Latino Artists Re-Do Opera “Carmen” In 1989 San Antonio

[Editor’s note: The following is a press release from ColectivaSA.]

ColectivaSA is proud to present this new Latino Musical written by nationally recognized and award winning poet and performer Amalia Ortiz. Ortiz received a fellowship from the prestigious Hedgebrook writers residency program to finish “Carmen de la Calle” and is proud to be debuting it here in San Antonio where her career began. This concert performance of the full length musical will feature the diversity of Texas music including Latino Hip-Hop, Tex-Mex Conjunto, Country music, and adaptations of traditional Mexican standards. From the pulsating beat of hip-hop and rap to the dance hall sounds of George Strait and Doug Sahm, “Carmen de la Calle” will have it all.

Set in 1989 San Antonio and the present, this adaptation of George Bizet’s classic opera dives deep into the themes of passion and envy in portraying the lives and struggles of the marginalized and working classes of South Texas. “Carmen de la Calle” highlights the hybridity of Tex-Mex culture by incorporating the melodrama of novellas (Mexican soap operas), spoken word, bilingualism, and the musical confluence of Mexican standards, modern Tejano, Hip-Hop and the music of 1989 pop culture.

The story begins in present day with Mercedes behind her bar. After witnessing a scuffle between a young patron her boyfriend, Mercedes is reminded of the tragic story of her friend, Carmen. With the musical help of a local DJ and the house band, Mercedes guides the audience through a flashback of her youth in San Antonio.

Audiences will be swept up in the lives of Carmen, a gorgeous and tenacious femme fatale factory worker and Queen of the Theo Avenue Gs, her lover Joe, a straight laced all-American Military Police officer who grew up in the Valley, and neighborhood homies like Frasquita, a female emcee with big hair, big earrings and big attitude, and Don Cairo, Carmen’s macho equal, aspiring rapper, and leader of the Theo Avenue Gs.

When: Fri. & Sat July 22-23rd @ 8PM
Sun. July 24th @ 3PM

Where: SAY Si BlackBOX Theatre
1518 S. Alamo SA,TX 78204

Tickets: $10 General Admission ( group discounts available)

Advanced tickets can be purchased at www.colectiva-sa.com