‘Maricela de la Luz Lights the World’ to shine at AU's Maxwell Theatre

Cam Mashak | Features editor

Coming soon to the Maxwell Theatre on Augusta University’s Summerville Campus is a story about finding courage and learning to become your own hero.

“Maricela de la Luz Lights the World,” written by José Rivera and directed by Melanie Kitchens O’Meara, will take the stage on Nov. 6-9. The production blends surrealism, humor and heart, telling a story that challenges both its characters and its audience to embrace self-discovery and resilience.

The play follows two young girls who are shopping at a mall during Christmas when it suddenly begins to snow. As the world around them transforms, fantastical beasts and mythical beings appear to test them, forcing the girls to face their fears and limitations. Along the way, they learn how to be their own heroes, a message that resonates strongly with the show’s creative team.

O’Meara, an associate professor in AU’s Department of Art and Design, says the play’s central idea ties closely to the teachings of Brazilian theatre practitioner and political activist Augusto Boal, whose work emphasized empowerment through performance.

“When we learn about Augusto Boal who teaches performers how to be their own protagonist, the main character, of their own lives.” O’Meara said. The main idea is about seeing yourself as being capable of taking action or being the one who changes your circumstances.

Boal, best known for his development of Forum Theatre, encouraged audiences to step into the story and explore solutions to real-world problems through performance. This concept directly influenced the approach taken by O’Meara and her cast.

The primary idea behind the show is a mix of surrealism, like most of O’Meara’s plays, as well as Augusta Boal’s Forum theater “where people are put into situations, everyday life situations, where they face a problem and they have to learn how to solve it themselves,” said O’Meara.

By merging Rivera’s imaginative storytelling with Boal’s participatory philosophy, the production aims to bring audiences into a world that feels both dreamlike and deeply relatable. The fantastical elements of the play from the snowstorm to the mysterious creatures, they are not just visual spectacle. They symbolize the internal struggles of growing up and learning to face new and old fears.

This enhances the story by revealing what the main theme is about, which helps convey to the audience to be their own protagonist.

”I feel like this show does that for these kids,” said O’Meara.

The cast, made up of Augusta University students from a variety of majors, has embraced that challenge. Among them is Antonio Fernandez, a junior majoring in digital and visual storytelling, who also plays Loki.

“I think we have a lot of representation in the show that, you know, opens a lot of community and gives a lot of light to minorities especially for a show that's about being a minority and being a little off beat,” said Fernandez.

For Fernandez, the experience has been both creative and personal. He described the production as one that celebrates diversity and individuality, something he believes audiences will connect with.

The show also promises to deliver plenty of visual and creative surprises. The team has worked extensively on design elements that enhance the story’s surreal tone, including lighting, costuming and special effects.

 “What we have planned is really really cool… yeah I just think it's really cool with a lot of cool aspects” stated Fernandez. 

“We have a lot of surprises for the audience and a lot of delights for the audience … We're ultimately teaching a good lesson,” said O’Meara. “There's a lot of good representation, but I do think that other students will enjoy it.” 

For Augusta University students, “Maricela de la Luz Lights the World” offers not only a night of magical storytelling but also a chance to reflect on what it means to take control of one’s own narrative. In the spirit of Boal’s philosophy, the production reminds its viewers, young and old alike, that everyone has the power to be the protagonist of their own story.

Contact Cam Mashak CMASHAK@augusta.edu.