Arts Alive San Antonio

In honor of Hispanic History Month, several San Antonio theaters are presenting shows with Hispanic themes and characters.
The Public Theater of San Antonio, housed in the historic San Pedro Playhouse, is opening “American Mariachi,” by Jose Cruz Gonzalez, a musical that focuses on an all-female mariachi band and the power of determination, music and familial love. Lots of mariachi music from the brave girls and others. The show has been popular all over the U.S. (Sept 9-Oct.2; Public Theatre, 800 W. Ashby, 78212; 210-733-7258; https://thepublicsa.org; the company is offering a 50% discount if you but two tickets.)

The Classic Theater of San Antonio is offering something very different – a play by Milcha Sanchez          Scott, probably the best-known Hispanic playwright in the U.S. The show is a captivating family drama that revolves around the conflict between a cockfighting father Gallo and his son Hector who is not happy to welcome his father back home after serving a prison sentence for killing a man over roosters. Despite the serious theme, the play is punctuated with humor and touches of so-called magical realism.
(Sept.8-25 at 7:30; since the Classic has no performing home at present, the show will be presented at La Zona, a new outdoor space downtown, 333 West Commerce, a space controlled by Centro San Antonio; seating is provided, and parking is available nearby.  Tickets at https://ci-ovationtix.com/36094/productions/1129574; for info call the Classic at 210-468-3900 and box office at 210-589-8450; a 25% discount per ticket is currently offered.)

The Magik Theatre, has a new show too, one suitable for its young audiences. Titled “Selena Maria Sings,” the show is about the title character, Selena Maria, who loves music but not the music of the famous Selena Quintanilla that her mother adores. After her talented brother gets killed in an accident, mother and daughter move to Corpus Christi to build a new life, and Selena Maria eventually finds her own groove and wins her grieving mother’s acceptance and love. (Sept. 10-Oct.2; Magik Theater, 420 S. Alamo, 78205; 210-227-2751, www.magiktheatre.org;  25% discounts are offered; recommended for ages 9 +)

And here’s another one: Aria Creative Productions will present the premiere of “Un Nuevo Capitulo: An American Novella,” a comedy written by Patricia Zamora. The story deals with two families coming together despite their cultural and societal differences. It’s the old but always new story of people   finding themselves in unfamiliar and uncomfortable situations. It’s got to be hilarious! The play was an official selection of the 2021 Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center Teatro Salon Readers Theater Series. (Sept. 15-25, Thursdays & Saturdays at 7:30 p.m.; Sundays at 3 p.m.; Black Potion San Antonio, 1900 Fredericksburg RD., Suite 101, 78201; 210-849-0608; tickets are $17-25, available at the door and online www.unnuevocapitulo.bpt.me; for more info go to www.ariacreativeproductions.com)

The Jump-Start Performance Co. is presenting “The Yellow Notebook,” described as a work in progress. It will be performed by the author, Georgette Maria Lockwood, who is the season’s INKubator Artist. The story is about “a secret artist, immigration, bilingual education and the ripple effects of trauma between mothers and daughter.”  The writer shared the following about her work: “The Yellow Notebook began as a collections of haunting artwork by my mother, Rocio Alvarado Lockwood. A voice told me to keep searching for the light. It’s as if Rocio was telling me: ‘If I went through all of this, it is good we all know it, so as not to repeat.’ Judith Sloan served as project abs script collaborator. (Sept 10at 8 p.m. & Sept. 11 at 3 p.m.; pay what you choose $0-$20; Jump-Start Theatre, 710- Fredericksburg Rd, 78201; www.jump-start.org; 210-227-JUMP.)

The Tobin Center is presenting “Borderland Rogues: The Story of Los San Patricio Battalion,” described as a “theatrical concert” that deals with a historical event through live music, dance and storytelling. It sounds interesting. According to information provided by the Tobin, the story of this battalion began in the mid-1800s when Irish immigrants and Mexican & American soldiers were preparing to go to war with each other. The Irish immigrants were disappointed when wealth and land ownership did not materialize in America as promised, and they joined fellow Catholics in the Mexican army by forming the San Patricio Battalion. The show’s original score includes Native American, Mexican and Irish folksongs, while dancers engage in folkloric dances. On Sept. 12, Ireland and Mexico commemorate the mass hangings of the battalion that started on Sept.11 and continued through Sept.13. This presentation was written by Mike Ryan, who also serves as music director, and it’s directed by Nicolas Valdez. (Sept.9-10 at 8 p.m.; Alvarez Theater at the Tobin Center, 100 Auditorium Circle; tickets start at $25; tickets@tobincenter.org, 210-223-8624)

