PRESS RELEASE: 4 Guys Named José and…Una Mujer Named María, August 30 – September 22, 2024
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 5, 2024
Contact: Kira Catanzaro, Marcom Manager
kira@6thstreetplayhouse.com
6th Street Presents a Love Story to Latin Culture!
4 Guys Named José and…Una Mujer Named María
SANTA ROSA, CA (August 5, 2024) – To open their 2024-2025 Season, and recognize National Hispanic Heritage Month, 6th Street Playhouse presents 4 Guys Named José and…Una Mujer Named María – a passionate, vibrant and hilarious musical celebrating Latin music and culture! Brought together by their common name and a shared musical dream, four guys named José add some spice to their lives by staging a revue of the Latin hits they grew up with. Performed in Spanish and English, this musical show-within-a-show spotlights classic standards like “La Bamba” and “Bésame Mucho,” as well as chart-topping contemporary pop hits including” Conga,” “Livin’ La Vida Loca” and many more. This production features an all-local Latino cast directed and choreographed by Erin Rose Solorio (Cabaret) and Music Directed by Nate Reibli (Cabaret). 4 Guys opens in the GK Hardt Theater on Friday, August 30, 2024.
“Qué Viva! Qué Bueno! Olé!” – Chita Rivera
Originally produced Off-Broday in 2000 by Enrique Iglesias, and conceived by David Coffman and Dolores Prida, 4 Guys Named José was developed from a timely desire to celebrate, through song and dance, the diversities and commonalities of four cultural heritages in the U.S.; Cuban, Puerto Rican, Dominican and Mexican. The book was written by Cuban-born journalist, poet, feminist and playwright, Dolores Prida, whose central theme was the search for the identity of Latino/Hispanic immigrants in the United States. All of the music, arranged by Oscar Hernandez, comes from previously written Latin songs.
Bay area director, choreographer and performer Erin Rose Solorio returns to 6th Street Playhouse, behind the scenes this time, following her laudable 2022 performances as Sally Bowles in Cabaret and Belle in Scrooge In Love! She has co-directed and choreographed Aladdin, Hairspray, The Jungle Book, a Hamilton showcase and various cabarets and radio work with Studio G and Blue Note in Napa. She has also been a TA/choreographer for jazz dance at Berkeley Playhouse. 6th Street reached out to this highly qualified Latina knowing she’d bring the energy, passion and skills required to direct this exciting production.
“This is a heartfelt musical full of silly fun. It celebrates Latin culture and pride, creates nostalgia for the homeland through songs telling family stories and unifies everyone with its beautiful universal message. Love, family, music and dance connect us all.” ~ Erin Rose Solorio
Music Director Nate Reibli will also play keyboard in the 3-piece band backing the performers. He is particularly excited about playing the “montunos,” the overlapping rhythmic piano vamps that create the groove common in Latin and Afro-Cuban music made for dancing.
The Cast of 4 Guys Named José and…Una Mujer Named María is as follows:
María – Reilly Milton
María – Jackie Diaz [Swing, two performances Thursday, 9/5 and Thursday 9/19)
José Cubano – Maick Poroj
José Dominicano – Jonathen Blue
José Boricua – Ben Roots
José Boricua/Swing – Sergio Diaz
José Mexicano – Ismael Armando Ramos
When José Cubano, José Domincano, José Mexicano and José Boricua meet at Burrito World in freezing Omaha, Nebraska, they decide to heat things up. Since they each love to sing and dance so much, they should put on a show of the Latin classics they learned from their parents and turn the local Veteran’s Hall into a tropical paradise.
The 4 Guys introduce themselves and their onstage band, El Trio Los Omahaenos. With “María Bonita” they introduce their fifth performer, María. Only, she is the wrong María! This substitute María is filling in for her roommate, but her boyfriend dumped her that day. She’s a mess and leads the show off-script.
Working their new María into their act, the 4 Guys entertain and engage the audience with a Spanish lesson game and Latin dancing demonstrations. Watching María dance, however, the men become entranced and begin competing for her affection. However, with her cynicism of love and romance, she’ll have none of it.
Throughout their show, while María fretts about the man who just dumped her, the company celebrates their various heritages.
4 Guys Named José… and una Mujer Named María is licensed by and presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI).
August 30 – September 22, 2024
Runs: Thursdays—Sundays (see website for details)
Run Time: 2 hours, including a 15-minute intermission.
Tickets cost $29 – $55.95 (including all applicable fees) and are available online at 6thStreetPlayhouse.com or by calling the Box Office at (707) 523-4185.