For press inquiries, please contact cristian@motustheater.org.
We Need More Gender Expansive Narratives: TRANSformative Stories Monologue Series by MOTUS Theater (Part 1)
KGNU - OutSources - 10/7/24
Part 1 of OutSources host kelly drumright’s conversation with Jahmil Roberts (he/they) and Cristian Solano-Cordova (he/they), two monologists with Boulder-based MOTUS Theater. We discuss the need for a proliferation of nuanced narratives of gender expansive experiences and the double-edged sword of increased trans visibility. Listen to the segment here.
Theater group performs at the State Capitol ahead of International Transgender Day of Visibility
Aspen Public Radio - 3/29/24
On Thursday, March 28, members of Boulder-based Motus Theater performed for lawmakers at the State Capitol. It was part of the TRANSformative Stories project that shares the personal stories of transgender and nonbinary people. Read full article here.
Motus Theater brings new set of voices to the stage with ‘TRANSformative Stories’
CPR News 2/13/24
Regardless of the discipline, artists use their work to reveal — and connect — us all. Melody, color, symbols, and allegories are a few of their tools, yet each is most effective when rooted in something personal. Read full article here.
Motus Theater to usher in powerful day of reflection with stories, songs honoring MLK Day
Daily Camera 1/11/24
In honor of the late Civil Rights leader and his dream for an equal America, Motus Theater is returning to the Dairy Art Center’s stage on Monday, Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Read full article here.
Dreaming out loud ‘Dr. King Jr. & the Radical Roots at the Heart of Justice’ honors MLK’s enduring legacy with a call for action
Boulder Weekly 1/10/24
Motus Theater’s annual tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. explores his legacy by bringing together the voices of social justice advocates, scholars and artists. Read full article here.
Truth to power: World premiere storytelling event shines a spotlight on trans experiences in Boulder and beyond
Boulder Weekly 11/8/23
Debuting on Nov. 12 in Boulder, Colorado the spoken-word TRANSformative Stories premiere features eight trans and nonbinary leaders from the Front Range and around the country, alongside musical accompaniment by renowned violinist and mezzo-soprano Tona Brown. Read full article here.
Motus Theater elevates transgender awareness at event featuring trans opera singer, eye-opening monologues
Daily Camera 11/9/23
On Sunday, eight transgender and non-binary luminaries will take the stage at eTown Hall to share their stories and experiences dealing with discrimination, oppression, liberation and empowerment. Read full article here.
Motus Theater’s JustUs Project in Durham, North Carolina.
Indy Week 04/26/2023
Motus Theater is part of “Stories of Durham’s Formerly Incarcerated Take Center Stage”. Read full article here.
motus theater’s DACA Murals voted best Mural Series for 2023
westword- 4/11/23
Motus Theater was voted as having the Best Mural Series for 2023 in the Denver Westword. Read full article here.
February 2, 2023: Nonprofits Foster Civic Participation Through Arts and Culture Rose Community Foundation 2/02/23
Organizations are helping to make Denver a safe and welcoming community for all people.. Read the full article here.
January 16, 2023: MLK jr day special broadcast on KGNU Morning Magazine KGNU Morning Magazine Podcast 1/16/23
Motus Theater, Dr. Reiland Rabaka, Director of CU Boulder’s CAAAS, and Motus’ JustUs monologist, Candice Bailey, discuss MLK Jr Day event at the Dairy Arts Center. Listen to the full podcast episode here.
december 15, 2022: motus theater performs at Fair and Just Conference in texas denver gazette 12/15/22
Motus Theater takes anniversary celebration to DA’s conference in Texas. Read the full article here.
december 4, 2022: monologues and murals humanize imperiled DACA denver gazette 12/4/22
Motus Theater wins the 2022 True West Awards. Read the full article here.
october 21, 2022: the heroes: stages of boulder county YellowScene 10/21/22
Keeping performance and music alive in our communities. Read the full article here.
September 27, 2022: community highlights: meet Motus theater voyage denver 9/27/22
Learn all about Motus Theater’s projects highlighting the last 10 years of programming. Read the full article here.
September 21, 2022: edica pacha ‘merges mediums’ with motus theater to create 12 unique daca murals daily camera 9/21/22
Edica Pacha’s photography series spotlights the stories of DACA recipients with Motus Theater’s UndocuAmerica monologists . Read the full article here.
