Work With Mayan Writer's Collective
At the invitation of Robert Laughlin, anthropologist with the Smithsonian Institution, Ralph Lee went to San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico in February, 1989 to work with the Mayan writer's collective, Sna Jtz ‘Ibajom. Lee traveled there annually for twelve years, each time creating a new theater piece with the group, drawn from their folk material or the current political situation. These works have been performed extensively over the years, within their own communities as well as throughout Mexico, in Honduras, Florida and at the Mexican Museum and Cultural Center in Chicago. In January, 2001, he directed a bi-lingual adaptation of Sna's 2000 play El Origin de Maiz, produced by the outreach program of the LaJolla Playhouse for an eight-week tour of schools and community centers throughout southern California. For his work in Mexico Mr. Lee has received grants from Fideicomiso Para la Cultura Comision Mexico/USA (1993), Arts International (1992, 2002) and DTW's Suitcase Fund (1992).
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