SOUTH SIOUX CITY — The lives and journeys of two extraordinary Hispanic women will be dramatized during El Proyecto Dramatico del Teatro's first-ever "Voices of Siouxland."
A unique production combining live storytelling as well as scripted reenactments, the obstacles, struggles and successes of first-generation immigrants Norma De La O and Esly Ovando will be presented at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday at New Stage Players, 3201 Dakota Ave. Â
Born in the small Mexican town of Reynosa, Tamaulipas, just south of the Texas border, De La O grew up in a migrant family, traveling to different states following each growing season.
De La O's family picked oranges in Florida, tomatoes in Idaho and strawberries in Michigan before her parents settled in Dakota City, to work at IBP (now Tyson Foods).
Inspired by her hard-working family, De La O has spent her life fighting injustice in marginalized communities, first as a South Sioux City police officer and then, for many years, as an advocate for nonprofit organizations and a commissioner on the Nebraska Commission on Latino Americans.
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Ovando, the oldest in a family with six kids, experienced a childhood filled with hardships and struggles. At an early age, she leaned on music as a form of therapy.
Earning a Bachelor's and a Master's degree in music education, Ovando is choral director for the South Sioux City School District as well as a a vocalist, motivational speaker and mentor throughout Siouxland.
To this day, Ovando remains passionate about music, advocating and opening greater access to music education for the Hispanic community.
Both Ovando and De La O will share their personal stories of breaking barriers in their own words and through a dramatization of their lives in a stage production, featuring 20 actors as part of El Proyecto Dramatico del Teatro, Siouxland's only bilingual/Spanish theater group.
Founded by Natali Markworth Ramirez, Cintia Pedroza, New Stage Players' Kristy Tremayne and Ivonet Torres more than two years ago, El Proyecto Dramatico del Teatro was designed to bring theater to both Spanish-speaking performers and audience members.
According to Torres, it was also meant to give voice to an underrepresented community.
"When I was growing up, I was never involved in theater," she explained. "That was because none of the plays spoke to me as a person. I felt like I didn't belong."
This makes productions like "Voices of Siouxland" so important.
"Not only will audiences learn about the lives of Norma and Esly, they will also actually meet the women themselves," Torres said. "That will make our show more compelling and impactful.
Kristy Tremayne nodded her head in agreement.
"New Stage Players was started on the philosophy that theater belongs to everyone and El Proyecto Dramatico del Teatro is a big part of our mission," the veteran director, costumer and educator explained. "Given the population of Siouxland, there really should've been a Spanish-speaking theater years ago."
"Voices of Siouxland," -- a dramatization of South Sioux City women Norma De La O and Esly Ovando -- will be performed at 7 p.m. Friday and Sa…
Still, Tremayne doesn't want non-Spanish speakers to feel excluded from the show.
"Everything in 'Voices of Siouxland' is accessible to the general audience," she said. "You'll have no problem following the action on stage."
Torres said all audiences will find De La O's and Ovando's stories compelling and life-affirming.
"As first-generation Latinas, Norma and Esly both bring a unique perspective on living their American dream," Torres said. "I'd love to see 'Voices of Siouxland' become an annual event because I know there are many voices and many stories that need to be heard."Â Â
Matt Anderson, Sioux City Public Museum Curator of History, talks about an exhibit of art from members of The Society of Animal Artists that is being hosted by the museum.
