Luchadora! - First Stage

A P R IL
,
9 - 24 201 5
enrichment guide
Sponsored by:
This program is supported in part by a grant from the Milwaukee Arts Board
and the Wisconsin Arts Board with funds from the state of Wisconsin.
INSIDE THE GUIDE
SETTING THE STAGE
A NOTE TO TE ACHERS AND PARENTS
preparing for the play
Synopsis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3–6
About the Playwright. . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Recommended Reading. . . . . . . . . . 7
Pre-Show Questions. . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
FOR TEACHERS
Curriculum connections
before or after the play
Historical Information
on Lucha Libre Wrestling. . . . . . . . 8–9
ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS/
VISUAL ART
Create Your Own
Lucha Libre Mask. . . . . . . . . . . . 10–11
Folktales Crossing Cultures . . . . . . . 13
The Making of a Hero. . . . . . . . . 17–18
LUCHADORA!
Dear Educators,
First Stage honored to produce the world premiere of LUCHADORA!, written by Milwaukee playwright, Alvaro Saar Rios. A story of a young girl's journey to save the honor of her family, and
inspired by the Ancient Chinese folktale of Mulan, LUCHADORA! explores themes of courage,
identify, family and determination. Join Lupita as she becomes immersed in the world of Lucha
Libre wresting, and gains profound insight about her Mexican-American culture, family history,
and personal strength and convictions.
Enclosed in this enrichment guide is a range of materials and activities intended to help you
discover connections within the play through the curricula. It is our hope that you will use the
experience of attending the theater and seeing LUCHADORA! with your students as a teaching tool. As educators and parents, you know best the needs and abilities of your students. Use
this guide to best serve your children—pick and choose, or adapt, any of these suggestions for
discussions or activities. We encourage you to take advantage of the enclosed student worksheets— please feel free to photocopy the sheets for your students, or the entire guide for the
benefit of other teachers.
MATH/GEOGRAPHY
Mapping Lupita’s Journey . . . . . . . . 12
Enjoy the show!
SCIENCE/SOCIAL EMOTIONAL
The Science of Goal Setting. . . . . . . 14
SOCIAL STUDIES
Migrant Farm Workers. . . . . . . . 15–16
Julia Magnasco
Education Director
(414) 267-2971
[email protected]
CURTAIN CALL
Post-Show Questions . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Who Said It? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Who Said it? (ANSWERS) . . . . . . . . 20
FIRST STAGE POLICIES
• The use of recording equipment and cameras are not permitted during
the performance.
• Food, drink, candy and gum are not permitted during the performance.
• Electronic devices are not permitted in the theater space.
• Should a student become ill, suffer an injury or have another problem, please
escort him or her out of the theater space.
• In the unlikely event of a general emergency, the theater lights will go on
and the stage manager will come on stage to inform the audience of the problem.
Remain in your seats, visually locate the nearest exit and wait for the stage manager to guide your group from the theater.
Seating for people with special needs: If you have special seating needs for any
student(s) and did not indicate your need when you ordered your tickets, please call
our Assistant Patron Services Manager at (414) 267-2962. Our knowledge of your
needs will enable us to serve you better upon your arrival to the theater.
SE T TING THE STAGE SYNOPSIS
As our story begins, a teenager named Vanessa tells us about
her Nana Lupita, a storyteller who favors lucha libre, stories about
wrestling. As she speaks, the stories come alive. We see two masked
wrestlers and children wearing masks while riding their bikes.
The youth had never heard of the Mascara Rosa or “Pink Mask.” With
this they decide whether to ride bikes or more wrestling. Wrestling!
Leopold and Lupita wrestle until Lupita’s father calls for her. Lupita’s
dad doesn’t allow her to watch wrestling. The youth snatch off their
masks. Senor Guerrero walks toward them with a briefcase and
calla lilies. They all greet and chat about summer break and bike
riding. Before riding off, father asks Lupita to drop his briefcase off
to Senora Ramirez at 5529 Petty Street. Leo knows where to go
and will accompany Lupita. Senora will repair the broken briefcase
filled with papers.
Nana Lupita’s stories mix with other stories. To hear the stories you
had to bring Nana Lupita something because stories are gifts and
you should be willing to share with the storyteller. People would bring
her ginger snaps, tamales or a wrestling program card. Vanessa
would bring flowers, calla lilies and hear stories about living in
Milwaukee and growing up in Texas. Her favorite story is about how
Nana Lupita came here.
Promising to take care of the briefcase, the youth are on their
way. They will return and assist father with loading the calla lilies.
Lupita calls, “Don’t start without me.” Father won’t because his
back is in pain. Still, he hopes to sell more flowers than Senora
Lopez or Mr. Turnoski. Lupita does, too because she would like a
new bike. Father says he’ll think about it and we’ll see, which to
Lupita means, “No.”
Nana Lupita is not sure if it was 1952, 1953 or 1954 but it was the
end of the Korean War. Vanessa sorts through Nana’s newspaper
clippings and finds the headline July 27, 1953, “Eisenhower ends
the war.” As she speaks, Lupita, Leopold (Leo) and Natalie appear
wearing wrestling masks.
Lupita has Leo in a headlock and tells him to give up. He refuses
and Lupita lifts one of his pinky fingers. Leo taps out. Natalie
declares Lupita the winner in a record one minute and 49 seconds.
World Champion!
Nana Lupita describes how she and her friends rode through
Houston waving at their neighbors, being chased by stray dogs,
passing the bakery with sweet smells and singing, “The eyes of Texas
are upon you…” They rode past the park, empty houses, empty lots
and trees tied with yellow ribbons. But, Lupita stopped at the railroad
tracks. Her friends wonder why. She says, “Father always said to not
go past the tracks.” Today, he is sending her to an address that is
over there. Bravely she and her friends ride on. They converse about
Leo and Natalie’s sister. She has been in the army almost a year and
has not written. Natalie writes letters. Their parents won’t post an
address or talk about it because they didn’t want her to go to the
army. A little melancholy, the freinds lift their spirits by singing, “Freut
Euch Des Lebens (Enjoy life),” and ride away!
Leo tells the girls about El Hijo’s latest message over the television.
El Hijo announced that his father, the great Dragon Azul, passed has
died and he will fulfill his father’s legacy to defeat every luchador that
ever challenged him. Dragon Azul will defeat the Mascara Rosa,
“Come out, come out wherever you are!”
Nana Lupita tells Vanessa how as a child she wondered what
was on the other side of the tracks. Friends at school described
people who lived over there as mean. Crossing the tracks, Lupita
was surprised to find everything was much like her side of the
tracks only the houses and cars were shinier, brighter and newer.
Finding the address, Lupita and her friends entered a white house
with a purple door. Inside they found a room full of masks and
boys trying them on!
Leo and Lupita were elated by the sights, but Natalie screamed!
The kids gathered around a life-sized poster of “El Hijo,” the
badest, meanest and cheaetingest wrestler of all. One boy
said he had unmasked over 100 wrestlers. In fact, 167! The
boys continued to talk excitedly about Mascara Rosa, the best
luchador ever! Natalie asks what luchador mean. A mature voice
answers, “A wrestler! A warrior!”
The boys called the person the Mask Maker. The Mask Maker sniffed
the air and smelled the calla lilies saying they fill the soul with pure
sunshine. Leopold informed everyone that Lupita’s father grows
them. Lupita is so used to the fragrance, she no longer smells the
calla lilies. The boys run off calling, “There are more masks in back.”
When Senora Ramirez welcomes the friends to her house of masks
and says, she knows why Lupita’s father sent her. Lupita gives
3
SE T TING THE STAGE SYNOPSIS
Senora Ramirez the briefcase. Leopold asks if the senora made all of
the masks. She answers, “Every one. Feel the stiches which are all
made by hand, from my heart.” Leo asks if she made El Hijo’s mask.
She did and others from everywhere from Texas, New York, Chicago,
Los Angeles to Mexico City!
from funny looking bricks. Another is of a luchador. Father says it is
the Mascara Rosa, the only lucha libre to wear a bright pink mask.
Mother liked Mascara Rosa because the luchador was fast in the
match. All the fans loved this!
The box contained many newspaper articles on the Mascara Rosa.
Then one headline reads, “Extra! Extra! Mascara Rosa disappears
from wrestling.” Lupita asks her father if he’d heard El Hijo’s
challenge to Mascara Rosa. Did he believe Mascara Rosa would
accept? Father answers, “Yes. When someone makes a challenge
you must accept.” Lupita begs her father to attend the match, even
tough she is not allowed to watch it on TV. Father just tells her to
finish the flowers while he goes to rest.
Curious, Leopold asks if she could tell who the wrestlers are in real
life. She could, but never would because the identity of a luchador is
a family secret that must be protected. Suddenly they hear the sound
of boys arguing with Natalie who had beaten one the boys in thumbwrestling. She is being challenged. The Mask Maker suggests Leo
go and assistance her. The Mask Maker asks Lupita to stay.
Lupita is surprised the Mask Maker knows her name. She had been
expecting a visit from Lupita, who appeared to her in a vision. In the
vision, Lupita goes travel far away to a city that is near lots of water
and buildings with cream-colored bricks. Lupita says she isn’t going
anywhere. She will spend the summer with her father selling flowers.
Senora Ramirez answers, “One can never predict the journey ahead
of them.” She also tells Lupita she looks like her mother. The two
met a few times when her mother would drop off the suitcase. The
Mask maker remembers her mother’s favorite luchador… Mascara
Rosa! Lupita wants to ask more questions, but Leo is calling and
the Mask Maker says, “No more questions. No more answers. Come
again soon.” As they leave. Leo explains the boys are angry because
Natalie beat them all at thumb-wrestling.
Nana Lupita says she remained awake all night, looking the pictures.
Vanessa asked about the bricks and the familiar looking church.
Nana Lupita says she if the picture was in color, the bricks would look
cream-colored. Now, Vanessa remembers what the Mask Maker
said about the city of cream colored bricks, Milwaukee! Nana Lupita
says, “You are very smart. Just like your mother.” As the two stare at
the picture, Nana Lupita’s story continues.