September 9, 2022: Motus theater puts out performances to provoke community conversation kgnu 9/9/22
KGNU’s Rossana Longo-Better spoke with Rita Valente-Quinn, Motus Theater Producing Director about their upcoming performances during the National Hispanic Heritage month of September. Listen to the full article here.
june 24, 2022: murals celebrating daca anniversary vandelized at denver public library westword 6/24/22
Murals celebrating the tenth anniversary of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program have been vandalized at two branches of the Denver Public Library. Read the full article here.
june 15, 2022: marking ten years of daca cpr news 6/15/22
Ten years ago today, President Obama created the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or DACA. It allows young people brought to the US unlawfully as children to attend college or work legally. About 18,000 Coloradans have taken Obama up on that offer. We'll hear some of their stories today. Listen to the full episode here.
new denver, boulder murals celebrate daca’s tenth anniversary westord 6/14/22
While Motus Theater presented its UndocuAmerica Monologues to commemorate the tenth anniversary of DACA, Boulder-based artist Edica Pacha has been installing twelve murals around Denver and Boulder to keep the show’s monolgues alive. Read the full article here.
Daca at 10 years old: the closest distance between two people is a story the denver gazette 6/12/22
The story of three undocumented immigrants who have lived in the U.S. for all but a few unremembered years of their lives. But their continuing place here is threatened by the imperiled status of DACA: Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, a compromise and compromised U.S. immigration policy that turns 10 years old on Wednesday. Read the full article here.
Motus Theater’s undocuamerica performance to honor 10 years since enactment of daca colorado daily/ Daily Camera 6/10/22
Since DACA’s passage, Motus Theater has used performance art to advocate for policy change. Kirsten Wilson, the theater’s artistic director, noted that Motus’ work has been cited by political leaders like Colorado Rep. Leslie Herod as a driving force behind support for policies that aid undocumented populations. Read the full article here.
Daring to dream: Motus Theater commemorates the 10th anniversary of Daca through art and activism in boulder and beyond boulder weekly 6/9/22
Originally hailing from Mexico, Armando Peniche, a Boulder resident and activist, has been able to spend the vast majority of his life in the United States, thanks in part to receiving Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status before eventual citizenship. However, his relationship with the immigration policy, enacted by then-President Barack Obama, has been fraught with grief as well. Read the full article here.
las artes como arma contra el miedo el sol de mexico 6/7/22
Undocumented leaders in Colorado recount their frustrations and success stories with negotiating DACA over the last 10 years. Article in Spanish. Read the full article here.
The medicine in the story: motus theater marks the tenth anniversary of DACA Westword 6/7/22
Motus Theater won Westword’s 2022 Best of Denver award for Best Theater Company Programming this year for its engaging work showcasing critical social and political issues, and it’s still going stong with its latest original piece. UndocuAmerica Monologues: 10 Years of DACA in Story and Song. Read the full article here.
10 years of daca in story and song (BILINGUAL) KGNU 6/6/22
KGNU spoke with Motus Theater founder and artistic director, Kirsten Wilson and partnerships & project manager and monologist, Armando Peniche, to reflect on the 10th anniversary of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). Listen to the full episode here.
A DACA recipient’s monologue on the trials of living undocumented- Until everything changed cpr- 5/16/22
Reydesel Salvidrez-Rodríguez, who is legally deaf, writes about his life before DACA and his despair at not being able to attend college. Today, Reydesel is a college graduate and is getting his master’s degree in higher education. His story is read by the New York Times award-winning journalist Nicholas Kristof. Listen to the full episode here.
A DACA recipient’s monologue recounts crossing the border and fears of deportation cpr- 4/29/22
Cristian Solano-Cordóva's monologue, "The Meaning of Courage," is about his journey with his mother and sister to the United States and then of his efforts to protect his sister, an American citizen, who fears he and their mother will be deported. Listen to the full episode here.
motus theater voted best theater company programming for 2022 westword- 4/11/22
Motus Theater was voted as the Best Theater Company Programming for 2022 in the Denver Westword. Read full article here.
“Deport Me”- A DACA monologue from motus theater cpr- 4/7/22
Alejandro Fuentes-Mena, a Motus UndocuAmerica monologist, tells the story of his hard-working parents and his path to becoming a teacher. It’s called “Deport Me.” Listen to the full episode here.
motus theater’s Undocuamerica project shares stories of DACA recipients cpr- 3/21/22
Irving Reza, Motus UndocuAmerica monologist, presents his story using humor, which captures the stress he faces each time he goes through an immigration checkpoint. The piece is called “The Most Beautiful Monument.” Listen to the full episode here.
