Teacher Guide
by Alvaro Saar Rios directed by Michelle Lopez-Rios
guide created by Brenda Gonzales, Alyysa Mohn, and Oskar Westbridge Table of Contents
Welcome/Summary ...... 3
A History of Lucha Libre ...... 4
Finding Your Inner Luchador/a ...... 5
Hall of Fame ...... 6
Make Your Own Mask ...... 8
"Me On the Map" Activity ...... 12
Spanish Vocabulary in Luchadora! ...... 20
Exploring the Music of the Show ...... 21
For Further Reference ...... 23
2 Hello and Welcome!
Thank you for choosing to attend a production of Alvaro Saar Rios’ Luchadora! with your students. The play’s main characters, Vanessa and Nana Lupita, represent an important tradition of women defying expectations placed on them due to their genders. We think that it is a tradition that demands respect and attention, and we are very excited to have the chance to share it with you.
Throughout this packet, you will find materials created specifically to add to you and your students' experience of seeing Luchadora! We have written articles that explain deeper facets of the play’s subtext and context, as well as activities that allow students to engage with the themes and narrative of the play in a more active, hands-on fashion.
Luchadora! is produced as part of Chicago Playworks for Families and Young Audiences. Founded as the Goodman Children’s Theatre in 1925 and recognized as a pioneer of theatre for families, Chicago Playworks welcomes more than 30,000 students and families to our highly- celebrated productions each season. Today we are dedicated to reflecting our audience’s experience in an urban, contemporary, and multi-ethnic environment.
------
Summary
Luchadora! is the tale of family history and a young girl defying gender norms.
Nana Lupita tells Vanessa the story of when she was young, back in 1968 during the Vietnam War. As a girl, she found out a big secret about her father: he was a Lucha Libre wrestler! He became a great champion of his time, but, eventually, he had to stop his career to take care of his family, and because his body was ailing. He had to back out of a fight with Dragon Azul, the other great wrestler of the time.
Lupita, finds out that El Hijo, the son of Dragon Azul, has challenged her father to a match. In secret, she to wrestle El Hijo in place of her father.
As Vanessa hears the story from her grandmother. The women develop a bond that will continue for generations to come.
3 History
What is Lucha Libre?
Lucha Libre is a type of professional wrestling that originated in Mexico. The style of wrestling includes the use of rapid acrobatic techniques; “high-flying” maneuvers, some of which have been adopted in the United States and elsewhere; fighting choreography; and contestants who wear masks. Luchadores are traditionally more agile and perform more aerial maneuvers than professional wrestlers in the United States. A luchador or luchadora is an entertainer who usually comes from an extended wrestling family, as well as an actor that develops a story line. They never take off their mask or unveil their real name unless they're forced to give up. Losing their mask means loss of dignity and status, as well as the loss of the fight.
The Rules:
A match involves two opponents where one must pin the other for a count of three, then either knock them out of the ring for a count of twenty, force submission, or get them disqualified for some other reason. An additional way of winning is with the use of violence, better known as “exceso de ru-dezas,” a rule in which the referee awards the winner the title. A luchador or luchadora is disqualified when they use an illegal move such as the “piledriver.”
Mascara Dorado begins a Huracan Rana.
4 Finding your inner Luchadora and Luchador!
In this activity students are instructed to create a character backstory and make their own Luchador and Luchadora name. Students are encouraged to be as creative and detailed as possible to make their characters believable. Luchador/Luchadora Example Names: “Hijo del Santo” - Son of the Saint “El Cardo”- The Thistle “Blue Demon” “Yellowtail” “La Mascara Rosa”- The Pink Mask “Dragon Azul”- Blue Dragon Luchador/Luchadora names can be in English OR Spanish. If you come up with a name that seems cool, try using Google Translate, to see how it sounds in another language!!
Written Prompt Have you ever pictured yourself as a Luchador or Luchadora? Ever wanted to become a superhero and save the day? Now is your chance to imagine what it takes to become one by making up your own Luchador and Luchadora name and origin backstory! You can make it sound as cool as you want and give as much detail as you want, the goal is to make your story sound unique to you!
Common Core
W.2.3 Write narratives in which they recount a well-elaborated event or short sequence of events, include details to describe actions, thoughts, and feelings, use temporal words to signal event order, and provide a sense of closure.
