A GALita Musical for Young Audiences
Source: GALA Theatre
Washington, D.C.–GALA Hispanic Theatre continues its 49th season with the bilingual world premiere of Frida Libre, book and lyrics by acclaimed playwright Karen Zacarías and music by Deborah Wicks La Puma. This lively musical is directed by Elena Velasco and runs October 12 through October 26, 2024, at GALA Theatre.
Frida Libre–is an uplifting tale, full of lively songs that celebrate friendship, courage, and transformation. It follows Alex, a quiet boy who dreams of becoming a luchador. His life changes when he meets Frida, a bold girl who dreams of being a doctor. Inspired by the childhood of the iconic artist Frida Kahlo, this story will inspire and entertain audiences.
Student matinees for Frida Libre are scheduled on weekdays from October 14-18 and October 21-25 at 10:30 am. More information can be found on the GALA website under Education. Public performances are on Saturday, October 12, 19, and 26 at 3 pm. This family show is about 55 minutes and suitable for ages 5 and up.
ABOUT THE PRODUCTION
Featured in the cast are Ixchel Hernández (Frida), who most recently appeared in Quijote & Sancho Panza and Sam Gatica (Alex), who is making his GALA debut. Marimer Espíritu (Ensemble) returns to GALA after appearing in Picasso last season and Steven Franco (Ensemble) is also making his GALA debut.
Scenic Design is by María Laird with Lighting Design by Arthur Kohn, and Costume Design by Rukiya Fields. Bobby McCoy is Music Director, Angélica G. Huertas is Sound Designer, and Ilyana Rose-Dávila is Properties Designer.
ABOUT THE CREATIVE TEAM
Karen Zacarías (Playwright & Lyricist) is an award-winning playwright whose works include The Book Club Play, Legacy of Light (Steinberg Citation Award), Mariela in the Desert (Francesca Primus Award), and The Sins of Sor Juana (Helen Hayes Award). Her plays have been widely produced, including adaptations such as How the García Girls Lost Their Accents and Just Like Us. She has also created TYA musicals like Einstein is a Dummy and Frida Libre with composer Debbie Wicks la Puma. Zacarías’ musical Chasing George Washington premiered at the Kennedy Center and toured nationally. She is currently adapting Edith Wharton’s The Age of Innocence for the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and working on the Brazilian-themed Oliverio: A Brazilian Twist on Dickens for the Kennedy Center. She is the first playwright-in-residence at Arena Stage in Washington, DC, and founded Young Playwrights’ Theater (YPT), which won the 2010 National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award. This is the fourth play by Karen that GALA has produced.
Elena Velasco (Director) is a theatre artist with over 25 years of experience in performance, production, activism, and education. Since July 2020, she has served as Artistic Director of Rehearsal for Life, a Boston- based social justice theatre for youth focused on building social and emotional skills through creativity and performance. Prior to this, she taught at Bowie State University’s Theatre and Dance program, Maryland’s oldest historically Black college. Velasco is also Co-Director of EDIA (Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Access) for the American Alliance for Theatre and Education. Her directing and choreography credits include Convergence Theatre (Founding Artistic Director), GALA Hispanic Theatre, Synetic Theater, Keegan Theatre, Mosaic Theater Company, and the Kennedy Center. She has consulted on EDIA for organizations like Theatre Washington and the Southeastern Theatre Conference and has spoken on panels for Boston Conservatory at Berklee, Mosaic Theater, and others. As a playwright, Ms. Velasco has been commissioned by Synetic Theater, Adventure Theatre, and Discovery Theater.
Deborah Wicks La Puma (Composer) is a composer, music director, orchestrator and choral conductor. She is one of the most produced Theatre for Young Audiences artists working today, with her work being seen across the globe and enjoying both popular and critical success. Her awards include an Off-Broadway Alliance Award, the Harold Oaks Award for Sustained Excellence in TYA, the Jane Chambers Playwriting Award, a National Endowment for the Arts’ New American Works Grant, a Helen Hayes Award, and two Parent’s Choice Awards. Her work has been commissioned and premiered at The Kennedy Center, Cornerstone Theatre, La Jolla Playhouse, South Coast Rep, the Alliance Theatre, The Theatre at Boston Court, Childsplay, Bay Area Children’s Theatre, Imagination Stage, and Olney Theatre. Her arranging credits include TYA hits such as The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, Mo Willems’ Knuffle Bunny, and Joan Cushing’s Miss Nelson is Missing and Petite Rouge. As a music director and orchestrator, she has worked with major regional theatre companies including the Guthrie and Oregon Shakespeare Festival.
TICKET & GENERAL INFORMATION
Regular tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for children. To purchase tickets and for more information, visit galatheatre.org or call (202) 234-7174. Tickets are also available on Goldstar and TodayTix.
GALA is at 3333 14th Street NW, Washington, DC 20010. The theatre has 4 wheelchair accessible spaces and an elevator to transport people from the entrance to the lobby, and to the house. Parking is available at a $4 flat rate in the Giant garage on Park Road, NW (must validate parking ticket at theatre lobby for discount). GALA is located one block north of the Columbia Heights Metro station (Green/Yellow lines).
