¡ARSENIO! This play honors the life and music of the gifted Afro-Cuban composer Arsenio Rodriguez (1911-1970), sometimes called El Ciego Maravilloso because of his blindness. Working with the musical style known as son, he initiated a radical shift in tropical music that, among other things, would eventually lead to the creation of salsa in the south of the Bronx. This play is the third in the trilogy “Between Two Worlds,” which explores cultural and spiritual themes through the celebration of Latin American music. The first play deals with the musical style of cumbia (Colombia), and the second with the songs of Pedro Infante (Mexico). 

ABOUT THE PLAY:  Yenifer is a young woman with dreams of becoming a musician. She is preparing to audition for the Bronx Conservatory of the Arts. However, beset by fear and insecurity, she stumbles into a shadow world populated by monsters of her own creation. Another wanderer in this limbo comes to her aid, none other than the late Arsenio Rodríguez, legendary innovator of the Cuban music known as son. He will try to guide Yenifer toward a new understanding of herself. The means for accomplishing this: the spirited music of the heritage they share in common.

Credits: Developed by ID Studio Theater. Written by Toby Campion; co-directed by Germán Jaramillo & Leyma López; choreography by Daniel Fetecua; composition, arrangements and musical production by Pablo Mayor, production and direction assistant: Ximena Zuluaga, artistic design by Hersilia Restrepo, videography by Nicole Fernández. Cast: Manuel Viveros, Leah Young, Humberto Pernett, Sandie Luna, Michael Williams. 

In Spanish: March 16 & 17
In English: March 14 & 15
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