W.2.5 With guidance and support from adults and peers, focus on a topic and strengthen writing as needed by revising and editing. W.2.8 Recall information from experiences or gather information from provided sources to answer a question. W.3.3Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, descriptive details, and clear event sequences.
5 Lucha Libre Hall of Fame
El Santo: (September 23, 1917 – February 5, 1984) Rodolfo Guzmán Huerta, more widely known as El Santo, or in English The Saint, was a Mexican Luchador enmascarado, film actor, and folk hero., is one of the most famous and iconic of all Mexican luchadores, and has been referred to as one of “the greatest legends in Mexican sports.” His wrestling career spanned nearly five decades, during which he became a folk hero and a symbol of justice for the common man through his appearances in comic books and movies.
Mil Mascaras: Born July 15, 1942, Máscaras is one of the original “Big Three” of the lucha libre tradition in Mexico (the other two being El Santo and Blue Demon). He is considered one of the most influential wrestlers of all time for enhancing and popularizing the lucha libre style around the world both in the ring and as the star of 20 films. He is also an accomplished artist and cultural ambassador from his native country and has appeared on three of its postage stamps.
Blue Demon: (April 24, 1922 – December 16, 2000), Alejandro Muñoz Moreno better known by the ring name Blue Demon (Demonio Azul in Spanish), was a Mexican film actor and luchador enmascarado (Spanish for masked professional wrestler). Blue Demon was one of the original “big three” of the lucha libre tradition in Mexico (the other two being El Santo and Mil Máscaras). He was affectionately referred to as “Blue” and was known for his signature blue mask.
6 Lucha Libre Hall of Fame
Rey Mysterio: Born December 11, 1974, Rey Mysterio is an American professional wrestler currently signed to WWE, where he performs on the Raw brand and in his first United States Championship reign. Mysterio is known for his high-flying Lucha libre wrestling style, which is credited with having helped kick-start the emergence of cruiserweight wrestling in the United States in the mid-1990s.
Xóchitl Leyva Sánchez: Born February 20th, 1973, She is better known in Lucha Libre as the Luchadora Tiffany. As with a lot of Lucha Libre stars, Tiffany comes from a wrestling family. Her father Jesse Rojas “El Vasco”, a famous Luchador, her mother was the original La Diabolica and her brother Jessy is also a Luchadore. Tiffany was trained by her father and made her professional wrestling debut on July 18, 1993 at the Arena Solidaridad in her hometown, Monterrey. She has held the Northern Women’s Wrestling Title, the National Women’s Wrestling Title twice, the AAA Reina de Reinas and the AAA World Mixed Tag Team Wrestling Championship with Chessman.
Irma González: Born on August 20th, 1936 Legendary Luchador Irma Gonzales as trained by Jorge Rojas, Tarzán López, Gori Guerrero and Raúl Romero, and made her lucha libre debut on August 20, 1955 at Cancha San Pedro in Puebla City, Puebla, Mexico. During her career she held the National Women’s Wrestling Title, the UWA World Women’s Wrestling Title (twice), and the National Women’s Tag Team Wrestling Titles (with Irma Aguilar). Irma also appeared in a few Mexican wrestling films like Las Luchadoras contra el médico asesino (1963).
7 Making Your Own Mask Materials Scissors Mask Template (provided on the next pages) Popsicle Sticks Glue/Tape Markers, Crayons, or Colored Pencil
Instructions 1. Pick one of the masks shown on the next few pages. Then cut it out. (Alternatively, feel free to draw your own mask! Just make sure to add some eyes, a nose, and a mouth to cut out.) 2. Cut along the dotted lines, making holes for hole’s for your eyes, nose, and mouth. 3. On the mask, draw: 2 people that are important to you. 4 activities that you love to do. 3 objects that are important to you.
4. Glue/tape a popsicle stick to the bottom the mask so that you can hold it up in front of your face.
5. Show off your mask to the rest of the class! Explain what you chose to draw.
Additional Collage Option: If drawing isn’t something you are interested in, you can find pictures that represent the things that are important to you in magazines/on the internet, cut them out, and glue them to the mask (Requires: Magazines, and Glue Sticks)
8 9 10 11 Mapping Your Way to Milwaukee, WI from Santa Teresa, Texas!
