Under the blue glow of black lights, Milagro Theatre on Southeast Stark Street transformed into a psychedelic, neon vision of the afterlife. On stage, a small puppet of Pedro Linares, the Mexican artist credited with creating alebrijes, floated across white sheets.

As the story unfolded, Linares encountered alebrijes, or spirit guides, brightly colored, animal-like creatures that in Mexican folklore help lead souls through the journey beyond death. The puppet was controlled by actor and education coordinator for Milagro, Yosmel López Ortiz. An artist from Cuba, Ortiz specializes in puppetry and has created many puppets for Milagro Theatre’s recent season of shows.

The show, “¡Alebrijes!,” was part of Milagro’s 30th Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) Festival. The annual festival includ

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