The girls are riding their bikes and singing, Lupita carries her father’s
briefcase. Natalie shares that she and Leo have their sister Molly’s
address! Their dad only kept if from them because he was angry that
Molly joined the army. They agree parents are hard to understand.
Nana Lupita takes a break from story and asks Vanessa if she gets
mad when she loses to a boy. Vanessa says she gets mad when
she loses to anyone. Nana Lupita could never understand why boys
hate to lose to a girl, “We are all humans and like to win. We all have
ganas, the drive to win.” Vanessa asks it the city of cream colored
bricks was real. Nana Lupita answers, “Very real.” She also wants to
know if Nana went there, but must wait to hear the rest of the story.
The angry boys chased Lupita and her friends for five or six blocks
calling them names like Kraut and dirty Mexican. The friends did not
stop running until they were safe in their own neighborhood. Now,
they understood what “the other side of the tracks” meant. Those
angry words weren’t new, they heard them on their own side of the
tracks, too.
Father was heard singing, “FLOR DE MI VIDA,” in their garden as
Lupita arrived home. He was sitting on ground, falling after trying to
lift a crate of flowers. Lupita tried to help him stand, but he couldn’t
due to back pain. Lupita sat next him recounted her day of delivering
the suitcase, being chased by the boys and Mascara Rosa. She
asks her father, “Who is Mascara Rosa?” Father wonders why she
asks. Lupita says the senora mentioned him and he was mother’s
favorite luchador. Father says the senora talks too much and doesn’t
know what she is saying, but agrees about the luchador being
mother’s favorite.
Lupita asks why father doesn’t talk about her mother or share
pictures of her. He is silent as successfully helps him up. Father
leaves and returns carrying a shoebox. It is filled her mother’s
pictures. Lupita looks at the photos. Senora is right, Lupita looks like
her mother. A photo taken in Milwaukee, WI shows a church made
4
SE T TING THE STAGE SYNOPSIS
Leo rides to them announcing the news he helped dad work on
the truck! Natalie thinks it unfair that she had to do housework. Leo
says girls don’t work on trucks. Lupita tell Leo she works with her
dad on his trunk! Humph! Now, for Leo’s really big news, “Macara
Rosa has accepted El Hijo’s challenge!” The match will take place
in Milwaukee, WI because 14 years ago the Mascara Rosa never
showed for a match with his father that was to take place in that
city. How the friends would love to be there for the match and to
see the loser unmasked! Full of dreams, they get ready to race
home for supper, when the briefcase catches Leo’s eye. He is
curious about its contents, but Lupita honors her father’s wishes
and does not open it.
eventually died. Lupita was only 2 years old. Mascara Rosa was a no
show and seemed to disappear to the wrestling world. This is why
El Hijo believes he must meet with his father’s nemesis and father
feels he must meet the challenge. Suddenly, Lupita has an idea and
announces she will fulfill her mother’s wish.
Nana Lupita described her father’s silence as lasting what seemed
like a million hours, but his face did not seem surprised. Father knew
the day would come when Lupita would want to follow in her mother’s
footsteps. He asked Lupita to come to him and kneel before him.
The Mask Maker brought him the Mascara Rosa. Placing the mask
on his daughter, father passed on the mask, “You shall be known as
the son of the great luchador, Mascara Rosa. Rising, Lupita vows
to make her parents proud! Father told her it would not be easy and
she must find a trainer. At this the Mask Maker says, “I’ll train her.”
The Mask Maker is from a family of luchadores. Father agrees and
Lupita is already talking of victory! Lupita is anxious to tell her friends,
but father reminds her, “This is a family secret you must protect.”
When she arrives home, Lupita rushes in to tell her father about the
grudge match. He is not home. She looks are the briefcase and
the temptation is too much. She carefully opens it and finds a slip
of paper that reads, “Pfister Hotel.” Vanessa interrupts Nana Lupita
saying, “Your dad was going to take you to see the big match. That’s
what the Mask Maker meant… Oh, your dad was Mascara Rosa?”
Nana Lupita confirms this and asks, “If someone you love was in
danger, what would you do?”
After waiting for hours for her dad, Lupita decided to search for him
at Senora Ramirez’s home. She found his truck parked outside.
Running inside, she calls her father. Lupita is interrupted by one the
mean boys who asks about her friends. He explains he doesn’t hang
around those mean kids anymore and wants Natalie to teach him
to thumb wrestle like her. Lupita promises to send his message to
Natalie and the boy leaves.
The first day of training with Senora Ramirez was less than a month
before the big match. Lupita showed off her skills, which were not
wrestling moves. When the Mask Maker stomped Lupita’s foot and
pinned her, she cried, “You cheated.” Senora tells her El Hijo will do
worse, anything to win. Unmask you! If Lupita is unmasked, she
will be disqualified because she is not a male. Masks are passed
from father to son. Disqualified wrestlers have their names erased
from the history books and their masks burned. Now, Senora
teaches a determined Lupita how to fall without injuring herself,
“Otra vez. Again…”
When the Mask Maker appears, Lupita asks where her dad is. She
says he is trying on his old tights and will be right out. Lupita is upset
the Mask Maker didn’t tell her the secret. The Mask Maker says,
“Only your father could tell you the family secret.”
