GALita presents “Que Las Hay…Las Hay. Believe It or Not!” By María Inés Falconi (Adapted, Translated and Directed by Eric Swartz)
Washington, D.C. – GALita, a program of GALA for the entire family, is proud to present the world premiere adaptation and translation by Eric Swartz of Que las hay…las hay by María Inés Falconi. Directed by Mr. Swartz, this bilingual production will be presented at GALA Theatre, 3333 14th Street NW, Washington, DC 20010 from October 19 through November 2, 2019. The theater is located one block north of the Columbia Heights Metro station on the Green and Yellow lines. Parking is available at the Giant Food garage on Park Road NW.
‘In this magical and wondrous play for children, Que las hay…las hay finds Lilí, the moody sorceress of dark clouds and thunder, and Lulú, the cheery sorceress of sunshine and chirping birds, feuding. Both are trying to help their new neighbor Juan Juan build a house, but things become chaotic when the sorceresses use their magic wands to cast opposing spells on the project. Children will delight in the fun- filled action as they discover that friendship, diversity and tolerance are key to building community.
“I was really excited when Hugo Medrano, GALA’s Producing Artistic Director,” states director Swartz, “asked me to adapt Maria Ines Falconi’s hilarious Spanish language script to a bilingual (Spanish/English) text. One of my earliest theatre going experiences—and classes—were with GALA. So it’s gratifying to return as a professional and create new memories and experiences for another generation of bilingual theatre-goers.”
“When you grow up bilingual and bicultural, as I did in Mt. Pleasant,” continued Swartz, “you learn that communication happens in the gaps between language, in tone and gestures, and in the willingness of people to understand each other when they respond in a language different from the one in which they were just addressed. The underlying message of Maria Ines’ story is one of tolerance and acceptance of our differences, and finding common ground with one another. By making the script multi-lingual, we enhance those themes and make them immediate for the children and families of Washington, DC and the greater DMV.
Student matinees for Que las hay…las hay are scheduled week days on October 21 – 25 and October 28 – November 1, 2019 at 10:30 am. Performances for the general public are on Saturdays, October 19; October 26; and November 28 at 3 pm. The duration of this show is approximately 45 minutes and is appropriate for the entire family.
ABOUT PLAYWRIGHT, DIRECTOR, AND PRODUCTION
María Inés Falconi is from Argentina and has written more than 35 plays for young and family audiences, including Tornillos flojos, El nuevo, and Sobre ruedas. A published author, she also has written short stories and novels, including Caídos del mapa. Ms. Falconi has taught playwriting at the University of Belgrano in Buenos Aires; conducted playwriting workshops in Venezuela and El Salvador; and was a member of the board of directors of the Argentine Theater Association for Children and Young Adults (ATINA) and the Executive Committee of ASSITEJ International. Among her awards are the 1995 Pregonero Award and the recipient of the first Playwrighting Award for Young Audiences by the Fondo Nacional de las Artes de Argentina.
Eric Swartz (Director) is directing his first GALita production. A Savadoran-American theater artist raised in Washington, DC, he has worked as a playwright, producer, director, stage manager, performer, and props designer, among other roles. Recent credits include: Forest Treás (Teddy) and Don Cristóbal (Co- Director, Co-Adapter, Translator; Helen Hayes Award Nomination for Outstanding Adaptation) with Pointless Theatre, and Nat Turner in Jerusalem (Stage Manager) with Forum Theatre. Previously, he was the Associate Artistic Director at Theater Alliance where he helped produce the Helen Hayes Award winning Still Life with Rocket, Word Becomes Flesh, Black Nativity, and others.
Featured in the cast are Delbis Cardona and Karen Romero, who appeared in GALita’s Between Earth and Sky and Picasso last season, and in En el tiempo de las Mariposa. Although she also performed En el tiempo de las Mariposa, Catherine Nunez is performing with GALita for her first time. Scott Whalen is also making his GALita debut.
Scenic Design is by Patti Kalil, who designed Don Cristóbal at Pointless Theatre. Lighting Design is by Hailey LaRoe, who was Associate Lighting Designer for Forest Treás at Pointless Theatre, and Costume Design is by Jeanette Christensen, who designed for Picasso last season at GALA. Sound Design is by Michael Winch, who designed How to Keep an Alien at Solas Nua. Puppet and Properties Design are by Amy Kellet and Genna Beth Davidson, who designed for Fabulas Maya. Tsai Duchicela is Stage Manager; Devin Mahoney is Technical Director; and Tony Koehler is Production Manager.
ABOUT GALita
Since 1980, GALita has produced children’s theater by Hispanic playwrights in both Spanish and English that inspire a sense of joy, discovery, pride and identity in our community’s children. GALita has commissioned new works and adaptations based on classic Hispanic literature, presented international theater companies such as Teatro Gayumba from the Dominican Republic, produced several children’s film festivals, and collaborated with Kids Euro Festival on children’s programming.
TICKET INFORMATION
Tickets are $10 each (children), Adults $12 (general public performances). For more information call 202- 234-7174 or visit www.galatheatre.org.
This production is supported by the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities and the Mayor’s Office on Latino Affairs.
