Join the Motus Theater & Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art for an inspiring exhibition and Motus Playback Theater performance featuring UndocuAmerica monologist Cristian Solano-Córdova, visual artist, Victor Escobedo, and Motus’ Playback Theater Ensemble, where you can see your stories of courage being played by professional actors. 

Motus Playback Theater is an adventure of improvisational theater where you share a short reflection or story, and then watch professional improv actors enact YOUR story on the spot using movement, music, and dramatic spoken word. The reflections can be about anything present in the room. Whether your story is humorous or heart-wrenching, from the past or just happened yesterday, Motus Theater will help create an event that centers around the life experiences of the audience.

This event is the second collaborative exhibition of Motus & Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art featuring visual artists at BMoCA’s Present Box. On May 11th, Victor Escobedo will unveil his visual art inspired by Cristian Solano-Córdova’s monologue. This exhibition was created in response to the defacing of outdoor murals featuring Motus’ UndocuAmerica monologists that were installed across Denver and Boulder in 2022.

In addition to Escobedo’s artwork, Motus Theater will be presenting images of the original murals on postcards, each with a QR code linking to videos of the UndocuAmerica monologists telling their personal stories. As a community, we have the opportunity and responsibility to coalesce, heal, and come back stronger. You can be a part of this healing response by mailing the UndocuAmerica stories to your family, friends, and neighbors.

Admission to the reception and performance is free, so join us for an evening of art, storytelling, and community healing. We hope to see you there!

BIOS

UndocuAmerica Monologist

Cristian Solano-Córdova is a Denver, Colorado based DACA recipient. He was born in Chihuahua, Mexico and migrated to Denver with his mother and baby sister when he was three years-old. He began working for the immigrant community in 2015 when he ran and won an election to become the first DACAmented Student Body President at the Metropolitan State University of Denver. He currently works as the Communications Director with the National Partnership for New Americans (NPNA).

Motus Playback Improv Theater Ensemble

Alejandro Fuentes-Mena was born in Valparaiso, Chile, and grew up in San Diego, California after age four. Through Teach for America, he was one of the first two DACAmented teachers in the entire nation. Senator Durbin featured his story on the Senate floor to showcase the transformative impact of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. He tells a story of his hard-working parents and celebrates the assets he and his family are to our country.

JR Kuo is a national speaker, trainer, and coach. He is the founder of CoffeeWithJR, a company that specializes in providing culturally competent mental health and diversity/inclusion training. He also works as a performer and developer of interactive theatrical experiences. As a diversity/inclusion trainer, JR has facilitated numerous DEI workshops for Fortune 500 companies, as well as locally for companies in Denver, Colorado. As an immigrant who has struggled with the immigration system, JR is passionate about advocating for immigration reform and supporting immigrants in the United States. He is trained in interactive theater.

Shelsea Ochoa is the creative director of Soul Stories, a storytelling organization in Denver.  And a member of Playback Theater West. She is one of the mad geniuses behind the community howling outside that millions of people around the world did while isolated during COVID. 

Motus Theater Artistic Director

Kirsten Wilson is the Artistic Director, founder and visionary of Motus Theater. She is a narrative artist, editor and master teacher in the field of autobiographical monologue work. She has created several award-winning multi-media performances exploring history through the lens of race and class. She excels in supporting individuals in writing compelling narratives aimed at opening hearts and minds. Her work has been featured in media as diverse as Theater Magazine, Washington Post, NPR, FAST Company Magazine, Ms. Magazine, Latino USA and USA Today.