At the famer’s market Father sings while sells flowers. Leo and
Natalie ask for Lupita. Father tells them she is running an errand and
will be gone away a while. He promises to tell Lupita they stopped by.
Before they leave, Leo leaves a package for Lupita.
Lupita is adamant her father cannot wrestle El Hijo and plans to
stop him. When her father emerges from the dressing room, he
asks Lupita, “What are you doing here?” Lupita begs him not to
wrestle. The Mask Maker says he should explain to his daughter
why. Father says, “This is between my daughter and me.” The
Mask Maker threatens to tell. As father tells Lupita to go home, he
feels a sharp pain and falls to the ground. Safely seated, father tells
Lupita the truth.
The Mask Maker teaches Lupita how to bounce against the ropes.
When they break, father tells Lupita that Senora Ramirez trained her
mother, too. He gives Lupita the packaged left by Leo and Natalie.
It is an invitation to Leo’s 14th birthday party. Senora announces,
“Back to practice. Elbow drops.” Lupita is anxious to wrestle but not
until she learns the basics.
It is less than a week before the match. As they continue training,
Lupita and the Senora talk about Lupita’s mother. The Mask Maker
says that both mother and daughter are hardheaded or what Lupita
calls, “Driven.” The Mask Maker learned to wrestle by watching her
father train her brother. She was angry her father wouldn’t train girls
and volunteered to train Lupita’s mother.
Father and mother were migrant workers. After Lupita was born,
Father wrestled to earn extra money. He was a terrible wrestler
because of the demands of the field work. Wrestlers would challenge
him for an easy win. The Midwest champ challenged him to a top
match in Chicago, but his back was bad shape. So, her mother went
in his place and won the match!
The training day ends and Lupita jumps on her bike to catch-up
with Leo and Natalie. They share good news about their sister’s
twenty-paged letter. Leo also says they are angry because Lupita
has been out-of-touch for weeks and wont’ tell why. Natalile tells
Lupita she missed Leo’s birthday party. Lupita doesn’t apologize,
“I’ve got a lot I’m dealing with.” Disappointed, Leo and Natalie
speed off on their bikes.
The victorious match made the headlines, “Extra… Mascara Rosa
pins The Manipulator in Five Minutes Flat!” Mother loved wrestling
and wanted more matches. Since Father’s back was still in pain,
she continued to take his place, 50 wins in a row. Mascara Rosa
became state champ in four states, including Wisconsin, more
than most wrestlers over a lifetime! She was challenged by El Hijo’s
father when mother was diagnosed with cancer, kept it secret and
5
SE T TING THE STAGE SYNOPSIS
With the training complete, the Mask Maker and Father watch
Lupita’s first match. It is an exhibition match against DE COLORES.
Lupita wrestles, wins and unmasks her opponent. It is Leopold! He
puts his back on his mask and runs off.
that Leo and Natalie are in on the family secret. Father guessed as
much because Mother struggled with keeping the secret, too. After
picking up the friends, father drove over twenty hours to Milwaukee
for the big match. The three friends sat in the bed of the truck singing,
“CIELITO LINDO” and passing fields where mother and father would
pick crops. They talked about famous wrestlers, especially the lady
wrestler Mildred Burke, who didn’t have to hide her identity as in
the very traditional Lucha libre which says only men vs. men and
women vs. women. Vanessa interrupted the story with thoughts of
her playing for the Green Bay Packers. Nana Lupita says, “Anything
can happen.”
Nana Lupita say the days before the match were like a blur but she
remembers El Hijo’s big press conference announcing the match in
Cream City against Mascara Rosa. Lupita ran to the Mask maker
who asked her to leave, “You’re wasting my time. You are four hours
late. Your mother would never have done so.” Lupita exclaimed she
was not her mother. There is something else. Lupita dreamt of an
opponent that turns out to be Leo when the mask is pulled off. As
she speaks, Leo and Natalie are there. Lupita apologizes for being
a horrible friend and reveals her mother was Mascara Rosa. Lupita
tells him she will wrestle in Milwaukee. When they don’t believe her,
she pulls out her mask. She proclaims how special a friend Leo I and
the Mask maker tells her to get dressed to begin practice. Time is
short and she must not . tell father the family secret has been shared.
They all hug and agree. Senora advises, “When El Hijo asks, “Are you
ready,” say, “You bet I am!”
When they reach St. Louis, Leo says his great-grandparents settled
there after leaving Germany, “We have lots of relatives there.” There
are many farms in Illinois where Father and Mother worked in the sun
and rain picking corn, cucumbers, strawberries, etc. Sometimes they
did not get paid. When they protested, the police would come with
dogs and rifles. This is why lucha libre became their dream.
Finally they arrive in Milwaukee and see all kind of buildings including
lots of churches. One church is made of cream colored bricks.
Father takes a picture of Lupita, Natalie and Leo in front of it. The
big match is today, July 27, 1953 at the Eagle’s Club. After the big
announcement, the match of the evening begins. The only sons of
El Hijo and Mascara Rosa wrestle. The reigning champ shows off
his belt as the referee checks for foreign objects. The bell rings and
the match begins. After many classic wrestling moves, there is an
elbow drop and El Hijo is down. The referee hits the mat three times.
