ghost himself to the loved ones he left behind in Mexico. Will setting up an altar be enough for Eugenio to forgive, forget, and love again? Or enough to help him heal the relationships with his friends and family far away?
All Radio Aluna Theatre episodes are in Spanglish, English, or Spanish. New episodes are released on Wednesdays. Follow and subscribe to this podcast on iTunes, Spotify, Google Play, and wherever else you get your podcasts.
Radio Aluna Teatro is produced by Aluna Theatre with support from the Toronto Arts Council, The Ontario Arts Council,  the Canada Council for the Arts, the Department of Canadian Heritage, and TD Bank.  
Aluna Theatre is Beatriz Pizano & Trevor Schwellnus; Radio Aluna Theatre is produced by Monica Garrido and Lucia Linares.
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No aceptaré un no por respuesta, de la forma más positiva y de una manera dedicada, pero creo que esto es muy importante. Siento que eso me ha dado ese hambre y ese deseo de seguir descubriendo me ha llevado a donde estoy hoy. Si me hubiera desanimado el rechazo de mi aplicación de Caminos en el 2019 no estaría aquí. Estoy muy orgulloso y muy feliz y siempre digo que si Santiago lo hizo, tú también puedes hacerlo.        - Santiago Guzman
Conoce a Santiago Guzmán, un escritor, actor, director y productor de teatro y cine originario de Metepec, México, basado en St. John's, Newfoundland y Labrador. Es el Director Artístico de TODOS Producciones y su trabajo es muy moreno, muy queer y muy real. Santiago es el creador e intérprete de “Altar” , show que formó parte del Festival Rutas de este año.
Altar cuenta la historia de Eugenio, un joven queer que vive en St. John’s, Newfoundland & Labrador. Hace casi menos de un año desde que se mudo de México, pero en ese corto tiempo ha experimentado un amor profundo amor y a todavía más profundo desengaño cuando su nuevo novio, Benjamín, sin ninguna explicación le hace un “ghosting”. No, Benjamín no ha muerto; simplemente dejó de llamar y mandar textos. Y la cosa es que…Eugenio todavía no lo ha superado. Inspirado en la tradición de la fiesta del Día de los muertos, y la experiencia previa de su pr