SUGAR SKULL! a Día De Los Muertos Musical Adventure SUGAR SKULL
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SUGAR SKULL! A Día de Los Muertos Musical Adventure presented by Mexico Beyond Mariachi Friday, November 15, 2019; 7:30 pm Mexico Beyond Mariachi presents SUGAR SKULL! A Dia de los Muertos Musical Adventure Written by Musical Arrangements by Directed by Gregory Van Acker Sinuhé Padilla Elena Araoz CAST Vita — Zahaira Curiel Sugar Skull — Rafa Reyes Marigold/Bruja/Chaneque/Viejito — Argélia Arreola Mamá/Abuelita — Alda Reuter Ancestor/Chaneque/Viejito — Quetziquetl Angulo Alemán Percussion/Strings — Benjamin Perez Violin/Voice — Ximena Violante Guitar/Voice — Victor Pichardo CREW Company Manager — Zuléma Mejías Technical & Production Manager — Scott Nuckols ACKNOWLEGEMENTS Assistant Director — Kristin Rion Choreographer — Argélia Arreola Assistant Music Director — Ximena Violante Set/Projection Design — Scott Lilly Lighting Design — Anna Carhart Sound Design — Nathan Leigh “El Coco” Puppet Designer — Jessica Scott Costumes and props — Jules Peiperl, Benjamin Hidaldo, & Alda Reuter Vita’s Song Composer — Joel Esher; Vita’s Song Lyricist — Gregory Van Acker SUGAR SKULL! A Dia de los Muertos Musical Adventure was created and produced by Rhythm of the Arts LLC | www.rhythmofthearts.com Leah Keith, Peter Bogdanos, and John Gilliland. Exclusive Tour Management Columbia Artists | 1790 Broadway, 16th floor, NY, NY 10019 | www.columbia-artists.com The Director is a member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, a national theatrical labor union. We gratefully thank our Kickstarter backers, without whom this show would not be possible. 40 2019-2020 PROGRAM GUIDE www.harriscenter.net SUGAR SKULL! A Día de Los Muertos Musical Adventure ABOUT at the Director’s Company which offers health education Twelve-year-old Vita Flores thinks her family has gone loco through theater. She’s a lover of all things dessert and planning a celebration for deceased loved ones. Why throw a even created a cupcake company: Sassy’s Sweets! Zahaira party for the dead? But when a spirited candy skeleton suddenly is honored to bring to life the character of Vita. She is grateful springs to life, Vita finds herself on a magical, musical journey for this opportunity and excited to help teach the world about to unravel the true meaning of Día de los Muertos. Meet Sugar Dia de Muertos! She would like to thank her family and friends Skull, a charismatic skeleton with a secret or two. With her constant Love and support! @zahairacuriel skeletal new friend, Vita dances with ancient ancestors, sings with a sorrowful sorceress, escapes the trickster Chaneques, ALDA REUTER (Mama/Abuelita) is the co-founder and Artistic and even meets the famous Catrina Calavera. But can this Director of Mexico Beyond Mariachi. She was born and raised clever youth gather the missing pieces needed for her family in Mexico City and comes from a family of artists who ofrenda before it’s too late? SUGAR SKULL! is a joyous, heart- celebrate the culture and traditions of Latin America. As a felt adventure that delves into the rich, tuneful traditions of Día dance educator and performer she is currently part of the de los Muertos. Featuring a company of gifted musicians and roster of Arts Connection, Ballet Hispanico, Midori & Friends, dancers, this colorful stage production is the perfect Fall Young Audiences New Jersey, Young Audiences New York, entertainment for youth and family audiences alike. Global Arts, and Community Works, and was recently recognized for 20 years of teaching artist excellence by Arts Connection. ABOUT MEXICO BEYOND MARIACHI She has studied Afrocuban folklore in Santiago, Cuba, dance Mexico Beyond Mariachi is a multi-cultural ensemble of and percussion with the masters of Peru Negro Dance Company professional musicians, actors, dancers and teaching artists in Mexico City, and flamenco percussion and dance in NYC. whose love of Mexican traditions and way of life shines bright in every performance. Our philosophy is rooted in the belief ARGELIA ARREOLA (Choreographer and Calaca/Marigold/ that art and culture are an integral part in the development of Bruja/Chaneque/Viejito) was born in México and is a dancer, every individual’s outlook on life. Personal engagement, instructor, and choreographer. She specializes in Contemporary, community experiences, and the celebration of commonality West African, Afro-Cuban and Mexican Folk Dance. She has are themes Mexico Beyond Mariachi bring to our shows as her degree in Contemporary Dance from the Universidad well as to our extensive arts-in-education offerings (residencies, Veracruzana, Mexico, 2009. In 2014 she moved to NY and workshops, and lecture demonstrations). is currently a member of Ballet Nepantla (Dancer and Choreog- rapher), MotusDuet (Dancer & Choreographer), Seewe