The Guthrie Theater presents the ArtsEmerson production of
Mala
written and performed by Melinda Lopez
directed by David Dower
dramaturgy by P. Carl
Dowling Studio
Back by popular demand
About the show
Funny, brutally honest and ultimately cathartic, Mala puts a sharp focus on what it means to put our loved ones first, right to the very end, and what happens when we strive to be good but don't always succeed. This powerful one-woman show reveals an utterly unsentimental narrative on how we live, cope and survive in the moment. Grounded in humor, Mala dances between doctors and 911 calls, a mother’s growing frailty and a daughter’s quest for grace.
The ArtsEmerson production of Mala made its world premiere in Boston in October 2016. The Boston Globe called it “a richly layered work...piercingly honest, exquisitely moving," and named the play "Best of 2016." WBUR said it’s “an exquisitely fashioned theater piece, brimming with humor, frustration and honesty as biting as the wind, snow and Arctic fantasy that blow through it.” The play won the Elliot Norton Award for Best New Play from the Boston Theatre Critics Association.
In the news
Review
Mala “provokes candid introspection about our relationships with our parents and children, and bigger questions of death and faith.”
Read the Star Tribune review.
Review
"Great art provokes our memories, casts new light on our experiences, makes us recognize we are either more unique or more connected to other people than we knew. Mala is great art."
Read the MNPlaylist review.
Artists
Cast
Melinda Lopez as Mala
Creative
| Director | David Dower |
| Set Design | Kris Holmes |
| Lighting Design | Scott Pinkney |
| Projections Design | Ari Herzig |
| Sound Design | Arshan Gailus |
| Stage Manager | Deb Acquavella |
| Guthrie Stage Manager | Michele Hossle |
About ArtsEmerson
ArtsEmerson is Boston’s leading presenter of contemporary world theatre. We are dedicated to engaging all communities through stories that reveal and deepen our connection to each other. By cultivating diversity in the art and in the audience, we ignite public conversation around our most vexing societal challenges as a catalyst for overcoming them.
About Level Nine
A groundbreaking initiative
Through the Level Nine Series, we’ve devoted our ninth floor to access for all and the creation of theater that wrestles with urgent questions and inspires dialogue.
Explore more
Guthrie Store
Shop online for cool finds and rare gems
Donate Now
Give a tax-deductible gift to the Guthrie
Go Behind the Scenes
Get to know the talented artists who bring our productions to life
Mala
Dowling Studio