Why I love Milagro: Vicente Guzman-Orozco

Milagro is celebrating its 30th Anniversary season! The love for the company has grown with the years, and we'd like to share some of the stories of patrons, artists, staff and others who gladly say "I love Milagro!" Today we bring you the amorous declarations  of an artist and staff member whose list of credits (and past responsibilities!) reaches back two and a half decades:

Recently I heard José [Gonzalez] describe my first involvement with Milagro, and it almost sounds like someone else's story: a shy but bright teenager discovers professional theatre and is in turn discovered by it.

Few who watched me belt out "La Cucaracha" in The Shrunken Head of Pancho Villa, bear my soul (and body) in Heroes and Saints or sashay through a Marilyn impersonation in Clean, might not believe how timid I was back when I first came to Milagro. The confidence derived from appreciative audiences and the support of the company, which soon gave me my first play writing commission, went very far to help me claim my place in the world as, among other things, an "artivist."

Over these many years Milagro has served as artistic cradle, virtual soapbox, and of course, friendly home for innumerable artists who, like me, aren't always supported or even known by the larger community. The collaborations that emerge sometimes are wonderful universes in themselves.

Is it any wonder I love Milagro?!?

Vicente Guzman-Orozco

Tell us what makes you say "I love Milagro!" Send us your "love story" to marketing@milagro.org and share in our 30 years of love for Latino arts and culture!

I love Milagro: 30 years of YOUR stories

Thirty years.

That's a lot of memories and here at Milagro we are full of'em! From the first few steps that José and Dañel took in creating the company this incredible journey they begun and continue to lead has covered a lot of territory, sometimes literally!

They, and the artists they gathered to support their vision have never been alone, of course, in these three decades. All along, right with us was the ever-important you, the audience.

We want to hear about your side of the journey, whether you remember a production in one of the previous stages that hosted us, or when we first opened El Centro Milagro, or being dragged by a friend to La Luna Nueva and falling in love with Portland's not so secret source for vibrant art and Latinidad.

We are proud of what we do; more than that, we love it. And we want to know why you love Milagro too. Send us a message through e-mail, post, phone or carrier pigeon, and we'll share your love letters throughout this, our 30th Anniversary Season. Write to insider@milagro.org, call 503-236-7253 with your love or questions.

You've been part of the story, now be part of the celebration!