“Yo Soy Minerva” returns by popular demand to Teatro ECAS

Yo Soy Minerva in March 2025.

Providence, RI (February 20, 2025) – Francis Parra, Artistic and Executive Director of Teatro ECAS is proud to announce the encore presentation of the original play Yo Soy Minerva (I am Minerva) from March 6-16, 2025, at Teatro ECAS, 679 Valley Street Providence, RI.  Yo Soy Minerva was written by Mu-Kien Adriana Sang Ben. The play is adapted and directed by Francis Parra.

In 2005, our Artistic Director had a chance encounter with Dedé Mirabal.  In a discussion following their meeting, Dedé Mirabal, the surviving sister of Minerva, the main character of this presentation, requested that Francis Parra create a play based upon the true stories of these women’s courageous fight against oppression by the dictator Trujillo.

The book “Yo Soy Minerva” is about a series of interviews to the direct family members and friends of the Mirabal sisters that had known them since their childhood. After compiling all the testimonials, the powerful monologue narrated by the character recreating Minerva, reflects her thoughts after coming back to life from her Santo Domingo grave in 2014.

Minerva, who became a pivotal figure in the history of the Dominican Republic, led the courageous struggle against the brutal dictatorship of Rafael Trujillo in the mid-20th century. Together with her sisters Patria and María Teresa, she was part of the clandestine opposition movement against the oppressive regime of Trujillo. This production brings to the stage the tenacious struggle of strong women, which is not only relatable to history and culture of the Dominican and Hispanic community, but also to the general culture at large.

Written by Mu-Kien Sang Ben and adapted by Francis Parra, the play begins with a Minerva who returns from the dead 54 years later after she and her sisters were murdered under the order of dictator president Trujillo. The following scenes run around the life of Minerva Mirabal and her sisters in Ojo de Agua, Salcedo, their hometown. Through the memory of Minerva who returns from the dead, the story goes on as she remembers what happened in their lives until the murder of the three sisters.

“If they kill me, I’ll take my arms out of the grave and be stronger.” – Minerva Mirabal.

About the Author: Mu-Kien San Ben

Mu-Kien Adriana Sang Ben was born in Santiago, Dominican Republic in 1955. She is a historian, essayist, analyst, political scientist and educator. Daughter of Miguel Sang, a Cantonese immigrant, and the Dominican Ana Ben Rodríguez (in turn the daughter of the Chinese immigrant Ventura Ben and the Dominican Andrea Rodríguez). She has a degree in Education Summa Cum Laude from the “Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra”, where she has worked for more than two decades. She completed her postgraduate studies in Adult Education at the “Centro de Cooperación Regional” for Adult Education in Latin America and the Caribbean (CREFAL) in 1978 in Mexico. In 1985 she earned her doctorate in History and Civilization at the School of Advanced Studies in Social Sciences in Paris. She translated the work Correspondence of the Consul of France in Santo Domingo from French into Spanish. She has been a visiting professor and lecturer at several universities in various nations. In 2006, a street was named in her honor in the Plaza de la Cultura Juan Pablo Duarte, home of the Santo Domingo International Book Fair.

About the Artistic Director: Francis Parra

Francis is the Founder and Artistic Director of Teatro ECAS. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Advertising from APEC University, took acting courses with Prof. Germana Quintana. She was a professor of Spanish theater in the Department of Modern Languages at Rhode Island College. Francis has acted, produced and directed plays and musicals in Rhode Island since 1997. She is the founder of the International Festival of the Arts.

Francis was a member of the Rhode Island Latin Theater Association from 2001-2016 and has performed works under her direction in auditoriums at Rhode Island College, Trinity Rep, and Gamm Theatre, among others in Rhode Island, as well as bringing works under her direction to the Dominican Commission of Culture in New York and Teatro El Mirón in Cuba. Francis served on the board of directors of the Rhode Island State Council for the Arts and was the female voice for 10 years on WPMZ Poder 1110. Francis is currently a teacher at International Charter School and lives with her husband Gonzalo and her children Daniel and Stephanie.

The performance of “Yo Soy Minerva” is brought to you by Teatro ECAS and will take place from March 6 – 16. The presentations will be in Spanish with English supertitles. Tickets are available now from $35 to $55. For ticket purchases, please visit teatroecas.org or call (401) 421-3227. 

Based in the heart of southeastern New England, Teatro ECAS brings together diverse multigenerational audiences to experience the joy of live theater performed in Spanish, fostering self-discovery and cultural connection.

Vision Statement
With a focus on children, youth and families, Teatro ECAS aspires to enrich the cultural and civic vitality of our community while achieving national prominence for its artists and its artistry.