Mascara Rosa is the World Champion in lucha libre!
It is time to travel to Milwaukee, but Senora isn’t coming because
she isn’t feeling well. Anyways, the truck would be too cramped
since Leo and Natalie are coming to Milwaukee! Senora told father
During the unmasking ceremony Lupita wanted to untie her own
mask, but she keeps her secret and El Hijo’s, too. She brought the
championship belt home to share with Senora Ramirez, then retired.
Lupita sent the belt back but it never reached its destination, “Lost
in the mail.”
As our story closes we learn that Nana Lupita has passed away. In
her memory, she leaves Vanessa the box of pictures, newspaper
articles and… the World Championship Belt! Vanessa says,” Nana
was a great storyteller and a great keeper of secrets.”
6
ABOUT THE PLAYWRIGHT: Alvaro Saar Rios
Alvaro Saar Rios writes, directs, tells stories and sometimes acts. He holds an MFA in
Writing for the Stage & Screen from Northwestern University and is the co-founder of the
national touring performance troupe The Royal Mexican Players. Mr. Rios is the author of
many plays including WELCOME TO MILWAUKEE/BIENVENIDOS A MILWAUKEE, ONE
HOT TEXICAN SUMMER, and THE CRAZY MEXICAN SHOW. He has been commissioned
to create work for various national organizations including Houston Grand Opera, The Alley
Theatre(TX), United Community Center, and Houston Community College. His work has
been performed in New York City, Hawaii, California, Chicago, Milwaukee, and all over Texas!
Mr. Rios is proud to be teaching playwriting as an Assistant Professor at UW-Milwaukee.
Currently, he is working on a "recycling musical" for The Zoological Society of Milwaukee and
directing a staged reading of 500 YEARS written by his lovely wife Michelle Lopez-Rios.
http://www.royalmexicans.com/los-members/
RECOMMENDED READING
Mulan: A Story in Chinese and English Hardcover, by Li Jian (Author), Yijin Wert (Translator)
Niño Wrestles the World, by Yuyi Morales
Pancho Rabbit and the Coyote: A Migrant's Tale, by Duncan Tonatiuh
Girls Who Rocked the World: Heroines from Joan of Arc to Mother Teresa,
by Michelle Roehm McCann and Amelie Welden
Real Kids, Real Stories, Real Change: Courageous Actions
Around the World, by Garth Sundem
Maximilian & the Mystery of the Guardian Angel: A Bilingual
Lucha Libre Thriller (Max's Lucha Libre Adventures),
by Xavier Garza
The Tequila Worm, by Viola Canales
Juventud! Growing up on the Border: Stories and Poems,
by Rene Saldana Jr.
PRE-SHOW QUESTIONS
1. Has your family always lived in Wisconsin? If not, where did they reside before moving here?
2. Does your family share a tradition in a sport, business or craft ? If so, what is it?
3. Have you ever been told you may not participate in an activity because of you are not the right gender? If so,
how did you respond?
4. What does it mean to be a hero? What are some traits of a hero? How are the people in your family heroic in
their actions and words?
7
HISTORICAL INFORMATION
ON LUCHA LIBRE WRESTLING
Taken directly from: Maska Lucha, http://maskalucha.com/history-of-lucha-libre.aspx
HISTORY OF LUCHA LIBRE
The History of Lucha Libre is intertwined with the history of Mexico, mass media, and entertainment in general. Its following, both in Mexico and other countries, has made it the most popular
sport after soccer in a country of 100 million people, and an integral part of pop culture.
EARLY BEGINNINGS
In the early 1900’s, Mexico was in the middle of a Revolution against the current dictatorship
of Porfirio Díaz. As with many times of war, the public looked for
diversions to distract them from the every day realities of the fighting around them. Two Italian businessmen, Giovanni Reselevich y
Antonio Fournier began promoting fights, in which opponents fought
each other hand to hand, without weapons or protection. These
fights were known as Lucha Libre, or ‘free fight’, and were notorious
for their lack of regulations and violence inflicted upon the luchadores,
or fighters.
While common belief is that this fighting style was originally introduced by the French during the invasion of 1863, it wasn’t until this
time when Reselevich and Fournier where developing a cross-town
rivalry between their respective promotion companies, that Lucha
Libre began to develop large followings throughout many parts of
the country.
FATHER OF LUCHA LIBRE
In 1929, Salvador Lutteroth González, was working in
the United States where he began attending professional
wrestling matches in El Paso, Texas. It was there that he
became fascinated with the sport, especially the colorful personalities of the wrestlers, and decided to bring the
sport to his home country of Mexico.
In 1933, together with partner Francisco Ahumada,
González founded the Empresa Mexicana de Lucha Libre
(EMLL) in Mexico City. After being turned down by larger
arenas, the EMLL presented its first card in Arena Modelo,
which had previously been scheduled for demolition, and
had already been partially dismanteled. Instead, the 5000
seat arena became the first home of modern Lucha Libre,
and within a year, the EMLL was selling out events and
looking for larger venues the EMLL, now called the Consejo
Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) is the longest running active
professional promotion company in the world. Its current
8
HISTORICAL INFORMATION
ON LUCHA LIBRE WRESTLING
Taken directly from: Maska Lucha, http://maskalucha.com/history-of-lucha-libre.aspx
home is the 16,000 seat Arena Mexico in Mexico City, considered the Mecca of professional
wrestling in Mexico.