Months ago, we told you about the Caritas Concert Series devoted to organ and choral music. How time flies! The second Caritas series is now here bringing top caliber organ and choral artists to the Chapel of the Incarnate Word on the UIW campus. Founded by organist and choir director, Mary Ann Winden, and the Sisters of the Incarnate Word, the second series will present seven concerts, starting with the first on Sept.11. Titled “The Light That is Felt: A Recital of Sacred Songs,” it will feature soprano Jacquelyn Matava, pianist Mark Alexander and organist David Heller, who is replacing the originally scheduled organist, Samuel Gaskin. Represented composers are Florence Price, H. Lesli Adams, William Grant Still, Liza Lehmann and Rebecca Clarke. The tragedy of Sept. 11, 2001 will be remembered with a set of three solemn songs by three composers – Still, Poulenc and Charles Ives. (Sunday, Sept.11 at 3 p.m.; Chapel of the Incarnate Word, corner Broadway and Hildebrand; free and open to the public.)

Public Art is a big thing in San Antonio and a new public art project has just been solemnly inaugurated on the River Walk. It’s called Labor Plaza, as it is a tribute to San Antonio’s labor movement and its leaders. It honors the history and legacy of those leaders and the movement as a whole. (See photo) Local landscape architectural firm, Terra Design Group, designed the circular layout. If you look more carefully, you’ll find a poem by Octavio Quintanilla, the San Antonio poet laureate 2018-20, titled “So, that our Crossing May Never be Obstructed.” He also created the art tiles. (We have not seen the plaza in-person yet, so our description has limits, but see the enclosed photo. (Located on the River Walk, 500 E. Market At., 78205)

Speaking of poetry, albeit of a different kind, the kind called Poetry Slam, Gemini Ink is offering (Poetry) Slam 101, with C.L. “Rooster” Martinez. This is poetry as performance. Participants will create work for the slam/competitive stage and receive feedback. (Sessions Sept. 10, 17, 24 & Oct.1, 2-4 p.m. (in-person at Gemini Ink, 1111 Navarro St., 78205; 210-734-WORD ext.1009; cost $125 for nonmembers, $105 for members, discounts for students and military)

UTSA presents an important exhibit on the campus of the former Southwest School of Art, downtown:
Kukuli Velarde: Corpus, is a multi-dimensional exhibition that explores issues of colonialism, aesthetics, cultural identity and “the performance of Self.” (Don’t asks us to define that concept!) Velarde is a Peruvian-American, based in Philadelphia. Fifteen ceramic sculptures, each with matching tapestries will be presented in a symbolic representation of the annual Corpus Christi festival in Cusco, Peru. The sculptures allude to pre-Colombian forms and images. (On view Sept-9 – Nov. 5; UTSA Southwest Campus at the Santikos Bldg., 1201 Navarro St., 78205; free & open to the public. Opening reception Sept. 9, from 5:30-8 p.m.)

Ruby City has installed a new exhibit of works from the Linda Pace Foundation. We’ll tell you more after seeing the news displays. Ruby City is located at 150 Camp St, just south of downtown. It’s always free; 210-227-8400. www.rubycity.org.

The San Antonio Museum of Art has reopened its famed Latin American Popular Art Gallery. (SAMA, 200 W. Jones Ave., 210-978-8140, https://www.samuseum.org)

On the popular music front, there are always lots of choices. Here are a few:

The GRAMMY-winning rapper, Pitbull, will perform at the AT&T Center, Friday, Sept. 9. No introduction needed here. Iggy Azalea will join him on stage. (Sept. 9 at 8 p.m.; AT&T Center, 1 AT&T Center Parkway; tickets $19.50-$780; 210-444-5000, www.attcenter.com)

On Saturday, Leonel Garcia will bring “his unique energy of rhythms and blues” to the Empire Theater. This is his first solo tour. (Sept. 10 at 8 p.m. Empire Theater, 210-226-3333 box office; www.majesticempire.com)

Actor Kevin Bacon and his brother Michael have performed as a duo for years and have multiple recordings together. They are bringing their Americana music to Gruene Hall, on Friday. (Doors open at 7 p.m. the brothers take the stage at 9 p.m. (1281 Gruene Rd., 78130; $45; may be sold out)