Mighty Vandals Play Offers Free Tickets to At-Risk Groups

By Ruben Hernandez

Free theater tickets for needy, at-risk populations. Help spread the word.

“If you know New Carpa Theater Company, then you know we take very seriously the fact that we are a “community” theater company,” said James E. Garcia, New Carpa Theater founder/artistic director. “So, per our frequent practice, we want to offer blocks of complimentary tickets to at-risk populations, youth groups, shelters, foster homes, etc. We have some seats set aside for upcoming performances of The Mighty Vandals in Peoria Oct. 4-6.”

 If you know young people or others who might not ever get a chance to see live theater, now’s your chance to help us find them. This original play about the championship team from the small town of Miami, Arizona is play is good for the whole family. See newcarpa.org for details. Email us at info@newcarpa.org or call us at 623-252-2772. And thanks to the CALA Alliance for supporting this production.www.newcarpa.org.

About the Show:

The undefeated Mighty Vandals of Miami, AZ won the 1951 state basketball championship, breaking nine national and 18 state records along the way. The team’s players were unlikely hoop champs. Three years before the U.S. Supreme Court ended school segregation, the squad of mostly Latino teens were local celebrities by day but by night they returned to their poor, segregated neighborhoods where at the local YMCA they weren’t allowed to use the swimming pool, except on Sundays, the day the pool was drained. Still, they triumphed. This new play by James E. Garcia tells an all-too-true story from the not so distant past.

“The Mighty Vandals”

Written by James E. Garcia

Directed by Janet Arnold

Oct. 4-6, Peoria Center for the Performing Arts, Peoria, AZ, 8355 W Peoria Ave  Peoria, AZ 85345

Showtimes: Oct. 4, 5 at 7:30 p.m. and Oct. 6 at 2 p.m.