Editor’s Note: This article has been updated to reflect the name of a character accurately. The Texan regrets this error.  

The act of wishing reflects a desire for change. Every day, people depend on hope and each other in every part of their lives in order to dream of a better future. On Saturday afternoon, Austin Playhouse took audience members on a journey through a 50-minute performance, exploring family and the power of dreams coming true. 

Running from Feb. 28 to March 15, the show offers free tickets for students provided by Austin Playhouse’s Theatre for Youth initiative. 

As the curtains opened, the dandelions, an important symbol throughout the play, were scattered across the set. Small paintings of the flower stood out against a backdrop of blue skies and green plains.

Carmela (Diana Patricia Guizado), a spunky 7-year-old girl, starts the performance as she speeds across the stage on her trusty green scooter while announcing it’s her birthday. She wishes to run errands with her Big Brother, Miguel (Matthew Joseph Garcia).

The ensemble and stage production moved seamlessly along with Big Brother and Carmela’s errands. Actors Michael Galvan and Lligany Otaduy cycled through multiple props and costumes, portraying members of the community that Carmela interacts with, from the flower salesman to the paletera. 

Immersion is key to the production. The audience is entrusted with Carmela’s internal dialogue. She ponders what wish she should make with the dandelion she found while playing out each scenario. 

Carmela’s Papi (Galvan) played a prominent role in the narrative, despite not physically being there. Characters like Mami (Otaduy) avoid Carmela’s question of whether he will call for her special day, their disagreements eventually revealed by Big Brother, who says, “The only way he can come back is if he gets his papers fixed.” This is a scenario that strongly resonates with many immigrant families. 

Themes of immigration and sense of belonging were subtle but effectively placed throughout the play. When urging Carmela to skate faster, Big Brother avoids saying vamanos, while Carmela says, “You sound just like Papi.”

However, the bond between them is evident when Carmela takes a fall from her scooter, crushing her dandelion. In order to cheer up his sister, Big Brother takes Carmela to a special place by the lake where she and the audience close their eyes, only to be surprised by projected seeds of dandelions everywhere with Carmela saying, “The sky is full of wishes!”

“Carmela Full of Wishes” reminds the audience that wishes aren’t limited but can be realized anywhere from a bustling shop to the people on the street. Hope’s not a limited resource but a tool that helps people bond with one another and look towards a better future.