UTEP Theatre & Dance - Noche de Ofrendas

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, many theaters around the world began to wonder what would happen to theatre. At the UTEP Department of Theatre & Dance, we decided we would do everything in our power to continue creating opportunities for our students and learn to adapt as necessary to the world around us. This school year the situation is much improved, and we are excited to be able to welcome students, artists, and patrons back into our spaces.

If not for the need to quarantine and social distance last year, our theatre doors would have welcomed upwards of 10,000 patrons and generated over $80,000 in ticket sales. Under circumstances before the pandemic, this income would allow us to provide professional quality experiences to all who enter our doors. This year we are glad to welcome patrons back to the theater, and reconnect with our audience and community. However, with no ticket sales for a year, and with necessary adjustments due to the pandemic, our production budgets are not what they would be.

The Department of Theatre & Dance would like to set aside time and space to honor our deceased loved ones, especially in the wake of the ongoing pandemic. Noche de Ofrendas is a fundraising effort created by the Department of Theatre & Dance to help us reconnect with our community while we rebuild our pool of resources. As we learn to connect again, we also want to build spectacular productions for our audience while providing our students with professional level training and quality materials for our return to live theater.

Dia de Muertos, or Day of the Dead derives from an ancient Aztec tradition with influence from the European teachings. The Aztec culture considered that souls continually live and enter different realms when a body no longer had life. The Aztec would also make food offerings in honor of their deceased. With European Catholic influences and the celebration of All Souls’ Day, the ofrenda, or altar became a tradition in welcoming the souls of those no longer with human life as they pass from their realm into ours to celebrate with food and drink for one day, November 2. An ofrenda usually features photos of deceased loved ones along with decorations, candles, foods and drink that the deceased would enjoy in life.

As the title of the project suggests, your donation will allow you to participate in our community ofrenda. After making your contribution, we invite you to send us (by email) a photo of your dearly departed loved one or loved ones that you would like to honor on the ofrenda. Our design students and faculty will be building and decorating the ofrenda in the lobby of our Wise Family Theater on the second floor of the Fox Fine Arts building. Once the project is complete and we have received all photos, we will print and display all submitted photos with a marigold for each photo. The ofrenda will be on display from October 27 – November 2. On November 2, we would like to invite all who sent us photos to join us for a moment of remembrance at 6:00 PM, where you are welcome to bring any additional mementos to display on the ofrenda for the evening. At 7:00 PM, professor and playwright, Georgina Escobar, will be giving a short talk on The Day of the Dead, followed by a pilgrimage to the Chihuahuan Desert Garden Amphitheater, located on campus and outdoors, where you are invited to watch Alebrijes, a Day of the Dead Show. You may join us for part or stay for the whole evening.

Thank you for being a patron of the arts. We look forward to bringing you fun, engaging content and seeing you in our audience.