The ordinary becomes extraordinary when Peruvian-based Teatro Hugo & Ines use mime, dance, and puppetry to create a cast of characters composed of knees, feet, hands, elbows, and a handful of props for three performances of their signature production, “Short Stories,” on April 14-16.

Presented by the Center for the Arts at Virginia Tech, the performances will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 14, and Friday, April 15, and 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 16, in the Moss Arts Center Cube, located at 190 Alumni Mall. 

Hugo Suarez and Ines Pasic are the artists behind Teatro Hugo & Ines. Their paths crossed in Italy where Suarez was performing as a street mime. Pasic, who is a trained pianist from the Sarajevo Conservatory, began studying pantomime with Suarez and quickly discovered that her dexterity on the piano keys was not only useful for music, but for mime, as well.

The duo uses their bodies as canvases to create a puppet universe. Their dexterity and creativity, with the help of some simple props, create a parade of memorable beings who, in their brief moments on the scene, play out the poetic moments of daily life.

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“Short Stories” has been presented at more than 300 international festivals and theatres in countries around the world, including Japan, Canada, France, Spain, Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, and the United States. The Jim Henson International Festival of Puppet Theater included “Short Stories” in three of its five New York City festivals.

Suarez and Pasic founded Teatro Hugo & Ines in 1986 and premiered their first piece, “Return to Darkness,” in 1987. Both artists also work independently. Suarez tours a solo show, “Body Rhapsody,” and works with a small group named La Santa Rodilla. Pasic founded Gaia Teatro in 2003 and has directed three productions for the theatre company. Her work, “Worlds of Fingerman,” toured Europe, Asia, and Canada, and it won the MASQUE prize from the Academy of Performing Arts in Quebec for the best foreign production in 2007. Her most recent solo production, “From the Blue,” won the audience award for Best Show of the FIL 2013 International Festival in Rio de Janeiro.

Teatro Hugo & Ines’ performance of “Short Stories” is recommended for ages 8 and older.

During their visit, Suarez and Pasic will offer a short in-school performance and question-and-answer session for area students.

Tickets

Tickets for the performance are $20 for general public and $10 for students and youth 18 years old and under. Tickets can be purchased online; at the Moss Arts Center's box office, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday; or by calling 540-231-5300 during box office hours.

Parking is available in the North End Parking Garage on Turner Street. Virginia Tech faculty and staff possessing a valid Virginia Tech parking permit can enter and exit the garage free of charge. Limited street parking is also available. Parking on Alumni Mall is free on weekdays after 5 p.m. and on weekends.

If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, please contact Kacy McAllister at 540-231-5300 or email kmcallis@vt.edu during regular business hours at least 10 business days prior to the event.

The Center for the Arts at Virginia Tech presents renowned artists from around the globe and from close to home, with a special focus on experiences that expand cultural awareness and deepen understanding. The Center for the Arts and the Institute for Creativity, Arts, and Technology, with which the Center for the Arts is uniquely partnered, are housed in the Moss Arts Center. The Moss Arts Center is a 147,000-square-foot facility that includes the Street and Davis Performance Hall and its 1,274-seat Anne and Ellen Fife Theatre; visual art galleries; the four-story, experimental venue the Cube; and research studios.

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