From Campus to Center Stage: Alum’s Musical Celebrates Community at Temple Theaters
Erlina Ortiz, TFM ’12, co-founder of Power Street Theatre, reflects on her Temple journey as she prepares to debut her first musical Siluetas, at Temple Theaters where it all began. Inspired by her own cultural experiences and global challenges, Siluetas takes audiences on a poignant exploration of displacement, ancestral roots and the search for home.
In Philadelphia's bustling theater scene, Power Street Theatre stands out as a hub of multicultural storytelling and community building. Co-founded by Erlina Ortiz, TFM ’12, and Gabriela (Gabi) Sanchez, TFM ’13, Power Street Theatre amplifies voices often marginalized in mainstream narratives. As the company prepares to debut its new musical, Siluetas, at Temple Theaters, Erlina reflects on her Temple journey, the creation of Power Street Theatre and the significance of bringing their latest production back to where it all began.
Erlina's path to college was uncertain at first. Because she wanted to pursue theater, many people discouraged her from higher education. Erlina was even more discouraged after visiting many schools where she felt disconnected and isolated from the big city. However, she found herself drawn to Temple's vibrant campus and diverse community.
“The moment I stepped onto Temple's campus, there was just something about it. I felt this ancestral pull, saying ‘This is where you're supposed to be’. I only applied to Temple and luckily, I got in,“ Erlina recalls.
Despite being one of the few Latinas in her program at the time, Erlina found greater belonging in Temple's active Greek life by joining Lambda Theta Alpha Latina Sorority Inc. (LTA). Having two distinct communities at Temple, one cultural and one artistic, became her way of life and they never intersected until right before graduation, thanks to Gabi.
Although Erlina and Gabi had classes together throughout their four years at Temple, they didn't really interact with each other. That was until one day Gabi asked Erlina to be a part of a multicultural theater company she wanted to start.
“Unfortunately, because there were so few Latinas, we were pitted against each other. We never had animosity, but we never took that step to turn towards each other instead of looking for acknowledgment from non-Latin communities. Gabi came to that conclusion sooner than me, and thank God she did,“ Erlina expresses.
Together they had all the pieces to build their company from the ground up. Erlina’s experience interning at Plays and Players Theater Company and InterAct Theatre Company taught her to earn grants. Gabi was also working for Taller Puertorriqueño and Norris Square Neighborhood Project and had built strong connections with North Philadelphia and many Latin organizations. This helped them secure financing, rehearsal space and impassioned audiences. Erlina also credits the knowledge gained from the School of Theater, Film and Media Arts and LTA for their success.
“The department gave you a lot of skills from across the board. There's so much that I learned because it's a comprehensive program, not a conservatory. It's not just acting, directing or writing. It forces you to try everything. And that was good for me because today I wear a lot of different hats,” Erlina explains.
Because of these skills, Erlina wrote and directed Power Street’s first show. Through this co-creative process, Gabi used her talents and people skills to gather support and Erlina took ownership thanks to her organizational leadership skills gained as president of LTA.
Their first show sold out and became the talk of the town, so naturally everyone wanted to know what was next. The pair hadn't thought that far; however, after Erlina saw her two communities that had always been separate, the theater community and the multicultural Latina community, finally meld together, she knew they had to keep going.
“We were having rice and beans at the opening night party and talking Spanglish. I saw such a diverse, inclusive audience, that I had never seen at a play in Philadelphia. It felt like a family party, but with theater. I realized that was what I needed and always wanted,” gushes Erlina.
Erlina then set her sights on writing a second play by reflecting on stories of her culture. Gabi also became a great muse for her because she wanted to write roles that would give her a chance to shine as an actor. Soon this partnership blossomed into a beautiful friendship and support system.
“Even after I had written three or four plays, I still was not calling myself a playwright. Gabi was the one that was like ‘You’re a playwright. You're a playwright. You're a playwright.’ She pushed me to believe that until I finally was able to say it myself and my career flourished after that,” reveals Erlina.
Erlina's first musical, Siluetas was born out of her need to process the tumultuous events of 2016, a year marked by global challenges. Inspired by the art of Cuban American artist Ana Mendieta and the political landscapes of Cuba and Syria, the musical delves into themes of displacement, ancestral roots and the search for home. Collaborating with Mexican American composer Robi Hager, Erlina crafted a narrative interwoven with English, Spanish, Spanglish and Arabic, reflecting the diverse cultural influences of the characters.
Erlina and her team knew they needed to bring Siluetas to life in a more traditional theater space, ultimately finding support from Temple Theaters after three years of planning. Hosting Siluetas at Temple Theaters, where Power Street Theatre was founded, holds a special significance for Erlina. “It feels full circle,“ Erlina reflects. “Every corner of that campus holds a memory.“ As rehearsals commence, Erlina anticipates a profound moment of reflection and gratitude. “I'm so grateful that this is happening,“ she adds. “It feels like coming home and a moment of looking back at how far I’ve come.“
The production of Siluetas at Temple Theaters also underscores the collaborative spirit of Temple Owls. With a team comprising many Temple staff, graduates and current students, including the entire tech team and costume designer, Asaki Kuruma, TFM ’08, the project exemplifies the enduring bonds forged within the university community. Power Street Theatre has planned 20 shows including various affinity nights such as Alza la Bandera night, a Juneteenth celebration and an alumni night with the Temple University Alumni Association on Wednesday, June 5, featuring a pop-up from fellow alumni-owned business Black Soul Summer.
Erlina remains deeply connected to Temple through her active involvement with her sorority and regular support of campus events. Power Street Theatre also collaborates with Temple on other events like Comunidades Conectadas, a story circle series that connects communities.
As an active Temple alum, Erlina emphasizes the importance of community. “A win is great by yourself, but when you have a win with your people, that is a whole other thing. These are the people who understand your value and can uplift you,“ she asserts.
As Siluetas prepares to take center stage, Erlina hopes to instill the importance of connection in audiences. “I want people to leave knowing that we can get through hard times with our community,“ she expresses.
Siluetas is running from Wednesday, May 29, to Sunday, June 23. Visit powerstreettheatre.com/siluetas to learn more and get your tickets today.
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