FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 3, 2014
Dallas Children’s Children presents
A North Texas Professional Premiere
MARIACHI GIRL
By Roxanne Schroeder-Arce
Music & Lyrics by Héctor Martínez Morales
Directed by Robyn Flatt
March 21 – March 30, 2014
Enjoyed by ages 8 and up.
This NEW and exciting bilingual musical explores how one girl challenges her identity in a modern society while embracing her rich heritage. Young Carmencita dreams of singing alongside her father as a proud mariachi, but her father insists that mariachi should only include men. When Cita becomes inspired by a book about a famous female mariachi, it expands her world and ideas of what is possible.
Director, Robyn Flatt, wants people to get excited about the story and see how the family overcomes their challenges. “Bursting with live, vibrant and original music, MARIACHI GIRL rings with rhythms and songs performed by live mariachi. It is not only the story of a young girl following her dreams, it is the story of a family struggling between allegiance to their own cultural traditions and the pressure to assimilate,” she said.
Cita’s conflict is both personal as well as uniquely universal. Young people around the globe often experience conflict between generations. Young girls often observe their brothers favored by opportunity while they can only dream. Does Cita share this view? Does she embrace it as a burden, or a challenge? Learn for yourself as MARIACHI GIRL highlights for young people the importance of finding their own voice and discovering their rightful place in the world.
Roxanne Schroeder-Arce is the playwright for the production and has received a lot of positive feedback about how people of all cultures are finding connections with this story. She also appreciates Dallas Children’s Theater’s genuine commitment to reaching out to the Hispanic/Latino community saying, “DCT had shown me before how eager they were to engage with the Latino community, and I am absolutely certain that this desire is sincere. Sometimes we see companies simply looking for ways to make money, but DCT is deeply invested in the themes in this play, and I am delighted at all the ways they are reaching out to the Dallas Latino community to bring them to the theater. MARIACHI GIRL is not just for Latinos. It’s for everybody!”
Roxanne is also hopeful that Latino families in Dallas in particular will get to experience this story. “I couldn’t ask for a more supportive artistic community. The cast is fantastic. The musicians are great. The designs are beautiful and the director’s vision is lovely. I can’t wait to experience this play in Dallas!”
David Lozano, co-founder and artistic director of Cara Mía Theatre of Dallas and the consulting director for MARIACHI GIRL, has been impressed with Robyn’s commitment to this musical throughout the last three years. “She knew that this story of a young Mexican girl with a dream to become a Mariachi is important for our entire community to see and she’s bringing a powerful story to the Latino community,” he said.
Robyn has spent a lot of time involving the community in the process of this musical. “Thanks to Robyn’s commitment to the development of this work,” David said, “I believe that MARIACHI GIRL can become a classic in the Chicano / US Latino canon of theater for young audiences."
An uplifting and original family drama about reaching for your dreams that vibrates with passion, spirit and vivacious live mariachi music. Experience the joy and excitement as Dallas Children’s Theater opens MARIACHI GIRL on Friday, March 21st.
CAST
Cita — Aisha San Roman
Luis – David Lugo
Carmen – Vanessa DeSilvio
Danny – Michael Alonzo
Mrs. Parker – Krishma Trejo
Jose – Ivan Jasso
Mariachi –Julian Arizola
Mariachi – Miguel Cantu
Mariachi – Jason Molina
Mariachi – Armando Monsivais
Mariachi – Juan Sigala
ARTISTIC
Playwright – Roxanne Schroeder-Arce
Composer – Héctor Martínez Morales
Consulting Director – David Lozano
Music Director – Julian Arizola
Costume Designer – Raul Carrasco
Set/Light/Prop Designer – Amarante Lucero
Sound Designer – Marco Salinas
Special Events
Opening night, March 21st
One hour before the show, join DCT friends, the Texas Rangers Mascot, Captain, and the Mariachi and Ballet Folklorico from W.E. Greiner Arts Exploratory Middle School for great dancing, and cultural entertainment. As always free posters, giveaways and great treats are part of every DCT Opening Night!
Fiesta Day, Saturday, March 22
DCT is delighted that The Honorable Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Mónica R. Alonzo is serving as our host for the day and invites everyone to join her in seeing the play and enjoying the Fiesta! Don’t miss the opportunity to see for yourself what Cita loves most about being a mariachi girl!
Before the show, the fabulous Anita Martinez Ballet Folklorico will entertain the audiences with their usual array of great performances and our friends from FC Dallas Soccer Tour will delight families with fun games and great giveaways.
After the show, the following entertainment will be provided for the free community event from 3 to 6pm.
• Oil and Cotton- Located in the Bishop Arts area, Oil and Cotton is both a store and a creative learning center. Blending an appreciation of the past with current multidisciplinary art practices, their students are invited to engage in the expressive languages of both music and visual art. Their hands-on classes are taught by professionals with knowledge of traditional and contemporary practice. For Fiesta day, they will helping guests make those beautiful Mexican flowers and egg shakers.
