Co-Director / Playwright / “Mark”

Marc David Pinate

Marc David Pinate has worked with noteworthy theaters across the country including Magic Theatre, Campo Santo, El Teatro Campesino, ShadowLight Productions, Steppenwolf, and Victory Gardens. Pinate is the Producing Artistic Director of Borderlands Theater where he conceived and directed Mas, a docu-theater project about the banning of ethnic studies in Arizona incorporating indigenous ceremony; and the Barrio Stories projects – a series of large scale, site specific creative placemaking spectacles bringing professional artists in collaboration with community members and cross-sector partners to preserve the character and heritage of Tucson’s historic Mexican American neighborhoods. From 2018-2019 was part of the Arizona Creative Communities inaugural cohort, a one-year program, sponsored by Arizona State University’s Herberger Institute of Art and Design and the Arizona Commission on the Arts designed to develop placemaking and civic practice projects throughout the state of Arizona. His innovative efforts have been featured in American Theatre magazine, HowlRound, Arizona Daily Star, and Remezcla to name a few. He taught theatre at San Jose State University, and Pima Community College, University of Arizona where he also directed.

Playwright / “John”

Jonathan Heras

Jonathan Heras is an actor and singer from Yuma, Arizona and now a Tucson performing artist and member of the Borderlands Theater Ensemble. He has worked with various local theaters including Live Theatre Workshop, Stories That Soar, Gaslight Theater, and many more. He develops and writes content with a group of artists called Digital Desmadre to create content *Jonathan Heras Playwright/”John” and raise awareness through social media platforms. He has worked with youth as a theater teaching artist for over 10 years and is currently the director of education and development at Borderlands Theater and the musical director at Sal Pointe Catholic High School.

Media Design / “Atom (In The Booth)”

Adam Cooper-Terán

Adam Cooper-Terán (ACT) is a native of Tucson, Arizona, born from a mixed heritage of Mexican, Yaqui, and Jewish roots. Known for their collaborations among various performance troupes, theater companies, musicians, and dancers, Adam’s work has featured across the globe as large-scale media projections, musical interventions, and installations of digital storytelling. Adam’s work as a DIY performer, producer, and designer has led to residencies at Project Row Houses in Houston, Latino/Chicanx arts organization MACLA in San Jose, Teatro Tespys in El Carmen de Viboral, Colombia, Universidad Cd. Juárez, and the University of Rostock, Germany. Adam has garnered praise and support from academic and cultural institutions such as the MAP Fund, National Endowment for the Arts, National Performers Network, Network for Ensemble Theaters, Arizona State University, Belle Foundation, Foundation for Contemporary Arts, National Hispanic Cultural Center, and the International Sonoran Desert Alliance. Current projects involve the disruption of mainstream media, however possible, while continuing to support and augment underrepresented voices across the spectrum.

Musician / “Gerty Manuel”

Gertie Lopez

Gertie Lopez Is from the Chuichu Village, on the Tohono O’odham Nation and has become a prominent public figure and a leading force in the performance and preservation of Tohono O’odham culture and Waila music. She Is affectionately known as the “Queen of Waila” and was recently inducted into the Tucson Musicians Museum’s Hall of Fame. Gertie is the only female band leader on the Tohono O’odham Reservation. She has traveled to New York (Performed at the Native American Music Awards VIP Party), Washington D.C, (She sat in on a panel of Native Artist at the Library of Congress. Caborca Mexico, and performed in many places in the United States to share her Waila Music.

Gertie has been recognized for many awards. In 2012 she was nominated for the Governors Award as a musician Artist. In 2014 she played at the FinnFest USA in Minneapolis, Minnesota. In 2016 Gertie received “A Life-Time Achievement Award” from the Cultural Sounds of Tucson. In 2017 Gertie received a “Master of Apprentice Award from the Southwest Folklife Alliance in Tucson Az. In 2020 she played a Waila Concert at the Aura Jamboree in Aura, Michigan.

Gertie has taken 1st place in 7 battle of the bands and also receiving best accordion trophy. Gertie has also taken her Waila music Career into theater with playing her accordion in many shows with Borderland Theaters. (She performed a show in Denver, Colorado). She has 10 CDs recordings out including a Christmas CD.

Gertie was filmed in 1977 by PBS, Boston, and was also filmed in 2023 by PBS, University of Arizona. Gertie’s lifelong mission has been to preserve and share the traditional Waila music of the Tohono O’odham with the youth and to education all people of the beauty and joy of Tohono O’odham Waila music, language, and culture. She proudly represents the Tohono O’odham Nation and the State of Arizona. Feel Free to visit her website: gertieswailamusic.com – email: gertientheboyz@gmail.com – 520-268-6432