Exciting Cast News for 2011!

Alicia Mena, writer/director of Las Nuevas Tamaleras is excited to announce the cast for the 2011 Season! Returning as the sassy character Josie is veteran tamalera Sonia Rodriguez with Kinya Cano reprising her role as the spoiled little rich girl, Patsy. Making their return after their inaugural run in 2010 is Monessa Esquivel as the bossy boss lady, Sylvia and Rita Duggan as the spicy spirit Dona Juanita. Mena herself will make a special appearance this year, reprising her role as the lovable and cantankerous Dona Mercedes! This year promises to be exciting and a fun-filled way to kick-off the holiday season. Remember we open the day after Thanksgiving! We will be launching our new website in the coming days announcing the complete schedule and ticket sales!

RITA DUGGAN (Dona Juanita) has performed in over 30 productions at nearly every community theatre in San Antonio.  Her favorite roles include Anytime Annie (“42nd Street”), Columbia (“Rocky Horror Picture Show”), Joan (“Dames at Sea”), and Fastrada (“Pippin”).  She also choreographed “Chicago” at the Cameo Theatre.  Along with her husband Michael, she recently completed a 5 week run of “The Music Man” at the San Pedro Playhouse.  Rita has a BA in Communication Arts/English from the University of the Incarnate Word and an MA in Management/Business from Webster University.  She recently retired from 30 years of Federal Civilian Service.  A native San Antonian, she is thrilled and honored to be part of the Tamaleras tradition.   She dedicates this performance to her mom, Margie, and her Tia Martha—her biggest fans, now in the “heavenly audience.”

KINYA CANO  (Patsy) was raised in Seguin, Texas. She knew at a young age that she wanted to be involved in "show biz." Since then, she's acted in several TV commercials, film projects and stage productions including Latins Anonymous, Surcos de Oro, Skits-o-Frenia and Latino Odyssey. Kinya graduated cum laude from the University of the Incarnate Word with a degree in communications. After graduation, she began working as a television news reporter for KGBT-TV Action 4 News in Harlingen, Texas. Later, Kinya was offered a position at KENS-TV as associate producer in the news department. Since then, she has continued her career at KENS through her work at "Great Day SA," initially as an associate producer and then moving on to her current position as senior producer. Kinya is married to Fernando and has two beautiful daughters, Xoe and Aris.

SONIA M. RODRIGUEZ (Josie) has been with Las Nuevas Tamaleras since 1993. She graduated from Southwest Texas State University in 1999 with a BFA degree in acting and theatre education.  Sonia has been acting professionally since 1987.  She currently teaches theatre arts at Pleasanton Jr. High, Pleasanton High School and Pleasanton Intermediate Campus. She directs the UIL One Act Play for the Jr. High and will be directing the High School UIL One Act Play as well this year.   She was named Pleasanton ISD teacher of the year in 2006-07, an honor she sincerely appreciates.  In 2007, Sonia graduated from Walden University with a Masters in Intergrated Technology in the Classroom. In her free time, she likes to spend time with her parents, niece, three nephews, family and friends.  Sonia would like to thank her family and friends for all their love and support.

MONESSA MARIA ESQUIVEL (Sylvia)  San Anto Artista and a "Jack of all Trades," in most known for her theatrical work at Jump-Start Performance Co. a company member for eight years.  Monessa participated in various theatre productions in the city including Magik Theater's, Shakespeare in the Park production of Taming of the Shrew, AtticRepertory Theater production of Lydia, and Jump-Start's Blood Under the Bridge, High Yello Rose, and her co-written play, As Filthy As it Gets, voted Best Play of 2007 by the San Antonio Current.   Monessa also co-curatored street art gallery, POP YO TRUNK Otra Ves for Una Noche de la Gloria 2010. This is her first year with Las Nuevas Tamaleras and she looks forward to performing with the rest of the cast and crew. Monessa thanks her mother Carmen, who is her heart and soul.

ALICIA MENA (playwright/director) moved to San Antonio from Houston in 1993 and worked with the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center as a writer, director and actor.  In 1995 she founded Burras Finas Productions with the mission of staging an annual Christmas production of Las Nuevas Tamaleras.  Other works by Alicia Mena include, There Comes a Time, a full-length comedy about a young woman’s obsession with the golden age of Mexican cinema.   The script for this production was developed in a workshop at the fifth annual Isadora Aguirre playwriting lab produced by el teatro de la esperanza and presented at the first annual festival Latino in San Francisco, California.   Alicia performed the role of Sylvia in Las Nuevas Tamaleras for many years.