Scene from ‘The Mrs. Rochesters’ running July 3-6 at the Santa Fe Playhouse. Courtesy/SFP
Santa Fe Playhouse News:
SANTA FE — Ladies Disdain Productions has announced the debut of The Mrs. Rochesters, a groundbreaking adaptation of Charlotte Brontë’s classic Jane Eyre. At 7:30 p.m., July 3-5, and 2 p.m., July 6, at the Santa Fe Playhouse, audiences will experience a powerful retelling that centers Bertha, reclaiming her voice and humanity in a story that has long marginalized her.
Directed by Zoe Burke, this production amplifies the experiences of women of color and probes the racial and patriarchal structures woven into even beloved literature. In an era where women’s rights—especially those of women of color—remain under threat, The Mrs. Rochesters challenges audiences to consider whose stories are told, whose pain is overlooked, and what it truly means to resist societal roles.
The play includes sequences of intimacy and violence, along with references to alcoholism and the deaths of multiple characters. It is intended for audiences 13 and older.
Written by Alexandra Avila and featuring a talented cast—including Mariah Montoya as Bertha, Hannah Machado as Jane, Victor Reyes as Mr. Rochester, Cal Lee as Peter, and Elizabeth Olton as Mama—this production is brought to life with scenic design and production photography by Quinten Avila, and costumes and wig design by Kaylee Silcocks.
“This adaptation invites audiences to see Jane Eyre through a new lens—lifting Bertha’s voice and challenging the stories we’ve been told. It’s a powerful reminder of the importance of representation and resistance in storytelling,” Director Zoe Burke said.
Purchase tickets here: https://www.ode.fm/event/5027
About the Cast and Creative Team:
Alexandra Avila (Playwright) is a dramaturg and lecturer with the New Mexico Shakespeare Festival. Based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, she co-founded Ladies Disdain Productions, focusing on retellings of traditional stories.
Zoe Burke (Director) is a stage director, intimacy professional, and theater educator based in Santa Fe. Her select directing credits include OR, at the Santa Fe Playhouse and Much Ado About Nothing at the New Mexico Shakespeare Festival. Zoe serves as the Associate Artistic Director of Incite Shakespeare Company and co-founded Ladies Disdain Productions.
Hannah Machado (Jane) is a West Texas-raised, NYC-trained, Santa Fe-based storyteller. She has acted in eight original plays this season, including her own script Three Cats Cafe, produced at Teatro Paraguas. She was last seen as Lucinda in Into the Woods with Tri-M Productions.
Victor Reyes (Rochester) is in the final act of law school, where drama plays out in legal arguments instead of monologues. His past credits include Spring Awakening, Cock, Cabaret, and Kinky Boots (BroadwayWorld Regional Award for Best Supporting Performer).
Mariah Montoya (Bertha) is a recent graduate from the Theatre Program at the University of New Mexico. Her recent credits include Mari in Laughs in Spanish at the Santa Fe Playhouse and Feste in Twelfth Night at Rodey Theatre.
Cal Lee (Peter) previously appeared in Kinky Boots with Tri-M Productions. In addition to acting, he enjoys basketball and drawing.
Elizabeth Marrs (Mama) has been interested in storytelling her whole life and acting since childhood. Hailing from Cleveland and Chicago, she loved teaching art history after obtaining her PhD and has been acting in Albuquerque since 2017.
Scene from ‘The Mrs. Rochesters’ running July 3-6 at the Santa Fe Playhouse. Courtesy/SFP
Scene from ‘The Mrs. Rochesters’ running July 3-6 at the Santa Fe Playhouse. Courtesy/SFP