reflections on a journey from childhood to the criminal justice system cpr- 1/27/22
Brandon Wainright had a troubled childhood, but it was also promising. In school, he was awarded a scholarship to college. Then, his life took an unexpected turn when he was caught shoplifting and ended up in the juvenile justice system. Listen to the full episode
Colorado ACLU leaders read justus monologues in honor of dr. Mlk jr day kgnu- 1/17/22
Motus Theater and Colorado ACLU hosted a performance on the criminal legal system and incarceration as a way to honor Martin Luther King Jr and the civil rights movement. Read and Listen
Formerly incarcerated community members speak for justus Longmont leader- 11/6/21
Motus Theater’s JustUs Monologues present men who share autobiographical performances of their experience in the U.S. penal system. Read the full article
Motus Theater’s ‘Boundless Truth’ explores justice system bias with stories of once-incarcerated Black women leaders Daily Camera- 9/16/21
Raw, honest and emotionally piercing, the women’s monologues ultimately prompt audiences to examine the bias found within the criminal justice system. Read the full article
aurora council candidate to discuss time behind bars in motus production Colorado politics- 9/13/21
Candice Baily, candidate for Aurora City Council, is part of Motus’ Boundless Truth monologists. Read the full article
Criminal justice reform through shared stories and listening CPR colorado matters- 7/26/21
Reforming the criminal justice system requires listening to many perspectives. That's a goal of the JustUs project at Boulder's Motus Theater. Read and listen
District Attorneys reads Motus Theater JUstus monologists story KGNU Morning magazine Podcast- 7/15/21
KGNU speaks live with participants in the Motus Theater shows that feature district attorneys reading the personal testimonies of incarcerated persons. Listen to the podcast
DA BRIAN MASON READS ALOUD FORMER INMATE’S STORY Colorado Politics- 7/12/21
Brian Mason, the 17th Judicial District attorney for Adams and Broomfield counties, will read the story of a Coloradan who spent a decade in prison. Read the full article
MOTUS THEATER ON THE COVER OF YELLOWSCENE MAGAZINE YS - 7/7/2021
Catch Motus Theater on the cover of this month's edition of Yellow Scene magazine. Read the full article
Motus Theater Receives NEA Grant to Support Criminal-Justice Works
Westword - 5/12/2021
Motus recently announced that it has received a $40,000 matching grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to support JustUs: Stories From the Frontlines of the Criminal Justice System. Read the full article
Head of Prisons And Former Inmate Share Stories, Empathy
CPR - 4/13/2021
It was an unusual meeting of the minds: Recently, the head of Colorado's Department of Corrections read a monologue written by a former inmate. Read and listen
Colorado prisons chief to read story of a former inmate online Wednesday night
Colorado Politics - 4/5/2021
State prisons chief Dean Williams will read the personal narrative of a former inmate Wednesday night online, as part of the JustUs project of the Motus Theater in Boulder. Read the full article
Houston Police Chief Steps Into the Shoes of a Colorado Immigrant Leader
Westword - 3/10/2021
The UndocuMonologues performances focus on the experiences of undocumented immigrants. It’s part of the Boulder company’s UndocuAmerica series for the Shoebox Stories podcast… Read the full article
Boulder's Motus Theater plans Thursday night reading by Houston police chief
Colorado Politics - 3/9/2021
Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo, an emerging national voice for immigration reform, will speak the words of a young Dreamer with a child online Thursday night. Read the full article
Actor por un día, jefe policial de Houston narra la historia de indocumentada
Efe News - 3/9/2021
Arturo Acevedo, jefe del Departamento de Policía de Houston (Texas), la cuarta ciudad más grande de EE.UU., subirá el 11 de marzo al escenario virtual del Teatro Motus para contar la historia de una inmigrante... Read the full article
Candice Bailey: Not an Activist – an Actionist
Yellowscene - 2/26/2021
An Actionist, she says, is “Resistance against ALL things that oppress through intentional leadership and movement.” And that perspective, that organizing ideology driving her work is why Candice Bailey is a force. Read the full article
Boulder's Motus Theater to hear about immigration from Black Lives Matter founder
Colorado Politics - 2/9/2021
One of the founders of the Black Lives Matter movement, Patrisse Cullors, is joining the Boulder-based Motus Theater on Thursday evening to read the story of an undocumented immigrant. Read the full article
Motus Theater announces podcast performances featuring immigrant stories
Daily Camera - 2/8/2021
This month and the next, prominent Americans will be stepping into the shoes of undocumented leaders during a set of podcast recording performances for the final two episodes of Motus Theater’s Shoebox Stories: UndocuAmerica. Read the full article
