Mercado turned to recent events, including Denver's May 1 pro-immigration march, for fodder, but Beyond the Border is also born of the culture clash that produced him: the union of his Guadalajaran immigrant father and well-rooted New Mexican mother.
The resulting program will feature music as well as writings and speeches from Sandra Cisneros, Luis Alberto Urrea, Rocky Mountain News columnist Tina Griego, Federico Peña and Tom Tancredo, all read by a fine cast of local and national actors, including Tony Plana. "I feel like I've just started, just because of how volatile the topic is now," Mercado says.
Shows are at 7:30 p.m. tonight and 1 and 7:30 p.m. tomorrow at the Schomp Theater, Denver School of the Arts, 7111 Montview Boulevard; for tickets, $25, call 303-494-0523 or go to www.storiesonstage.org.
Fri., May 19, 7:30 p.m.; Sat., May 20, 1 & 7:30 p.m.