African SUGAR SKULL CAST & CREATIVE BIOS Dance Company (Dancer) and Mexico Beyond Mariachi (Dancer & Musician). Argelia has taught and studied in France, New York, RAFA REYES (Sugar Skull) is originally from Córdoba, Mexico. He Mexico, Cuba, Chile, and Costa Rica. She was member of Forces is a graduate of the American Musical and Dramatic Academy, in of Nature Dance Theatre Company, and contemporary- New York, and an awarded Cultural Representative of acrobatic Babel Company. Argelia has been awarded grants Veracruz. Theater credits include West Side Story, Man of from Foment Projects & Co-investements 2018, Scenic La Mancha, Joseph, Once on this Island, and Rodgers and Creators 2014 and Young Creators 2102, of the National Fund Hammerstein’s Carousel, among others, in Mexico and the for Culture and the Arts (FONCA) in Mexico. Professor at the U.S. Dance credits include Ballet Nepantla, Calpulli Mexican School of Dance of the Universidad Veracruzana, México, Dance, and Jazz Roots Dance. In film, he has been seen in 2010-2012. Dance Captain and choreographer for the Ensamble Stage of Mind, Best and Worst days of George Morales’ de Percusiones of Xalapa, Mexico from 2003-2013. unnatural long life, and Fiesta — a musical short film tribute to Ricardo Montalbán and Cyd Charisse. Rafa is the creator and frontman of A Mexican Affair, a spicy blend of boleros and jazz that celebrates the beautiful cultural influence between Mexico and the U.S. Based in New York, Rafa is always thrilled to represent his beloved Mexico through his artistic work. Love to his family! @rafareyeshdez ZAHAIRA CURIEL (Vita) is a native New Yorker, born and raised in Washington Heights, with roots planted in the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. She is a graduate of Hunter College, where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Music. She recently co-produced the sold-out all-women production of CrazySexy- Cruel at The PIT. You can also catch her improvising with The Code Switch. When she is not performing, you can find her working with non-profits such as Statement Arts and S.T.A.R. www.harriscenter.net 2019-2020 PROGRAM GUIDE 41 SUGAR SKULL! A Día de Los Muertos Musical Adventure QUETZIQUETL ANGULO-ALEMAN (Calaca/Ancestor/Viejito/ and organizer creating spaces for people to celebrate their Chaneque) is an indigenous Mexica woman, born and raised in roots, re-imagine their futures, and expand their communities. In Mexico City, Mexico. Participating in traditional Mexica/Aztec 2015, Ximena co-founded Son Revoltura, a community Dance and other native ceremonies has been a central part of workshop series of son jarocho, an afromestizo musical her life since 2003. She is also an artisan, design traditional tradition from Mexico. Ximena is also the frontperson and native jewelry. She has extensive experience in Mexica/Aztec songwriter for Interminable, a futuristic fusion project that Dance; also the ability to link dance to the community and brings together son jarocho, jazz, rock, funk, classical and leadership development and holistic approach to health and electronic musics. Ximena spreads awareness of Mexican healing people through traditional practices. She is also one traditions with performance-based arts education group of the Capitan/Head of Mexica Aztec Dance Huehuetlahtolli Mexico Beyond Mariachi, and has also been a featured guest which her mission is to preserve the Indigenous way of life of musician with Las Cafeteras, Jarana Beat, Radio Jarocho, the ancient traditions of Mexico. Quetziquetl currently live in Elena and los Fulanos, and Moor Mother. As a teacher, Ximena New Jersey with her husband and kids. has led workshops on the history of son jarocho and the power of improvisation at the University of Pennsylvania, Haverford BE (Percussion/Vocals) was born NJAMIN PEREZ HIDALGO College, University of Texas San Antonio, Girls Rock Camp Alliance’s and raised in Mexico City and has been an independent annual international conference, as well as community gatherings. professional musician and touring artist for over 30 years. At age 14, he was interested in playing Latin American rhythms, GREGORY VAN ACKER (Playwright/English Lyrics) Playwright: beginning his studies in different string instruments like SUGAR SKULL!: A Día de los Muertos Musical Adventure (Mexico Jarana, Charango and Guitar. At 18, he forms part of different Beyond Mariachi, represented by Columbia Artists), The Book Latin American Folkloric groups playing in different venues. In of You (Durango Arts Center), Thurgood Grows Up (Sugar Hill 1986, he started studying and playing percussion instruments. Children’s Museum of Art and Storytelling). The opening number He studied and researched folkloric rhythms from Cuba, Haiti, from his musical Noplace (with composer Joel Esher) was Peru, Africa and Dominican Republic.