ENTER LOS ENMASCARADOS
The use of mascaras, or Lucha Libre masks, had been a part of Lucha Libre since its inception,
however, it wasn’t popularized until the introduction of Santo, El Enmascarado de Plata, or “Saint,
the Silver Masked Man”. Santo made his debut in summer 1942, and quickly captured the public’s fascination with his fighting ability and mysterious secret identity.
Santo is clearly the greatest luchador of all time. Other contemporaries of great popularity
include Blue Demon, Dr. Wagner, Solitario, Mil Máscaras, Rolando Vera, Anibal, Ray Mendoza,
Rayo de Jalisco, and more.
UNIQUE ASPECTS OF MEXICAN WRESTLING:
LUCHA LIBRE MASKS
A popular part of a Mexican wrestler’s persona is his
or her mascara, or lucha libre mask. The masks play
an important part of the storyline, and can also provide
some anonymity in a country enthralled by the sport of
Mexican wrestling.
Most all luchadores start their careers as masked wrestlers. They may even put their masks, and identities, on
the line in a fight of Mask vs. Hair, or mascaras contra
cabello, in which the loser loses his mask or gets his
head shaved, depending on whether he wrestles with a
mask or not.
LUCHA LIBRE STYLE OF WRESTLING
Lucha Libre is also unique from professional wrestling
promotions in the United States and Europe in that the
wrestlers usually have smaller physiques and the wrestling moves are more aerial and high-flying, as opposed
to the power moves popular in the US. The lighter
weight division, or peso semicompleto, is the most
popular in Mexico, and feature technical and acrobatic
skills unparalleled in other countries.
9
CREATE YOUR OWN LUCHA LIBRE MASK
English Language Arts/Visual Art Classroom Activity
Template taken directly from: Happy Thought, https://happythought.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/lucha-libre-paper-masks-.pdf, 2013.
One of the most distinct characteristics in Lucha Libre wrestling is the
mask. The mask allows the luchador to assume a symbolic character
and deny his identity to his opponent. The mask is an extension of
the luchador’s personality and the longer a wrestler stays masked, the
more legendary he becomes. At the end of a Lucha Libre wrestling
match, the wrestler who looses must take off his mask and show his
true identify to his opponent and audience. The moment of unmasking is the point of highest dramatic tension in Lucha Libre.
SYMBOLS IN LUCHA LIBRE MASKS
Masks are colorfully designed to suggest images of animals, gods,
ancient heroes, and other archetypes, whose identity the luchador
takes on during a performance.
As a class, brainstorm a list of different images, symbols, animals and heroes students may wish to see
represented on a Lucha Libre mask. Discuss the feelings each image evokes, and what this would tell
an audience about the personality and character of the luchador. Use the table below to get started:
Animal/Symbol/Hero
Character & Personality
Snake
Zeus
Tiger
Venus
Fire
Water
Next, have students choose a luchador identity and use the following template to have students create
their own Lucha Libre mask. When they have completed their mask, have students cut out their mask
and present their luchador identity to the class. Students should share:
•their luchador name
•the symbolism behind their mask
•their luchador’s personality
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CREATE YOUR OWN LUCHA LIBRE MASK
English Language Arts/Visual Art Classroom Activity
Template taken directly from: Happy Thought, https://happythought.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/lucha-libre-paper-masks-.pdf, 2013.
11
MAPPING LUPITA’S JOURNEY
Math/Geography Student Worksheet
Map image taken directly from: Enchanted Learning, http://members.enchantedlearning.com/geography/followinstructions/usa/index.shtml, ©1996-2012
ACTIVITY
1.Label the compass rose N, S, E, and W.
2.Find and label the following cities:
• Milwaukee, WI
• St. Louis, MS
• Chicago, IL
• Houston, TX
3.Trace the path from Houston to St. Louis to Chicago to Milwaukee.
4.Approximately how many miles are between Milwaukee and Houston?
5.If it takes 1 hour to drive 70 miles, how many hours would it take to travel from Houston to St. Louis?
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FOLK TALES CROSSING CULTURES
English Language Arts Classroom Activity
Based on a folktale from medieval China, Mulan is the story of a girl who disguises herself as a man
and goes to war in place of her father. A folktale is a story passed down through generations, mainly by
re-telling. The story of Luchadora! is based on the folktale of Mulan. Mulan is set in Ancient China
and Luchadora! embodies Mexican-American culture and is set in America in the 1950s.
After seeing First Stage’s production of Luchadora!, read the story of Mulan and compare and
contrast the two stories. Use the table and the following prompts to further explore the stories:
• Where does this story take place? When does it take place?
• Who is the main character? What other characters are in the story?
• What is the problem in the story?
• Why is the health of the father character an important factor in the story?
• What did the main character want to do in the story?
• How is the problem solved?
• How did the main character show determination?
• How did the main character prepare to obtain her goal?
• In the main character’s community, how are women expected to behave?
• Who changed their perspective/attitude about the main character and what she accomplished?