“Me On the Map” During Luchadora!, Lupita travels from Santa Teresa, Texas to Milwaukee, Wisconsin to fight against her opponent El Hijo. This activity is meant for students to reflect on their own environment.
Instructions 1. Print out the following pages, each has a different location on it (My House, My Neighbor- hood etc.). 2. On each page. draw a picture of how that location looks on a map (don’t forget color!!). 3. When you’ve drawn all the pictures, staple them together to make a little booklet.
12 Me On The Map
13 Here is my house.
14 Here is my neighborhood.
15 Here is my town.
16 Here is my state.
17 Here is my country.
18 Here is my world.
19 Spanish Vocabulary Within Luchadora!
For those of us who aren’t able to speak Spanish, sometimes it can be difficult to understand exactly what a character within the play might be saying. Usually, it is possible to use context clues to figure out what a char- acter might be saying, but in case you are still confused about the meaning of a word of phrase here are English translations of every piece of Spanish vocabulary used within the play. Chankla- flip-flop No te vayas- don’t leave Tienes hambre- Are you hungry? No le digas a nadie- don’t tell anyone Sopa- soup Por supuesto- of course Damela- give it to me Apúrate- hurry La mascara por favor- the mask, please Otra vez- again Terca- stubborn Lista- ready Nací en Tejas- I was born in Texas Tomar- to drink Nadie- no one Muéstrame- show me Mira- look Nopales- cactuses Flores- flowers Tres semanas- three weeks Sandía- watermelon Levántate- get up Sabes que- you know that No hay tiempo- there is no time Se me olvidó- I forgot De veras- seriously? Gracias mija- thank you my daughter Diez días- ten days A los caballos- to the horses Con amor- with love Paciencia- be patient No sé- I don’t know Mundo- world Rebozo- shawl Agua- water La batalla del siglo- the battle of the century Ganas- the drive to win Mentiroso- liar Vamonos- let’s go Orita- now Manzanas- apples La pata- the foot Damas y caballeros- ladies and gentleman Qué te dije- What did I tell you? Niños y niñas- boys and girls Buenas noches- good night Noche- night Mañana- tomorrow Siempre hay más- there is always more
20 Exploring “De Colores” And “Freut Euch Des Lebens”
The song “De Colores” has been a part of American folk music since the 1600s, when it was brought here from Spain. It has a rich history behind it. For years, it has been bringing hope to people who want to feel like they are part of a community. It is very special to families who work on farms and fields, and has become a theme song for justice ever since a Catholic religious movement from Mallorca, Spain, called the Cursillo move- ment, adopted it as their theme song.
Take a look at the translation!
De colores, de colores se visten los campos en la All the colors, all the colors, oh how they dress up the primavera countryside in springtime, De colores, de colores son los pajaritos que vienen All the colors, all the colors of birdies, oh how they de afuera come back to us outside, All the colors, all the colors in rainbows we see shining De colores, de colores es el arco iris que vemos bright in the sky, lucir And that’s why a great love of all colors makes me feel Y por eso los grandes amores de muchos colores like singing so joyfully, me gustan a mí And that’s why a great love of all colors makes me feel Y por eso los grandes amores de muchos colores like singing so joyfully. me gustan a mí The rooster sings, he sings, cock-a-doodle, doodle, doo- dle, doodle, doodle, doodle, doodle-doo, Canta el gallo, canta el gallo con el quiri quiri quiri The chicken clucks, she clucks, cluck, cluck, cluck, cluck, quiri quiri cluck, cluck, cluck, cluck, cluck, cluck, cluck, cluck, La gallina, la gallina con el cara cara cara cara The little chicks they cheep, they cheep, cheep, cheep, cara cheep, cheep, cheep, cheep, cheep, cheep, cheep, cheep, Los polluelos, los polluelos con el pío pío pío pío cheep, cheep, cheep, pío pí And that’s why a great love of all colors makes me feel Y por eso los grandes amores de muchos colores like singing so joyfully, And that’s why a great love of all colors makes me feel me gustan a mí like singing so joyfully. Y por eso los grandes amores de muchos colores me gustan a mí All the colors, all the great, glowing colors that we see in the sky at sunrise, De colores, de colores brillantes y finos se viste la All the colors, all the colors are seen in the thousand aurora reflections in sunlight, De colores, de colores son los mil reflejos que el sol All the colors, all the colors are seen glittering in a atesora diamond ring, And that’s why a great love of all colors makes me feel De colores, de colores se viste el diamante que like singing so joyfully, vemos lucir And that’s why a great love of all colors makes me Y por eso los grandes amores de muchos colores feel like singing so joyfully.
