By Caridad Svich
Based on the novel by Julia Alvarez
Directed by Mariana Parejo Molinares 

Known as “The Butterflies,” the spirited and courageous Mirabal sisters inspired a fight for freedom in the Dominican Republic. For 30 years, President Trujillo’s iron fist of authoritarianism tightened around the throat of the Dominican Republic. But the people would not be silenced, and as the revolution grew, so too did the four Mirabal sisters. As the girls became women, their deep love for their family and passion for their country led them to become activists and martyrs for the revolution against the Trujillo dictatorship. Their legacy led to the creation of the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. Based on Julia Alvarez’ acclaimed novel, this play bears witness to the joy and laughter, terror and violence that shaped a nation and its people.

Approximate run time: 2 hours and 30 minutes, with one intermission
Suggested ages: Intended for Mature Audiences

A note on Sensitive Content is available for this production. 

At The Virginia Wadsworth Wirtz Centers, we recognize that sensitivities vary from person to
person. If you have questions about the content, age-appropriateness, or stage effects of a
show, e-mail our box office at wirtz@northwestern.edu or call 847-491-7282

Join the conversation around In the Time of the Butterflies through three engaging events:

POST-SHOW CONVERSATION

Thursday, May 28 | Immediately following the 7:30 p.m. performance
How do you transform national trauma and feminist resistance into live theater? Playwright Caridad Svich joins faculty from Northwestern’s Department of Latina and Latino Studies for a conversation about adapting Julia Álvarez’s novel, the role of archival history, and the relationship between Latin American literature and performance. Gain insight into bringing the revolutionary story of the Mirabal sisters to the stage.

BEHIND THE SCENES PANEL

Saturday, May 30 | Immediately following the 2 p.m. performance
From direction to design, choreography to dramaturgy, theater is built through collaboration. Meet the creative team behind In the Time of the Butterflies for an in-depth look at their process. Learn how history, archive, and design combined to shape the production’s visual language and sense of magical realism.

PRE-SHOW COMMUNITY PANEL & RECEPTION 

Saturday, May 30 | 5:30–7 p.m.  (prior to the 7:30 p.m. performance)
The Clara, Lu ‘n’ Em Theater, Room 201
1949 Campus Drive, Second Floor
Before the closing performance, gather for a panel led by Mancosh Fellow Henry Castillo exploring how performance, memory, and storytelling foster solidarity and collective action. Enjoy conversation and light refreshments with the director, designers, and composer as we reflect on the legacy of the Mirabal sisters—and what it calls us to imagine next.

Programming for In the Time of the Butterflies is co-sponsored by the Alice Kaplan Institute for the Humanities and the Roberta Buffett Institute for Global Affairs at Northwestern University.