MULAN
MULAN & LUCHADORA!
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LUCHADORA!
THE SCIENCE OF GOAL SE T TING
Science/Social Emotional Learning Classroom Activity
Adapted from: Classroom Champions, http://www.classroomchampions.org/files/Lesson_McCradyGoalSetting_Sept2013.pdf, 2012.
Begin with a class discussion on Goal Setting, using the following prompts:
• What is a goal? Why are they important?
• Why do we set goals?
• Are there different types of goals?
• How do we reach the goals we set?
• How do we know we’ve achieved our goals?
• How are the goals we set different from the goals Lupita set in Luchadora!? How are they the same?
Provide students with the tools to identify goals and monitor their progress:
_________________________________________________________________________________________
SETTING GOLD GOALS
My personal goal is to _____________________________________________________________________ .
G – Gainful What will I gain from this goal? Why is it meaningful to me?
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
O – Organize What are the shot and long term steps I need to take to accomplish my goal?
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
L – Logistics What do I need to help me accomplish my goal? Who can help me achieve this goal?
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
D – Determination Work on your goal every day and monitor your goal daily.
Date
Reflection of the Progress I’m Making
14
Next Steps I Need to Take
MIGRANT FARM WORKERS
Social Studies Teacher Information
Taken directly from: http://www.extension.org/pages/Migrant_Farm_Workers:_Our_Nation's_Invisible_Population
FARM WORKERS IN THE UNITED STATES
By Eduardo González, Jr., State Diversity Specialist, Cornell University Cooperative Extension Farm
workers in United States
Between 1 and 3 million migrant farm workers leave their homes every year to plant, cultivate, harvest,
and pack fruits, vegetables and nuts in the U.S. Although invisible to most people, the presence of
migrant farm workers in many rural communities throughout the nation is undeniable, since hand labor
is still necessary for the production of the blemish-free fruits and vegetables that consumers demand
WHO ARE MIGRANT FARM WORKERS?
Migrant farm workers are predominantly Mexican-born sons,
husbands, and fathers who leave what is familiar and comfortable with the hopes and dreams of making enough money to
support their families back home; feed themselves; purchase
land and a home; and – like many immigrants who came
before them – ultimately return to their homeland. While others come from countries such as Jamaica, Haiti, Guatemala,
Honduras, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, and other
states in the United States their aspirations remain the same.
They are young, averaging about 31 years of age. Some arrive
as single men, while others leave their families behind while
they seek work and others travel and work with their families. For those who travel without their families,
once they realize that they will need to maintain their U.S. earning capacity, they would much rather have
their families settle with them in the U.S. More than half of all farm workers – 52 of every 100 – are unauthorized workers with no legal status in the United States.
Many farm workers arrive with solid agricultural skills firmly grounded in practical experience and working
knowledge of agriculture. This expertise is complemented by a strong work ethic, deeply rooted in their
commitment to provide for their families or make it on their own. This is reflected in their willingness to
make considerable sacrifices in order to guarantee a more prosperous future for their extended families,
their children and/or their siblings. These sacrifices range from separation from their countries of origins,
families, and what is familiar to learning to navigate a foreign land where little is known about them and
whose customs, language, foods, and ways of life are different from what they know. In many instances
this new place brings about feelings of alienation and isolation. No longer is La Plaza – a central gathering place in town for community interaction and fellowship in their countries of origin – available to them.
Instead loneliness creeps in for many as they are limited to the boundaries of the farm due in part to limited access to transportation and also to their lack of legal status which reduce their access to neighborhood businesses, services and community activities in general. Fear of being picked up by Immigration
and Naturalization Services (INS) due to their undocumented status causes many farm workers to go into
hiding in the communities that they work and live in and further contributes to the isolation that farm workers routinely experience. So in many ways, Migrant farm workers work in settings that do not mirror those
of the majority of the nation’s working populace.
15
MIGRANT FARM WORKERS
Social Studies Teacher Information
Taken directly from: http://www.extension.org/pages/Migrant_Farm_Workers:_Our_Nation's_Invisible_Population
In spite of these challenges, for many the hopes and
dreams of making more money in the U.S than in their
countries of origin is enough to drive them to make this
enormous sacrifice. Many experience great pride in the
contribution that they make to society through their labor for
they realize their work feeds the world. For these farm workers there is also a sense of accomplishment in their ability to support their families in purchasing homes or going
to school in their home country. For others, their hopes
and dreams do not always materialize to the degree envisioned and promised with 61 percent of U.S. farm workers’
income falling below the poverty level. A median income of
less than $7,500 a year leave many feeling trapped with no
other viable options outside of formwork and with the shame and indignity of returning to their homelands
with less than what they came.
WHY DO THEY COME?
A host of push-pull factors contribute to the overwhelmingly immigrant farm worker labor pool. Some
push factors in farm workers’ countries of origin are economic instability, political unrest, population
growth, land reform shortcomings in rural areas, and scarce employment opportunities. Push factors
that impact immigration patterns vary from country to country and from individual to individual. This is
to say that the circumstances that cause an individual to emigrate from Colombia, South America may
be different from those that cause an indigenous person from the states of Michoacán, Oaxaca, or
Guanajuato in Mexico to come to the United States. A Colombian immigrant fleeing political persecution
and civil unrest seeks asylum as a political refugee, while the indigenous Mexican treks across the desert into the US in search of work and income to support their family back home or just to be able to eat.