16 Colorado arts organizations win federal grant funding
Colorado Politics - 2/4/2021
More than a dozen Colorado arts organizations have been selected to receive federal grant funding, the state Office of Economic Development and International Trade announced. Read the full article
Motus Theater in Boulder offers virtual space to honor legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
9News - 1/18/2021
Motus Theater provides a virtual space for music, poetry and storytelling featured Black Americans speaking out against mass incarceration. Watch the segment
Martin Luther King Jr. Day Goes Virtual
Fox31 - 1/18/2021
Monday, MLK Jr. Day, Motus Theater, in collaboration with the ACLU of CO, is presenting a virtual performance that shows the humanity of us all. Watch the segment
Boulder County DA to read story of formerly incarcerated man for Motus Theater MLK Day performance
Longmont Leader - 1/17/2021
Motus Theater and the American Civil Liberties Union of Colorado will commemorate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in a virtual performance. Read the full article
Motus Theater’s MLK Jr. Day Performances Shine a Spotlight on the Criminal Justice System
5280 - 1/15/2021
The Boulder theater company's virtual production will offer music, slam poetry, and readings of autobiographical monologues penned by formerly incarcerated Coloradans. Read the full article
Congresista “héroe” expone vida de indocumentado mexicano en teatro virtual
Hola News - 1/8/2021
Menos de 24 horas después de haber quedado atrapado durante los violentos disturbios dentro del Capitolio en Washington DC, el congresista demócrata Jason Crow participará este jueves por la noche de una obra de teatro virtual sobre la vida y lucha de un mexicano indocumentado de Colorado. Read the full article
Motus Theater hosting new monologue series to share immigrant stories
Daily Camera - 1/2/2021
Motus Theater is continuing its efforts to use theater as a tool for sparking conversation about immigration and other issues of national importance. Read the full article
Reps. Neguse, Crow to perform a story online in the words of an undocumented immigrant
Colorado Politics - 12/31/2020
U.S. Reps. Joe Neguse of Lafayette and Jason Crow of Aurora have a story to tell next week, but it's not their own. The Democratic freshmen are teaming up to tell the real stories of undocumented immigrants as part of a free online series for the Motus Theater... Read the full article
Colorado congressmen to read story of Longmont undocumented immigrant for Motus event
the Longmont Leader - 12/27/2020
In collaboration with Carne y Arena, a virtual reality experience created by award-winning director Alejandro G. Iñarritu that explores the human condition of immigrants and refugees, Motus Theater is presenting “UndocuMonologues: Stories from our Undocumented Neighbors.” Read the full article
9 Nonprofits to Support on Colorado Gives Day
5280 - 12/7/2020
Close to 3,000 organizations are participating in the annual statewide day of giving—and there's never been a better time to contribute. Read the full article
Law enforcement officials to read personal stories of incarceration as part of JustUs Monologues project
the Longmont Leader - 12/3/2020
Boulder County District Attorney Michael Dougherty, Lafayette Police Operations Cmdr. David Self and Estes Park police Capt. Corey Pass will read the stories of people impacted by the racism and violence within the criminal justice system. Read the full article
Motus Theater: Formerly Incarcerated Monologists in First of Two Companion Performances
yellowscene Mag - 11/18/2020
Motus Theater is bringing JustUs: Stories from the Frontlines of the Criminal Justice System to the virtual stage in two companion performances. Read the full article
Motus Theater presents two virtual performances
Colorado Hometown Weekly - 11/17/2020
Motus Theater is presenting two virtual performances of “JustUs: Stories from the Frontlines of the Criminal Justice System” that will take place on Nov. 19 and Dec. 3. Read the full article
Morning Magazine
KGNU - 10/15/2020
Motus JustUs monologist, Juaquin Mobley joins Maeve Conran to discuss a virtual performance of JustUs in collaboration with Boulder Public Library. Listen to the full interview
Metro Monday
KGNU - 9/14/2020
Tania Chairez joins Maeve Conran to discuss a virtual performance of UndocuAmerica with guests Aviva Chomsky and Natalie Molina. Listen to the full interview
#1622 Talking About Being Undocumented
51% - 8/20/2020
Shoebox Stories: UndocuAmerica podcast episode with Kiara Chavez shared. Listen to the episode
Morning Magazine
KGNU - 6/29/2020
Tania Chairez joins Maeve Conran to discuss the Shoebox Stories podcast for Immigrant Heritage Month. Listen to the full interview
A win, but not the end of the fight
Boulder Weekly - 6/25/2020
Boulder County DACA recipients respond to SCOTUS decision. Read the full article
Pasa La Voz
