Join us in person at The Clarice! Please note that this performance will not be livestreamed.

DC area actor, director and theater educator Alina Collins Maldonado brings her latest work, What to Expect When You're La Virgen, to the Kogod Theatre for a staged reading. A very pregnant Virgen de Guadalupe wakes up on December 12 to work her first feast day as La Virgen. Excited to answer calls for help, she discovers she may not be cut out for the job after receiving overwhelming prayers from mothers and daughters. How can she help them understand their worth when she’s beginning to question her own? Inspired by a series of actual interviews and workshops with Latine mothers and daughters, Alina offers us a bilingual solo performance examining the cultural expectations and patterns passed down through generations of Latine women.

This event is part of the Visiting Artist Series. The Clarice's Visiting Artist Series features regional, national and international artists who visit the University of Maryland for performances and other activities. Beyond the stunning work these artists bring to the stage, they are also committed to extensive engagement that creates exciting connections with students and the community. During their time at UMD, Alina will have engaged in:

• Class visits to students in the UMD School of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies

• Storytelling circles with members of our local community

This project is supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts. The performance is also supported in part by the Maryland State Arts Council and The Morris & Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation.

Health + Safety

Patrons attending University of Maryland arts events are no longer required to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test. We continue to encourage audiences to wear a mask and stay current with vaccinations and boosters. Please see our Health & Safety information page for information about what to expect during your visit.