AMAL
“Because Castellanos leads them, this is channeled through vivid writing and superb theatrical craft, to reach an unexpected, dizzying grace. Amal could stand proudly on any stage in the world.”
AMAL is a spoken word/theater piece that delves into the impact of war on both combatants and noncombatants as people of color, and shares experiences of veterans adjustment to life after war, as well as that of civilians from war-torn countries.
The piece also explores the search for meaning, purpose, and identity through enlisting in the military, as well as Puerto Rico’s cultural and military heritage. This includes the U.S. military’s bombings of two Puerto Rican towns in 1950, which marked the first time in history that the United States government bombed its own citizens.
The performance is staged in-the-round, with the two lead performers encircling a percussionist symbolically representing a hurricane with original music production by Brimstone127. This symbolizes both the chaos of war and its aftermath. It is also a tribute to the people of Puerto Rico who were devastated by Hurricane Maria in 2017. AMAL was originally developed for MDC Live Arts at Miami Dade College. It premiered during the 2018/2019 season and is currently touring domestically and internationally. The work is funded by the Knight Foundation, National Performance Network (NPN), New England Foundation for the Arts (NEFA), National Ensemble of Theaters (NET), and the MAP Fund.
View article from Culture View Miami
Forever War – Combat Hippies and
Teo Castellanos Fight for Hope in “Amal”
by JORDAN LEVIN