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Washington, DC - Founder and Producing Artistic Director Hugo Medrano proudly announces GALA Hispanic Theatre’s 2015-2016 Season. “It’s hard to believe that it has been forty years,” states Medrano, “since we opened GALA in 1976 in a small townhouse in the Adams Morgan neighborhood of Washington, DC, then the heart of the Latino community. As we begin another decade of providing the breadth of the Latino performing arts to our community and the nation, our 40th Season turns a new lens on timeless tales by celebrated Latino writers and artists who have been part of GALA’s vibrant history-- Federico García Lorca, Gabriel García Márquez, and Gustavo Ott. We also introduce a cutting edge Chicano writer, Octavio Solís, to DC audiences.” “Our journey,” added Medrano, “ is guided by extraordinary Latino directors, from the U.S. and abroad, who have been part of the GALA family over the years. Their artistry and our community will help point us to the next forty years.”
The season opens with a new adaptation by Fernando J. López of Yerma by Federico García Lorca, directed by José Luis Arellano from Spain, who staged the critically-acclaimed ¡Ay, Carmela!, among other productions, at GALA. The second production is the hilarious satire Señorita y Madame: The Secret War of Elizabeth Arden and Helena Rubinstein by Gustavo Ott, author of GALA’s hit show Momia en el closet, The Return of Eva Perón. Director Consuelo Trum of Venezuela joins us for this production. Señorita is followed by a tour-de force adaptation by Jorge Ali Triana of Cronica de una muerte anunciada/Chronicle of a Death Foretold by Colombian Nobel Prize winner Gabriel García Marquez. This extraordinary work will be directed by José Zayas of New York, who staged the memorable La casa de los espíritus at GALA. The season closes with the dark comedy El Paso Blue by Octavio Solis directed by Puerto Rican José Carrasquillo, whose powerful production of La Señorita de Tacna, among others he directed at GALA, received wide critical acclaim.
GALA’s innovative ArteAmericA presenting series opens with the 11th annual Fuego Flamenco Festival featuring the world premiere of Flamenco Men 2 choreographed by Edwin Aparicio, the festival’s curator, and performed by Flamenco Aparicio Dance Company. The second week of the festival features the mesmerizing flamenco sensation Karen Lugo and Company of Madrid’s Fundación Conservatorio Flamenco Casa Patas. The presenting series also includes GALA’s annual Film Festival, with recent films from Mexico, Chile, and Argentina, and the return of the hilarious Colombian comic Saulo García.
GALA’s theater for young audiences, GALita, will introduce children to the magic of theater with Nuevas aventuras de Don Quijote, a new adaption by Patricia Suárez commissioned by GALA, based on the novel by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra. This world premiere production follows the noble knight and his loyal squire on new adventures to right the wrongs of the world. In the spring, El mundo es un pañuelo returns to GALita’s stage in repertory. With catchy songs and colorful characters, Titiloco the Clown journeys on his magical handkerchief to see the world in this bilingual production that teaches children to protect the environment and respect diversity.
MAIN STAGE SEASON PRODUCTIONS
YERMA
Adaptation by Fernando J. López (Spain) (World Premiere)
From text by Federico García Lorca
Directed by José Luis Arellano
September 10 - October 4, 2015
In Spanish with English surtitles
Student Matinees: September 23, September 24, September 25, September 30, October 1 and October 2 at 10:30 am.
Garcia Lorca’s poetic language soars in this contemporary take on a classic tale about a childless Spanish peasant and her rage against the oppression of a loveless marriage and repressive society. The violence that erupts represents a universal outcry by today’s women who still suppress their innermost desires due to social conditioning and gender discrimination.
José Luis Arellano is a recognized Spanish director of theater, opera and television, who in previous seasons directed Caballero de Olmedo, ¡Ay, Carmela! and Cabaret Barroco at GALA. He currently directs La Joven Compañia of Madrid, which performs cutting edge works that have toured throughout Europe.
This production is supported by the National Endowment for the Arts, Embassy of Spain in Washington, D.C. and SPAIN arts & culture.
SEÑORITA Y MADAME: The Secret War of Elizabeth Arden and Helena Rubinstein (US Premiere)
By Gustavo Ott (Venezuela)
Directed by Conseulo Trum
February 4 - 28, 2016
In Spanish with English surtitles
Student Matinees: February 11, February 12, February 18, and February 19 at 10:30 am.
Fueled by the rivalry between Arden and Rubinstein, this comedy explores the exquisite link between hate and admiration, morality in an immoral age, and the sacrifice of dignity for prestige. The epic clash of these two icons of beauty and marketing revolutionized the industry and forever changed how we see and present ourselves.
Consuelo Trum is directing her first production at GALA. A native of Venezuela, her directing credits include Dos amores y un bicho and Monstruos en el closet, ogros bajo la cama by Gustavo Ott; Stop Kiss by Diana Son; La casa de Bernarda Alba and La zapatera prodigiosa by Federico García Lorca; and Welcome Home Bobby by Joe de Diann Russel.
CRONICA DE UNA MUERTE ANUNCIADA/ Chronicle of a Death Foretold (DC Premiere)
By Gabriel García Márquez (Colombia)
Adapted by Jorge Ali Triana
Directed by José Zayas
April 7 - May 8, 2016
In Spanish with English surtitles
Student Matinees: April 14, April 15, April 20, April 21, April 22, April 27 and April 28 at 10:30 am.
After marrying against her will, Angela is returned to her mother when the angry new husband discovers she is not a virgin. Forced to name the man who deflowered her, Angela’s brothers undertake a murderous mission of revenge. A tightly woven tale of a small town in Colombia where false accusations, a conspiracy of silence, and antiquated moral codes lead to tragedy.
