The musical explores the diverse stories of Mexican women from the borderlands.
By
Michael Wiltbank
December 07, 2022
Georgina Escobar, Florencia Cuenca, and Jaime Lozano's Desaparecidas began its limited engagement at Jack in Brooklyn December 2 and will continue through December 18. Cuenca also directs and stars.
The new musical, which features music and lyrics by Lozano, lyrics by Cuenca, and a book by Escobar, tells the diverse stories of Mexican women from the borderlands. The work played a sold-out concert at Joe's Pub earlier this year starring Daphne Rubin-Vega.
Cuenca leads the cast as narrator La Jenni, alongside Mayelah Barrera (El Otro Oz, Bodas De Sangre), Ana Cecilia Cantú (Young Frankenstein, The Producers), Sara Ornelas (American Mariachi, Gorda), Indra Palomo (El Otro Oz, La Canción), and Larissa Reyes Arzate (Monsters We Create, Real Women Have Curves).
The production features video design by Stefania Bulbarella, scenic design by Chris Haig, costume design by Rodrigo Muñoz, lighting design by Tuce Yasak, sound supervision by Jeanne Montalvo, makeup design by Álvaro de la Mora, and arrangements and orchestrations by Lozano. Edward Cardenales is prop master, with Angel Tavarez stage managing. Chema Verduzco produces.
Prior to the Joe's Pub concert, Desaparecidas was developed through The Civilians' R&D group and as a part of the JACK Artist Residencies, both in 2021.
Surrounded by period-accurate, 19th-century holiday decorations lit via candlelight, the 70-minute production is based on Dickens' own script of the classic.
The play comes on the heels of a broader cultural conversation about Dahl's work and the prejudice that was embedded in many of his most beloved stories.