This month at the Mexican Heritage Plaza, Teatro Visión will present The House on Mango Street, the beloved coming-of-age novel by Sandra Cisneros, adapted for the stage by Amy Ludwig. Directed by Adam Mendez and No’eau Kahalekulu, this annual youth production features a talented cast of local young actors and promises a heartfelt, vibrant theatrical experience for audiences of all ages.
Director Adam Mendez shares, “The House on Mango Street is a story full of dreams, resilience, and identity—brought to life by young performers who deeply connect with the spirit of Esperanza and her neighborhood. We want audiences to feel the beauty, hope, and determination that live within these characters and within our own communities.”
Sandra Cisneros’ novel has become a cornerstone of Chicanx literature, resonating with readers across generations. The story follows 12-year-old Esperanza, whose house on Mango Street is small and confining, but whose dreams are vast and full of hope. Through a series of lyrical vignettes, Esperanza shares her world—one filled with hardship, joy, discovery, and an unyielding desire for a better future.
In the words of Teatro Visión Artistic Director Rodrigo García, “Esperanza’s voice speaks to the struggle for belonging and the search for identity. The House on Mango Street continues to inspire because it captures, with honesty and poetry, what it means to dream beyond one’s circumstances.”
In conjunction with the production, Teatro Visión also launches Poetry. Power. Place., a community poetry project developed in partnership with Silver Creek High School and the Culture Counts Reading Series at San José State University. Through creative workshops, community members explore themes of home, culture, and resilience, creating original poetry that will be shared at performances of the show as well as a culminating public reading event. This initiative reflects Teatro Visión’s commitment to building community through art and storytelling.
The production will be presented in English, with projected supertitles in both English and Spanish to ensure accessibility for bilingual audiences.
The House on Mango Street performances run May 15–18, 2025, at the Mexican Heritage Plaza Theater. Showtimes are Thursday to Saturday at 7:00 PM, with matinees on Saturday and Sunday at 2:00 PM. Special performances include a College Night on Thursday, May 15, a Student Matinee on Friday, May 16 at 11:00 AM, and a Pride Night celebration on Friday evening.
As with all Teatro Visión productions, tickets are offered on a choose-your-own-price basis, ranging from $10 to $40. Learn more and purchase tickets at www.teatrovision.org/thoms.