José Zayas, Co-Founder and Artistic Director of The Immediate Theater Company, directed La casa de los espiritus and Cancun at GALA. He has been in residence at several theaters including Repertorio Español, the Ensemble Studio Theater, and INTAR. Zayas also has directed at the Denver Center Theatre Company, Astoria Performing Arts Center, SOHO Rep, Virginia Stage Company, and in Chile and Costa Rica.
EL PASO BLUE (DC Premiere)
By Octavio Solis (USA)
Music by Michael “Hawkeye” Herman
Directed by José Carrasquillo
June 2 - 26, 2016
In English with Spanish surtitles
Solis’ riff on the Oedipus Rex classic is a wild and comic tale of lust, revenge, identity and the blues. Al leaves his wife Sylvie in the care of his father before serving a prison sentence. Upon release, he discovers that his beloved and the old man have fallen in love and run away. The epic chase that ensues across El Paso pits together the funniest cast of characters ever assembled on a sprawling manhunt. Solis is considered by many to be one of the most prominent Latino playwrights in America, with works that both draw on and transcend the Mexican-American experience.
José Carrasquillo previously directed La señorita de Tacna, Ana en el trópico, The True History of Coca-Cola in Mexico, Cita a ciegas, and La Granada, among others, at GALA. He has also directed at Theater J, WSC Avant Bard, Washington Shakespeare Company, Round House Theatre, Studio Theatre, Woolly Mammoth Theatre, The Kennedy Center; and Signature Theatre.
ARTEAMERICA SERIES
GALA’s ArteAmericA series presents commissioned new works of theater, music, and dance and has introduced traditional and cutting edge art forms and artists to Washington, D.C. audiences for decades.
FUEGO FLAMENCO XI
Honorary Producers Joseph and Lynne Horning
(The following three programs are part of the Flamenco Festival.)
FLAMENCO APARICIO DANCE COMPANY
(World Premiere)
Flamenco Men 2
November 6 - 8, 2015
Student Matinees: November 5 and November 6 at 10:30 am
Edwin Aparicio, curator of GALA’s Fuego Flamenco since its inception, will lead his spirited troupe of dancers, along with featured guest artists from Spain, in a second exploration of the masculine energy and style of flamenco, featuring the unique qualities and stylistic range of accomplished male flamenco artists. Aparicio’s first Flamenco Men was performed at GALA in 2011 to sold out houses. As always his dancers will be accompanied by internationally acclaimed cantaores and musicians.
KAREN LUGO AND COMPANY
Flamenco Frecuencies (U.S. Premiere)
Presented in collaboration with Fundación Conservatorio Flamenco Casa Patas
November 12 – 15, 2015
Karen Lugo, a native of Mexico who has taken the international flamenco scene by storm, returns to GALA with a new show that explores the vibrations of movement and the sounds of singing that constantly expand and transform our interpretation and understanding of flamenco. Lugo will be accompanied by the acclaimed dancer Ricardo Sanchez and world-renowned guitarist Jose Delgado, among other musicians and cantaores.
With support from the Embassy of Spain in Washington, DC, SPAIN arts & culture, and Fundación Conservatorio Flamenco Casa Patas.
FLAMENCO EN FAMILIA
November 14, 2015
Free interactive demonstrations with castanets, fans, and zapateo for children and the entire family led by members of the Spanish Dance Society.
SAULO GARCÍA
En la USA me quedé
Directed by Valentin Alvarez-Campos
December 4 & 5, 2015
In Spanish only
This rip-roaring take on the hilarious dynamics between Hispanic immigrant parents and their U.S. born children will have you in stitches from start to finish. García, one of Colombia’s leading stand-up comics, returns to GALA after his sell-out performances in La vida en los Esclavos Unidos and Entrada Gratis.
REEL TIME AT GALA
México – Chile - Argentina Film Festival
Curated by Carlos Gutierrez of Cinema Tropical
December 9-13, 2015
GALA’s fourth annual film festival features classical and contemporary Mexican films, as well as films that reflect the socio-political landscapes of Chile and Argentina,. Panel discussion with the curator, artists and film experts will be held after the screenings.
In collaboration with the Embassy of Mexico, Mexican Cultural Institute, Embassy of Chile, Embassy of Argentina, and Cinema Tropical of New York.
GALita - THEATER FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES
Target is the lead partner for GALita programs. Education is at the heart of Target’s giving, and since 1946, Target has given 5 percent of its income – which today equals more than $3 million a week.
As part of its commitment to education, Target is on track to give $1 billion for education by the end of 2015.
Target supports programs like GALA’s because they believe the arts have the power to bring communities together and help us see the world from different perspectives.
NUEVAS AVENTURAS DE DON QUIJOTE (World Premiere)
Based on the novel by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra
Adaptation by Patricia Suárez (Argentina)
Directed by Cornelia Cody
October 19 - 31, 2015
Bilingual
Student Matinees: October 19-23 and October 26-30, 2015 at 10:30 am (weekdays)
General Public: October 24 and October 31, 2015 at 3 pm (Saturdays)
In this sequel to the first bilingual adaptation presented at GALA, Don Quijote and Sancho Panza once again set out to right the wrongs of the world and become entangled in more comical episodes. A joyful play with music for children 6 to 9 years old.
FIESTA DE LOS TRES REYES MAGOS/Three Kings Day
January 3, 2016 at 11:30 am and 2:30 pm
Don’t miss GALA’s traditional Three Kings celebration, featuring the Magi, live animals, local performers, a walk through the neighborhood, and gifts for every child. Free for the entire family!
EL MUNDO ES UN PAÑUELO
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