GALA Hispanic Theatre announces its 2012-2013 season

GALA Hispanic Theatre announces its 37th season will be bringing international artists to its 14th Street GALA Theatre. 

Their season includes a comedy from Spain’s Golden Age, a drama based on a book by Chilean novelist Isabel Allende and a musical about the great Puerto Rican baseball player Roberto Clemente.

Their ArteAmericA series showcases a theatrical troupe from Mexico,  a film festival, a Flamenco celebration with artists from Madrid and Washington, DC and comedian from Columbia and two plays for children in their series, GALita.

Hugo Medrano, GALA co-founder and Producing Artistic Director states”“[The season] brings leading Hispanic artistic leaders and artists from throughout the Hemisphere, the Caribbean and Spain to GALA to share their artistic visions with Washington audiences. From directors living and working in New York and Puerto Rico, to Mexican and Salvadoran flamenco choreographers, to an innovative multi-disciplinary ensemble from Mexico and a Colombian comedian from Miami, these artists are pushing the boundaries of their disciplines to enrich the cultural landscape of communities around the globe and to bring the Latino arts to the forefront.”

Subscriptions are on sale now.

MAINSTAGE SEASON PRODUCTIONS 

El desdén con el desdén/In Spite of Love   (DC Premiere)
September 13-October 7, 2012
By Agustín Moreto (Spain)
Directed by Hugo Medrano
In Spanish with English surtitles

A Count and Princess have vowed never to fall in love—and then they meet each other!  In order to win the love of the indifferent princess Diana, the Count of Urgel feigns disdain, thus setting off a series of comical situations. In one of the most popular comedies to come out of Spain’s Golden Age, this contemporary of Lope de Vega portrays colorful characters that move among Spain’s lavish and gallant aristocracy of the 17th century.

La casa de los espíritus/The House of the Spirits  (DC Premiere)
February 7-March 10, 2013

By Caridad Svich
Based on the novel by Isabel Allende (Chile)
Directed by José Zayas
In Spanish with English surtitles

The compelling saga of the Trueba family traces the post-colonial social and political upheavals of Chile. An engrossing tale of magical realism that speaks to passion, human rights and reconciliation. José Zayas has been in residence at several theaters including Repertorio Español, the Ensemble Studio Theater and INTAR. He also has directed at the Denver Center Theatre Company, Astoria Performing Arts Center, SOHO Rep, Virginia Stage Company and Teatro Mori in Chile, where he directed the international debut of this captivating play.

DC-7: The Roberto Clemente Story (DC Premiere)
April 18-May 26, 2013

By Luis Caballero (Puerto Rico)
Directed by Luis Caballero
A bilingual musical

From the barrios of Puerto Rico to his successful seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates to the fateful flight to Nicaragua to deliver humanitarian aid, Roberto Clemente was admired and loved for his talents and generosity. This musical tale reveals the man who battled triumphantly on the baseball field and, inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King, fought racism and discrimination.

ARTEAMERICA SERIES

For more than 25 years GALA has presented the ArteAmericA series, which has commissioned new works of theater, music, and dance and has introduced traditional and cutting edge art forms and artists to Washington audiences.

CINE MEXICANO

Primer ciclo: La pantalla cómica
October 12-14, 2012

Enjoy three days of Mexican landmark films. Laughter will ring as audiences discover golden moments of the giants of Mexican comedy. From the era of Cantinflas, Tin Tán, and Piporro, to the lucha libre films of the late 60s, and finally the bravado of Diego Luna and Gael García Bernal’s recent film Rudo y Cursi.

AMARILLO

Teatro Línea de Sombra (Mexico)
Directed by Jorge A. Vargas
November 2 & 3, 2012

A man departs for the U.S.-Mexican border and vanishes. Headed for Amarillo, Texas, speculation arises as to what happened to him on the journey and why he never arrived.  A powerful dance-theater piece that weaves real and magical landscapes of geography and cultural identity.