Try listening to it here, and singing along!
https://open.spotify.com/album/5tUZb8DpRLoc5l0aaWSTES?si=Dm89Js2VQA6g6v0REhZJEA
21 Next, take a look at the history of “Freut Euch Des Lebens!”
Freut Euch Des Lebens in German means “Enjoy Life.” It was written by Johann Martin Usteri in 1793, and then Hans Georg Nageli put music behind it. It has since become a traditional German beer drinking song, because of its cheerful tone! Freut euch des Lebens, Life makes you happy, Weil noch das Lämpchen glüht; Because still the small lamp glows; Pflücket die Rose, Pick the rose, Eh’ sie verblüht! D’oh! it withers!
Man schafft so gerne sich Sorg´ und Müh´, One so easily creates worries and strifes, Sucht Dornen auf und findet sie and develops a familiarity with thorns. Und läßt das Veilchen unbemerkt, The violet leaves go unnoticed, Das uns am Wege blüht! Yet, this is how we bloom. Freut euch des Lebens Life makes you happy.
Wenn Scheu die Schöpfung sich verhüllt If the shy hide themselves, Und laut der Donner ob uns brüllt, When the thunder begins to roar, So lacht am Abend nach dem Sturm It is they who laugh in the evening after the storm Die Sonne, ach, so schön! When the sun sets so beautifully. Freut euch des Lebens... Life makes you happy.
Wer Neid und Mißgunst sorgsam flieht One who escapes envy and disfavor Und G’nügsamkeit im Gärtchen zieht, And acts with modesty in the Gaertchen, Dem schießt sie schnell zum Bäumchen auf, Quickly attaches to the Baeumchen, Das goldne Früchte trägt. which carries golden fruits. Freut euch des Lebens... Life makes you happy.
Wer Redlichkeit und Treue übt One who practices honesty and loyalty Und gern dem ärmeren Bruder gibt, And gladly gives to the poorer brother, Bei dem baut sich Zufriedenheit With satisfaction builds himself So gern ihr Hüttchen an. So gladly on his Huettchen Freut euch des Lebens... Life makes you happy.
Und wenn der Pfad sich furchtbar engt, And if the path begins to fade, Und Mißgeschick uns plagt und drängt, And misfortune troubles and pushes us, So reicht die Freundschaft schwesterlich Our friendships will be enough Dem Redlichen die Hand. the hand to the fair one Freut euch des Lebens... Life makes you happy.
Sie trocknet ihm die Tränen ab She dries away her tears, Und streut ihm Blumen bis ans Grab; And strews flowers on the grave; Sie wandelt Nacht in Dämmerung, Night changes to dawn, Und Dämmerung in Licht. And dawns the light. Freut euch des Lebens... Life makes you happy.
Listen to the song in German here!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFmXWvxeQxI
22 For Further Reference
Readings: The Circuit: Stories From the Life of A Migrant Child by Fancisco Jiminez Lucia the Luchadora by Cynthia Leonor Garza Nino Wretsles the World by Yuyi Morales Bienvenidos a Milwaukee/ Welcome to Milwaukee by Alvaro Saar Rios Lucha Libre: The Man in the Silver Mask by Xavier Garza The World of Lucha Libre: Secrets, Revelations, and Mexican National Identity by Heather Levi
Films: Luchadora a short documentary by River Finlay Lucha Mexico a documentary by Alex Hammon and Ian Markiewicz
Articles: Who Was That Masked Man? A Wrestling Priest, New York Times (2018) (https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/09/lens/luchador-mexico-photography.html)
In Colorful Bouts, Hints of Deeper Struggles, New York Times (2009) (https://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/10/us/10wrestling.html)
From Chicago to Mexico City, a luchador makes good, Chicago Tribune (2013) (https://www.chicagotribune.com/hoy/ct-hoy-8289101-from-chicago-to-mexico-city-a- luchador-makes-good-story.html)
------
This guide was created by the following students of The Theatre School at DePaul University:
Brenda Gonzales Alyysa Mohn Oskar Westbridge 23