By Joe Contreras, Latin Life Denver Media. (See video clips below)

I found myself suddenly emotional watching the student performance of ‘Stand & Deliver’ at Denver’s Abraham Lincoln High School. I was instantly transported back to my days at North High. The desks, the blackboards, the walls, the fellow students and being in an actual high school made the setting complete.

I review many plays, some I relate to more than others. This one hit home. It reminded me of the difficult times I had at a difficult school back in the 1970’s that faced the same issues as the school depicted in this production. Stand & Deliver will play more two shows October 26 & 27 before heading to Pueblo for an October 30 performance at the Pueblo Community College’s Hoag Theater, at 1:00pm.

The play is based on the 1988 biographical drama about the true story of math teacher Jaime Escalante inspiring underprivileged students to master advanced calculus. You may have seen the movie version starring Edward James Olmos as Jaime Escalante. Olmos earned an Academy Award nomination for the role in 1989 but watching the live play on a high school stage performed by mostly high school students creates a much different ambiance.

Stand and Deliver opens with the students of Garfield High School in East Los Angeles sitting aimlessly in the classroom , attending school just to get a free lunch. Garfield was the worst high school in the district and on the verge of losing its accreditation because of a dropout rate of around 50% and low student performance. Serious gang issues in the school created an unsafe environment and hindered learning for students.  When Escalante arrived, he learned the school did not have computers.  He had taught math in Bolivia and now was going to teach his students basic math.

Escalante approached the school administration with his interest in teaching his students calculus. With the support of the principal, but opposition from others, he was allowed to proceed.

Some students dropped his class as Escalante was going to engage an extremely rigorous schedule to teach his students calculus and prepare them for the Advanced Placement (AP) calculus exam.  Escalante believed that students would rise or fall to the level of expectations presented to them. “Knowledge is power! It is something no one can ever take away from you.” he instilled in his students.

All goes well until the students success is upended causing them to lose confidence in themselves and the system that betrayed them. It is one that teachers, students, community leaders and just about everyone should experience. Admission is only a suggested $10 donation.

What follows is moving and inspiring .Stand and Deliver is a play that teachers, students, community leaders and just about everyone should experience. Admission is only a suggested but not necessary $10 donation.

Dario Carmelo Correa is excellent as an always positive Jaime Escalante. His commanding stage presence is convincing as he keeps the play moving and cohesive. Esther Acosta is the school secretary. She is a retired middle and high school teacher as well a University Master’s teacher. She is a professional story teller sharing her Chicana/Mexicana/Indigenous experiences. Luis L. is Pancho Garcia, better known as motor head because of his love of cars. The entire cast of more than 15 actors is made up of community members, former teachers and alumni.

Producer/Director Millie Duran is herself an Abraham Lincoln graduate. The school has had its share of challenges. Lincoln once had 1500 students, today it is at 650, losing more than 200 students in just the past year. Duran is the founder of Casa Milagro Youth Solutions. She previously directed the Milagro Beanfield War with a cast of youth that performed in a nine town tour. Casa Milagro was developed from the need for positive resources for children and teens afflicted by direct or indirect physical, mental, emotional, sexual, verbal, substance, and alcohol abuses and child neglect.

This story represents determination and perseverance, knowing that hard work along with the belief that with support the low expectations for minority and inner-city students can be overcome.

Stand and Deliver will performed at Abraham Lincoln High School, 2285 South Federal Boulevard, Denver, CO 80219 October 26 & 27 at 6:30 pm.