FUEGO FLAMENCO VIII 

KAREN LUGO
Flamenco: Territorio DeMente  (U.S. Premiere)

Presented by Fundación Conservatorio Flamenco Casa Patas

November16–18, 2012 

GALA collaborates with Madrid’s leading conservatory for flamenco to bring to Washington, DC the riveting Karen Lugo, and other internationally acclaimed flamenco artists for three exclusive engagements. Lugo fuses traditional flamenco and modern dance as she explores that emotional place where sadness, sanity, passion and instinct co-exist.

FLAMENCO EN FAMILIA

November 24, 2012

Free interactive demonstrations in castanets, fans and zapateo for children and the entire family led by members of the Spanish Dance Society, and other local flamenco artists.

FLAMENCO APARICIO DANCE COMPANY

Flamenco/Flamenca (World Premiere)
November 30–December 2, 2012

Edwin Aparicio, who appears regularly at national and international dance festivals, has created a stunning new work exploring his Latin American heritage. The show features guest artists from Spain, Los Angeles, and New York.

Saulo García

Entrada Gratis
Directed by Yoshvani Medina

December 7 & 8, 2012

With biting humor, Colombian comedian Saulo García pokes fun at the little white lies that we all learn to tell in order to survive in our society. García returns to GALA after last year’s sold out performances of La vida en los Esclavos Unidos had audiences rolling in the aisles with laughter.

GALita – THEATER FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES 

PLATERO Y YO

By Juan Ramon Jiménez (Spain)

Bilingual version and direction by Cornelia Cody

October 15-27, 2012 at 10:30 am
October 20 and October 27 at 3 pm

A young poet and his donkey Platero deepen their friendship as they encounter changing seasons, children, eccentrics and gypsies in the Andalusian countryside. A bilingual presentation of a poignant classic by one of the greatest writers of modern Spanish literature.

Fiesta de los Tres Reyes Magos/Three Kings Day

January 6, 2013 at 2 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!

Las aventuras de Don Quijote de La Mancha (In repertory)

From de novel by Miguel de Cervantes
Adapted by Patricia Suárez (Argentina)
Directed by Hugo Medrano

March 18-28 at 10:30 am
March 23 and March 30 at 3 pm

With his sidekick Sancho Panza, a chivalrous Spanish gentleman from La Mancha takes up his lance and sword to defend the helpless as he rides in search of glory and grand adventure. A bilingual adaptation of the greatest novel in Spanish literature!

SPECIAL EVENTS

Mark your calendar for GALA’s annual benefit event, Noche de Estrellas, on March 12, 2013, featuring entertainment, silent and live auctions, and delicious Latin American food. Proceeds support GALA’s artistic and educational programs.

TICKETS: General Admission to season series productions is $36 Thursdays and Sundays; $40 Fridays and Saturdays. Tickets for seniors (65+) and military are $26 Thursdays and Sundays; $20 Fridays and Saturdays. Tickets for students are $20 for all performances. Additional discounts are available for groups of 10 or more, and for student groups. Tickets are also available on TICKETplace and Goldstar. To order, call 202-234-7174, 800-494-8497, or visit www.galatheatre.org. 

SUBSCRIPTION: GALA’s Subscription Program includes more than 20% savings on mainstage season productions, select programs and events, as well as priority seating, unlimited exchanges, special invitations, friend discounts, exclusive FIRST LOOK events for every season production (a peek into the minds of the director, designers and actors before rehearsals begin), and much more. The 2012-2013 Season Subscription is $99

LOCATION: GALA Theatre, 3333 14^th Street NW, Washington, DC (Columbia Heights Metro, Green Line). PARKING: Discounted parking is available in the secure Giant parking garage directly behind the theatre; the entrance is located on Park Road and Holmead Street. Parking is also available in the Target garage off of Park Road, between 14^th and 16^th streets.