San Marcos,
19
April
2016
|
13:39 PM
America/Los_Angeles

Spring Performance Touches on Sexual Abuse

Press Release by Whitney Frasier

A spring drama from the theatre department at California State University San Marcos (CSUSM) titled Policy/La Visita touches on the issue of sexual abuse of minors within the Catholic Church. The short, intense and thought provoking piece will be performed in both Spanish and English beginning Wednesday, April 20.

Based upon a real case, Policy by Antonio Muñoz de Mesa recounts a spirited negotiation in which a clash of values, morality and monetary preoccupation form the substance of a conversation surrounding the Archdiocese insurance policy. Pitting ethics and practicality in an unexpected manner, Policy raises the question of how faith and ethics contradict the need to act on behalf of the powerless.

“The play is a series of conversations between a priest and the insurance agent of the Archdiocese in which the priest wants to include into the insurance policy every incidence of sexual abuse of a minor as a workplace incident,” said Marcos Martinez, a theatre professor in the School of Arts. “Within that conversation the play touches upon issues of morality and the role of the church in the daily life of a community. Ancillary issues include the manner in which the church spends money and the responsibility, or not, that the church is taking for the actions of its priests.”

Attendees can expect to see a well-written play handled competently by student actors in English at CSUSM and in Spanish at the California Center for the Arts in Escondido. The performance will run for approximately one hour.

“I chose this piece because it was well written and recently won an award in New York City at the Thalia Theatre in October,” said Martinez. “The play has been produced in Spain, where the author is from, as well as in Minneapolis and New York City last fall.”

This will be the west coast premiere of a new award winning international drama. The piece runs parallel to the recent Oscar winning film, Spotlight.

English Performances

What: Policy by Antonio Muñoz de Mesa

When: Wednesday, April 20 through Saturday April 23 at 7 p.m.

Sunday, April 24 at 2 and 7 p.m.

Where: California State University

Arts Building, Room 101

Tickets: Tickets for the Policy can be purchased online.

Spanish Performances

What: La Visita by Antonio Muñoz de Mesa

When: Friday, April 29 and Saturday April 30 at 7 p.m.

Sunday, May 1 at 2 p.m.

Where: California Center for the Arts, Escondido

340 N Escondido Blvd, Escondido, Calif. 92025

Theater 1

Tickets: Tickets for La Visita can be purchased online.

Directions and Parking

CSUSM is located at 333 South Twin Oaks Valley Road in San Marcos. For more information or directions to the campus, visit http://www.csusm.edu/guide. Visitors may purchase a daily or timed permit in any general parking lot utilizing the daily permit machines.

About California State University San Marcos

Building on an innovative 25-year history, California State University San Marcos is a forward-focused institution, dedicated to preparing future leaders, building great communities and solving critical issues. Located on a 304-acre hillside overlooking the City of San Marcos, it is the only public four-year comprehensive university serving North San Diego, Southwest Riverside and South Orange Counties.

The university enrolls approximately 14,000 students. With approximately 2,000 employees, the institution is a Great College to Work For® (The Chronicle of Higher Education). As a recipient of the annual HEED Award since 2014—a national honor recognizing U.S. colleges and universities that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion—CSUSM is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment.