The original musical ¡Despierta! debuts in Edinburg,Texas, US to begin FridaFest
25 July 2024
Themed around art and wellness, this year's FridaFest marks Edinburg's entry into the One Nation One Project Arts for EveryBody program. Edinburg is one of the 18 cities in the country chosen to use the arts to improve the health and wellness of their citizens.
The FridaFest Art Festival embraces themes of healing, belonging, and the variety of material of Edinburg's cultural scene while paying tribute to Frida Kahlo's legacy and women's empowerment.
The Festival will open on Saturday, July 27 at 5:30 p.m.with the world premiere of an original musical called ¡Despierta!, which will feature 75 members of the community.
¡Despierta! (Wake Up!) is an original musical theater production that will be held in the historic Edinburg Municipal Auditorium,with music and lyrics by Ernesto Geronimo Vergara and a script and direction by Brisa Areli Munoz. The narrative centers on Young Glory, who returns to Edinburg following the untimely death of her parents. She first sees the town as desolate, dusty flatlands, but through a dream journey led by Gloria Anzaldua, her namesake, she soon learns of its magical qualities. As she travels, she meets migrant laborers, Frida Kahlo, diverse neighbors, and local heroes like Freddy Gonzalez, and she comes to understand that Edinburg is genuinely for everyone.
Another interesting event: open auditions for 5 women will be held by the Pharr Community Theater (PCT) for Raquel Valle-Sentíes's two-act play, Path of Marigolds, which is set to take place in Laredo, Texas.To be produced by Pedro Garcia from Pharr and directed by Dalia Bouchée from Pharr, with PCT.
The two-act comedy/drama Path of Marigolds is set on Día de Muertos, where two middle-aged women who have been close friends since high school, Ariana and Consuelo, get together for dinner at Ariana's house. They call upon the ghosts of Sor Juana Ines De la Cruz, Frida Kahlo, and Marilyn Monroe that evening. They explore successful and unsuccessful relationships while learning about a secret.
Detailed schedule of the events at the link below