KGNU - 6/21/2020
Pasa La Voz streams Motus Theater’s Tomando Refugio performance featuring sanctuary leader and poet, Rosa Sabido, and Director of Programa Compañeras at El Centro Amistad, Elena Aranda. Listen to the full interview
The link between racial and environmental injustice
to the point with warren olney - 6/11/2020
Tania Chairez & Alejandro Fuentes-Mena join Warren Only to discuss the upcoming SCOTUS decision on DACA. Listen to the full interview
Motus, Flobots, Robert Johnson and Sound Circle Are "Welcoming the Stranger
westword - 6/7/2020
Motus Theater, which hosts conversations about the critical issues of our time, launches its Welcoming the Stranger series, tonight, Sunday, June 7, at 5 p.m. Read the full article
Welcoming the Stranger: Motus Theater series asks faith leaders to read the stories of undocumented individuals
Boulder Weekly - 6/4/2020
A church in San Diego helped change Alejandro Fuentes-Mena’s life. His mother left 2-year-old Alejandro in Chile to set up a better life for them in the United States. Read the full article
Each breath, each dream and DACA
Boulder Weekly - 6/4/2020
June 15, 2012, was one of the happiest days of my life. It’s the day I finally saw light at the end of the tunnel. Read the full article
109: Dreamers Tania and Alejandro, John Donvan, Dr Ronit Mishori MD
Stand up! with pete Dominick - 5/20/2020
Tania Chairez & Alejandro Fuentes-Mena join Pete to discuss how life has changed during the pandemic. Listen to the full interview
Boulder’s Motus Theater Is Ready To Share Its Activist Art With A National Audience
5280 - 4/1/2020
The group's performances feature local leaders reading monologues written by immigrants and DACA recipients. Read the full article
‘Invisible Lines’
Boulder Weekly - 2/27/2020
On Feb. 27, the day this edition hits newsstands, Rosa Sabido will have been in sanctuary at Mancos United Methodist Church for 1,000 days. That’s two years and seven months inside the small adobe building on Grand Avenue. Read the full article
These undocumented immigrants are creating art to share their American dreams
Washington Post - 2/17/2020
Often, art makes more sense to humans than real life does. When it’s a story — a film, a dance, a podcast, a play, a painting, a song — we are more apt to understand human complexity better, to become united in our love and support of characters. Read the full article
Motus Theater’s national podcast invites the stories of Undocumented Americans into your homes
RedLine Arts Blog - 2/10/2020
The Arts in Society grant in support of the UndocuAmerica Performance & Media Project has been a tremendous catalyst for Motus Theater. From this project, the Shoebox Stories podcast was born and the first three episodes of season one, the UndocuAmerica Series, are now live! Read the full article
CU Fraternity Members Help Amplify Dreamers’ Stories
Colorado Times Reporter - 1/20/2020
Three fraternity men, four “Dreamers” and a University of Colorado history professor were on stage Wednesday night in Boulder’s Dairy Arts Center. Read the full article
Criminal Is A Label. ‘JustUs’ Hopes Instead For Humanity With Stories Told By Former Prisoners
Colorado Public Radio - 1/17/2020
When Juaquin Mobley was in prison, he felt like his humanity was stripped away. The simplest of interactions with staff, even a handshake, would have made a difference. Read the full article
Rewriting the narrative
Boulder Weekly - 1/16/2020
“If you drop an oak tree seed into a concrete world, there’s life inside of that seed. It’s vibrant but it’s not growing, it’s just there dormant,” performer Daniel Guillory muses from the stage. Read the full article
Motus Theater, local luminaries voice undocumented monologists’ stories on stage with ‘Shoebox Stories’
Daily Camera - 1/10/2020
Since 2011, Boulder-based non-profit Motus Theater has brought compelling autobiographical stories of marginalized voices to the forefront. Read the full article
Across Colorado, funding the arts, lifting society
COnfluence - 1/9/2020
Philanthropic foundations are typically known for giving arts grants to big, established organizations like opera companies or symphony orchestras, pillars of the nonprofit community that engage in art for art’s sake. Read the full article
Motus Theater Announces Release of Second UndocuAmerica Series Podcast Episode with Featured Reader Gloria Steinem
My Social Good News - 12/18/2019
Motus Theater, a non-profit organization creating original theater to facilitate dialogue on the critical issues of our time, has announced that Gloria Steinem reads the personal story of a young undocumented woman in the second episode of Shoebox Stories: UndocuAmerica Series. Read the full article
Colorado Creatives: Kirsten Wilson
Westword - 12/16/2019
Kirsten Wilson founded Motus Theater to create change through truthful storytelling. Her company delivers stories from the mouths of the undocumented and the incarcerated, real people about whom we might never otherwise know. Read the full article