Pull factors within the United States include the ongoing desire for a low cost labor force to fill jobs no
longer attractive to US citizens due to low pay, limited or no benefits and/or substandard work conditions. Other more direct pull factors have included federally enacted and administered farm labor programs such as the Bracero contract labor program that recruited workers from Mexico to harvest crops
in the Southwestern United States from 1942 - 1964. Today, larger numbers of Mexican farm workers
have moved into other regions of the country, including the Northeast, through a similar farm labor contract program known as the H-2A agricultural guest worker program enacted by Congress in 1952 and
more widely used when the Bracero program ended in 1964.
THE CHANGING FACE OF IMMIGRANTS
As we continue to grow as a nation of immigrants, we need to make an extraordinary effort to understand
farm workers in their full context. The legacy and lingering effects of living in a divided society have left us
with incomplete, inaccurate and distorted information as to the history, triumphs and contributions of different groups within our society. As a nation built on the sacrifices of many different immigrant groups we
must bear in mind that while the faces of immigrants have changed, their pioneering spirit, courage, determination, ability to thrive, and dreams of securing a better future for their children remain the same.
16
THE MAKING OF A HERO
English Language Arts Classroom Activity
Adapted from: http://learningtogive.org/lessons/unit90/lesson4.html
Begin with a class discussion about heroes. Ask students the following:
• What does it mean to be a hero?
• What heroes can you think of from real life, movies or books?
• What qualities are present in a hero?
Next, ask students what it means to be a celebrity?
• Who are your favorite celebrities?
• What do they do?
• What words would you use to describe a celebrity
VOCABULARY WORDS
celebrity - (noun)
1. A highly visible person, usually recognized for some form of
talent, beauty, or quality.
hero - (noun)
1. Any person admired for great courage, nobility, qualities, or
achievements and regarded as an ideal or model.
leader - (noun)
1. A person that shows the way or directs others.
2. To guide or direct by influence to do something.
3. To be at the first or head of.
charity - (noun)
2. Tolerance or understanding in judging others.
3. The giving of money or other help to needy people.
4. A group or fund organized to help needy people.
role-model - (noun)
1. A person who is usually successful or inspiring in some social
role, job, position, and so serves as a model for others.
service - (noun)
1. The act or work of helping others; aid.
2. Work or employment for someone else.
3. Benefit or use - work that helps other people.
philanthropy - (noun)
1. Private action for the public or common good.
volunteer - (noun)
1. Someone who does a job or gives services freely and usually
without pay.
2. (verb) to give or offer usually without being asked.
Answer the questions and fill in the Venn Diagram on the following page.
HEROES
A hero looks like: (Give examples of physical gestures or body language, i.e. stands tall)
A hero sounds like: (How does he/she talk to others)
A hero does: (What are the actions that heroes do everyday?)
How is a hero expected to behave?
CELEBRITIES
A celebrity looks like: (Give examples of physical traits)
A celebrity sounds like: (How does he/she talk to others, what do they talk about)
A celebrity does: (What jobs do they have?)
How is a celebrity expected to act in public?
17
THE MAKING OF A HERO
English Language Arts Classroom Activity
Adapted from: http://learningtogive.org/lessons/unit90/lesson4.html
HEROES
BOTH
CELEBRITIES
18
WHO SAID IT?
1. Stories are gifts.
2. World Champion. I like the sound of that.
3. You are going on a journey… To the city of bricks.
4. It is my honor to announce that Masca Rosa has accepted my challenge.
5.Mil-wat-eee??!!!
6. One can only run for so long.
7. Lucha libre is very traditional. Fathers only pass their masks down to sons.
8. What are friends for if you can’t share secrets with them?
9. As I said earlier, My Nana was a great storyteller but she was also a great keeper of secrets.
POST-SHOW QUESTIONS
1. Nana Lupita is the keeper of her family’s history. Who is your family historian? What stories do your family elders
share with you, and how do these stories inspire you?
2. Why do you think family value is so important to Lupita? How important is family to you? How do you show the
importance of family in your words and actions?
3. If you could create a wrestling persona, what would you name your self? What colors would you choose for your
mask and why?
4. How did Lupita’s actions bring honor to her family? How did her journey change her and her family?
19
WHO SAID IT? (ANSWERS)
1. Stories are gifts.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
NANA LUPITA
2. World Champion. I like the sound of that. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . LUPITA
3. You are going on a journey… To the city of bricks. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
THE MASK MAKER
4. It is my honor to announce that Masca Rosa has accepted my challenge.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . EL
HIJO
5.Mil-wat-eee??!!! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NATALIE
6. One can only run for so long.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . FATHER
7. Lucha libre is very traditional. Fathers only pass their masks down to sons. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
THE MASK MAKER
8. What are friends for if you can’t share secrets with them?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . LEOPOLD
9. As I said earlier, My Nana was a great storyteller but she was also a great keeper of secrets. . . . . . . . . . . . .
20
VANESSA