CreArte Latino Cultural Center presents ‘VOCES de la Adolescencia,’ a bilingual community theater project exploring the challenges of adolescence
- Development Web
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
SARASOTA, Fla. (May 12, 2026) — CreArte Latino Cultural Center will present “VOCES de la Adolescencia,” a community-centered theatrical experience exploring the emotional realities of adolescence, migration, identity and family through the voices and lived experiences of Latino/Hispanic families in Sarasota and Manatee counties.
The program will be presented in either Spanish or English on successive weekends.
Spanish-language performances, co-directed by Angélica Castro and Marcela Vanegas, will be on May 15 and 16 at 8 p.m. at CreArte Latino Cultural Center, 1913 Northgate Blvd., Sarasota.
An English-language version of the production, “Voices of Adolescence,” directed by Yinoelle Colón, will be presented May 22 and 23 at 8 p.m., also at CreArte Latino Cultural Center.
After both versions, audience members will be invited to participate in a discussion with directors, actors and community members whose testimonies helped shape the production.
Tickets are $25 and are available on CreArte Latino Cultural Center’s website.
In “VOCES de la Adolescencia,” actors and directors used oral testimonies gathered from members of the Latino/Hispanic community in the Sarasota-Manatee region to create a staged reading and community conversation focused on adolescence and the challenges young people and families face during that transformative stage of life.
“This project is important because adolescence is one of the most intense and profound stages of life, especially for immigrant families trying to find belonging in a new country,” Vanegas said.
“Listening to the testimonies of adolescents and Hispanic parents in Manasota has been deeply moving and has expanded my understanding in many ways.”
Castro said the project reflects CreArte’s mission of using the arts to build understanding and strengthen community connections.
“‘VOCES de la Adolescencia’ is a theatrical exploration that brings together powerful narratives inspired by the lived experiences of teenagers,” Castro said. “Through dramatic readings and storytelling, the project captures the emotional complexities, social pressures, and transformative moments that define adolescence. It reflects the realities young people face as they search for identity, navigate relationships, and reconcile cultural expectations within the diverse landscape of the United States.”
Colón said the performances will offer “a window into the unspoken lives of our youth and the parents trying to understand them.”
“These stories are raw and honest, and happening right now in our community,” she said. “This is the kind of experience that stays with you long after the lights go down.”
The VOCES performances are made possible through the generous support of Gulf Coast Community Foundation.
"Some of the most meaningful community building happens when we open ourselves to the lived experiences of others," said Kelly Borgia, director of brand engagement at Gulf Coast Community Foundation. "VOCES de la Adolescencia creates exactly that kind of space, an opportunity for all of us to listen, to understand, and to grow closer through the stories that shape our neighbors' lives."
About CreArte Latino Cultural Center
CreArte Latino Cultural Center (https://www.creartelatino.org/) is a nonprofit arts and cultural organization serving Sarasota and Manatee counties through theater, music, dance, arts education and community programming that celebrates Latino and Hispanic culture while building connections across the region.
About Gulf Coast Community Foundation
Since 1995, Gulf Coast Community Foundation has powered bold philanthropy and collaborative leadership to drive meaningful change across our region. Guided by values of authenticity, curiosity, collaboration, grit, and a trailblazing spirit, we work side-by-side with donors, partners, and community members to tackle our region’s biggest challenges and unlock its greatest opportunities. Together with our donors, we’ve invested more than $625 million in health and human services, education, civic & economic development, arts & culture, and the environment. Headquartered in Venice, with a second office in downtown Sarasota, Gulf Coast is nationally recognized for excellence, earning multiple “Best Nonprofits to Work For” honors and accreditation from Community Foundations National Standards®. Learn more at GulfCoastCF.org and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
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