• Alegre Ballet Folklorico – In October of 1993 the group began as a continuation from a group originally for students of the Government and Law Magnet High School and opened its doors to the general public. Since then, Alegre has built itself from a three-member group up to eighty members at a time and is consistently looking to build their repertoire. Alegre Ballet Folklorico’s studio is located in the Oak Cliff Cultural Center. During the Fiesta, the group will not only be performing, but they will be teaching dance steps.
• Balloon Artist – Cinde Sanders from Amazing Attractions is an excellent balloon twister and one of the fastest and most creative balloon artists in the area. Cinde makes magical creations with balloon artistry. Personality, energy, variety and comedy added with amazing balloon sculpture creations make your experience with Miss Cinde a unique and memorable experience.
• Will Richey and Alejandro Perez, Jr. – The Power of Voice Station: This electrifying duo transcends culture, creeds and races by awakening the creative soul through artist expression. In their first session, Will and Alejandro will guide participants through both an oral and written celebration of self discovery unlike anything you’ve ever experienced. And then, if you choose, your creations can accompany Will and AP on the Baker stage. Whether you have a shy child or an outgoing one, this session will be a great experience for them.
• Rosas Divinas – Dallas' first female mariachi is celebrating 8 years of service to this community. Featured with such artist as Graciela Beltran, Fito Olivares, Freddy Fender Jr. & Lila Downs, one of the groups greatest achievements is not just pioneering a new respect for mariachi women, but rather using their musical precision to preserve the mariachi heritage for the next generation.
And DCT’s Fiesta will also feature one of Dallas’ newest food trucks…
La Casa Azul Dallas is the first gourmet Mexican food truck of its kind. Specializing only in authentic Mexican food, La Casa Azul gives the customer a very different experience from what they get at a regular Mexican restaurant. They focus on the basic traditional Mexican flavors, leaving the Tex-Mex influence out of their menu. Since its start in 2013, they've been busy at community events including the art fair, food trucking fest and many food truck parks around the Dallas and Fort Worth area. At the Fiesta, guests will be able to purchase their choice of two very popular, but reasonably priced items on their menu:
1. GOURMET TACOS:
2 chicken or steak tacos with your choice of pico or caramelized jalapeño onions, with your favorite sauce on top and crema.
2. MEXICAN TRASH:
A big boat with Tatter tots, corn chips, black beans, chicken or steak, covered with your favorite sauce and crema on top.
Saturday, April 5, Baker Idea Institutes Celebrates Word, Rhythm and Sound
Inspired by the vibrant music and rhythm featured in MARIACHI GIRL – a production currently being presented by Dallas Children’s Theater, BII presents Rhythm of Life. This one-day seminar is designed especially for educators, parents, and innovators with a special track for teenagers, too. Sessions will explore the roots of rhythm, the power of words and finding your own rhythm through a series of exciting interactive workshops, demonstrations and live performances. Presenters include: Will Richey and Alejandro Perez, Jr., Jamal Mohamed and The meadows World Music Ensemble, Dennis Gonzalez, Robyn Flatt and Ruth Cantrell, Karen Gerardo and the Booker T. Washington Mariachi. The day includes a special presentation of the play, MARIACHI GIRL. It all happens on Saturday, April 5 from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm.
Ticket Prices (includes boxed lunch)
Adults: $60.00
Students: $30.00
Scholarships available.
Continuing Professional Education Provider, State of Texas
For more information contact Coy Covington at coy.covington@dct.org.
Dallas Children’s Theater
Rosewood Center for Family Arts
5938 Skillman Street
Dallas, Texas 75231
PERFORMANCE DATES AND TIMES
Friday – March 21 – 7:30 pm
Saturday – March 22 – 1:30 pm * Fiesta Day
Sunday - March 23 – 1:30 pm & 4:30 pm
Saturday – March 29 – 1:30 & 4:30 pm
Sunday – March 30 – 1:30 pm
Saturday – April 5 – 2:45 pm as part of the Baker Idea Institute
Ticket Prices: $15 – $28 (prices subject to change, Baker Idea Institute is separately priced, call for more information.)
Box Office: 214-740-0051
Tickets also available on-line at www.dct.org
Student Matinees Available:
Dallas Children’s Theater
March 25 – 28 at 10:00 am
April 1 – 4 at 10:00 am
Latino Cultural Center
2600 Live Oak Street
Dallas, TX 75204
April 8,10,11 at 10:00 am
Additional performance on April 10 at 12:30 pm
Please call ArtReach for Booking Student Matinees at 214-219-2049.
$9/person for 10 or more. One free teacher for every 20 students.
Dallas Children’s Theater’s 2013-2014 Season is supported by Texas Instruments Foundation, Hoblitzelle Foundation, TACA, Hillcrest Foundation, The Shubert Foundation and Target. General sponsors include Texas Instruments, Inc.; Carl B. & Florence E. King Foundation, the William Randolph Hearst Foundation, The Rosewood Foundation, The Larry Hagman Fund of the Dallas Foundation and the City of Dallas Office of Cultural Affairs. Additional support is provided by Orien Levy Woolf & Dr. Jack Woolf Charitable Trust, The Holloway Family Foundation, Stemmons Foundation, American Airlines (The Official Airline of Dallas Children’s Theater), Texas Commission on the Arts and Green Mountain Energy (DCT’s official renewal energy partner).