The Crying Woman/La Llorona - Meet Our Cast!

This February, Stageplays will present Kathleen Anderson Culebro's two-act cross-cultural drama, The Crying Woman/La Llorona, in a world premiere production at the Beckett Theatre in New York City.  The Crying Woman/La Llorona performs February 1 to February 24, 2007.  We are pleased to introduce our cast:

Ioana Alfonso is currently performing on Broadway in Wicked (original cast member), and was also in the Broadway production and 1st National Tour of Saturday Night Fever.  Regional credits include Golden Boy (Long Wharf), The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber (NCT), What's Appropriate... (NYSF).  Film/TV:  Across The Universe, Whatever Lola Wants, Disney Concert Series.  In live concert, Ioana has performed with such artists as Jennifer Lopez, Ricky Martin and Whitney Houston.

Julia Barnett starred in Modern Missionary (also playwright), based on her experiences living and working in Eastern Africa (Outstanding Play 2006 NY Fringe Festival).  TV roles include Law and Order SVU, ED, Trial By Jury, Queens Supreme, The Chappelle Show and One Life To Live.  Julia provided voice talent to the Oscar-nominated animated Disney film Howl's Moving Castle, and recently performed in the independent features Noise and The Drum Beats Twice.

Trevor Jones has acted Off-Off Broadway in Ephemera, by John Yearly (part of Ariel Tepper's Summer Play Festival), A Low Lying Fog, Moonchildren, and The Misanthrope.  Trevor has appeared in many independent films; in television, he appeared this past season in Law and Order SVU.  Trevor is co-founder of REEL FARM FILMS, a production company he formed in Los Angeles.

Salome Martinez Jr.  Theatre credits include War of the Worlds, A Christmas Carol, As You Like It, The Seagull, Scapino, Camino Real, Man Of La Mancha, Lavender Lizards and Lilac Landmines:  Layla's Dream.  TV:  Law & Order, Law & Order:  Criminal Intent, Late Night With Conan O'Brien.  Film:  Drive By and El Evangelista (Chicago Latino Film Festival Audience Choice Award).

Natasha Tabandera has appeared on Broadway in Miss Saigon, Mama Mia! (also 1st National Tour), and Bombay Dreams; regionally, she played Nikki in Sweet Charity.  Natasha's film credits include The Wicked (2006 release), and most recently Rockaway, due for release in 2007.

German Nande has appeared Off-Off Broadway (Mother's Day, Beneath the Banyan Tree), in independent films (Bronxstyle, Police Affair), on television (Ed, Sex and the City), and in TV commercials in North and South America.   

For more information about the play please click on this link to visit our web site.

La Llorona - Origins of the Legend - Part 4

The legend of La Llorona originates from the time of the Spanish conquistador, Hernan Cortes, and Montezuma, ruler of the Aztec empire.  After imprisoning Montezuma, Cortes gained control of Tenochtitlan, the Aztec capital (now Mexico City), and began to loot its hidden treasure.  Montezuma's warriors counterattacked, launching a series of fierce assaults against the Spaniards.  Shortly after the battle, Montezuma succumbed, having died under mysterious circumstances.  Cortes, heavily outnumbered and his supplies and drinking water by now running low, made ready his escape from the Mexican capital.

At midnight on the "Night of Tears", Cortes parceled out the stolen Aztec gold among his troops; their horses hooves muffled, Cortes led his men across the causeway leading out of the island city.  As the Spaniards neared the lake shore, several thousand Aztec warriors rose up in ambush, and the rout was on.  In the darkness, the Spanish forces descended into panic and chaos, their retreat from the city in shambles.  In the ensuing battle, Cortes lost over 600 soldiers, nearly three quarters of his men, many drowned under the weight of their gold; the Aztec death toll stood in the thousands.  After fighting his way through to the shore, Cortes paused to re-group and take stock of his situation - in tears at the wreckage of his hopes, his bounty lying at the bottom of Lake Texcoco.  Seeing that his key assistants, among them his interpreter, Dona Marina (a.k.a. Malinche), had survived the crossing, Cortes mustered his forces in further retreat, vowing to return to the City of Dreams and recapture the Mexican capital in the name of the Spanish crown.

End of part 4 of a 5-part series; to be continued in our next newsletter.

Our Friends From Transport Group Present

Transport Group develops and produces work by American playwrights and composers with the aim of exploring the American conscience in the 20th and 21st centuries.  All The Way Home, Tad Mosel's 1961 Pulitzer Prize-winning play, is a portrait of early twentieth century family life and the crushing intrusion of sudden death.  Transport Group's production of All The Way Home has an original harmonica and vocal score written by composer Ellen Weiss.  World renowned harmonica player, Corrin Huddleston, performs live each performance night.

All The Way Home runs through November 18 at the Connelly Theatre in New York City.  For tickets visit www.theatremania.com.

On Stage And Screen

The Times They Are A-Changin', conceived and with original choreography by Twyla Tharp to the music of Bob Dylan, is a life-is-a-circus theatrical event.  Wonderful singing, that brings the music alive in support of dramatic storytelling, creates a dreamscape at once original and Felliniesque - always artistic, never dull, surprisingly moving.  A production and choreographer that breaks new ground in the theater with after-effects that are sure to impact in the years ahead.

The Little Dog Laughed and so did we.  Julie White's incredibly funny, highly precise performance will hold you from her character's first entrance to her last exit.  Remarkable acting from one of our most original stage actresses.

The Queen, opened the 44th New York Film Festival, and is now in general release.  Helen Mirren in the title role gives an uncanny impersonation of Queen Elizabeth II.  An economically-tight script balances the right touch of tension, irony and dark humor as it presents an image of the British monarchy immersed in tragedy and caught in the midst of a changing world.  The film makes its points in subtle ways while delivering astute observations on the phenonema of modern celebrity and the importance of tradition and ritual.