Following a record-setting run at Arizona’s Phoenix Theater Company in 2020, ¡Americano!—the new musical based on the life of DREAMer Tony Valdovinos—will play a limited run at Off-Broadway’s New World Stages March 31-June 19. Opening night is April 21.

¡Americano! features a score by singer-songwriter Carrie Rodriguez, a book by Michael Barnard, Jonathan Rosenberg, and Fernanda Santos, and additional lyrics by Barnard and Rosenberg. Barnard also directs.

Casting will be announced in the coming weeks.

The new musical explores the life of Valdovinos, who was brought to America by his parents when he was two. Inspired by 9/11, on his 18th birthday Valdovinos walked into a Marine Corps recruitment office to enlist, only to discover his parents hadn’t told him he was an undocumented immigrant.

Developed in association with Amas Musical Theatre, ¡Americano! features choreography by Sergio Mejia, orchestrations and arrangements by Sergio Mendoza, music direction and vocal arrangements by Jonathan Ivie, scenic design by Robert Andrew Kovach, costume design by Adriana Diaz, lighting design by Jamie Roderick, sound design by Kevin Heard, and hair and make-up design by Krystal Balleza. Tony winner Ken Davenport is the executive consultant.

Producer Jason Rose says, “Tony Valdovinos may not yet be an American citizen, but he is a true American hero. Tony’s passion to make a better America inspires at a moment when tribalism continues to dominate the headlines. Our incredible creative team has seen to it that Tony’s story sings, dances, and inspires with an optimism that reflects Tony’s spirit.”

The musical is co-produced by Sayu Bhojwani, David Tedesco, Lynn Londen, George Weisz, and Keith Mishkin. Ryan Duncan-Ayala, Donna Trinkoff, Amas Musical Theatre, and Sarah Bentley serve as associate producers with general management by Visceral Entertainment and advertising and marketing by The Pekoe Group. Casting is by Michael Cassara.

¡Americano! was conceived and is presented by Rose’s Quixote Productions in association with Chicanos Por La Causa.

The post DREAMer-Inspired Musical ¡Americano! Sets Off-Broadway Run at New World Stages appeared first on Americano The Musical.

But seven years after its start in 2015, the Arizona-birthed musical “¡Americano!” is going to New York City.

The new off-Broadway production will hit the New World Stages for its premiere on April 21. The theater, owned by the Shubert Organization, is one of the three 499 seat show halls, making it one seat short of the 500-seat Broadway theater requirement. Tickets go on sale on Feb. 17 at 10 a.m. EST.

Directed by Phoenix Theatre Company artistic director Michael Barnard and produced and conceived by entrepreneur Jason Rose, “¡Americano!” is the first Arizona-born musical to make it to an off-Broadway stage in New York City.

Jonathan Rosenberg and Fernanda Santos co-wrote the story alongside Barnard and Austin singer-songwriter Carrie Rodriguez composed the music for the show.

The show will run through June 19 with the possibility of extending the 10-week run.

Chicanos Por La Causa — an Arizona-based organization that fights against Latino oppression — is spearheading the $3 million undertaking with a $1.75 million investment.

“While our goal was always aimed at Broadway, getting there was highly uncertain and extremely risky,” Rose said. “We are now on the verge of realizing a dream and this dream would ultimately take us further into New York on even bigger stages. It would take us to road shows around the country, and shows across the world. We can’t get there without taking this step. And it’s an exciting one for the state of Arizona. It’s our shot and we are taking it.”

The true story behind Phoenix Theatre Company’s ‘¡Americano!’

“¡Americano!” tells the story of Phoenix resident Tony Valdovinos, who says his story started in New York.

The ensemble performing “Fiesta” in ¡Americano! at The Phoenix Theatre Company. Courtesy Of Reg Madison Photography

After he saw the twin towers collapse when he was in sixth grade, Valdovinos knew he wanted to fight for his country. But when he enlisted for the marines at 18, a recruiter told Valdovinos he was undocumented.

“I always had it in my mentality that I was getting ready to do my part, which was to defend what we had, our lives, our country, the Pledge of Allegiance. Never in that time growing up did I imagine that I was not part of this country,” Valdovinos said. “I found out that day that as soon as I graduated high school, I was not going into the Marines but that I was actually going into an abyss of no opportunities.”

Valdovinos never became a Marine. But since his rejection, Valdovinos has carried a 12-year career of political efforts, in which he spearheaded the election of U.S. Marine, Ruben Gallego, to Congress in 2015. Now the president of La Machine, a political operation firm, Valdovinos is campaigning for Gallego’s reelection and fighting for Latino rights.

On Jan. 29, 2020, Valdovinos’ story hit the Phoenix Theatre Company stage for the world premiere of “Americano.” The show set box office records for an original musical during its four-week run, concluding with 10 straight sell-out shows.

“When we finished two weeks before the pandemic set in after a record-setting run, it was discouraging,” Rose said. “But when there’s a crisis, there’s opportunity. And so we kept the band together. We kept our national team together, and ultimately things started clearing up.”

Why ‘¡Americano!’ is playing off-Broadway next to Jersey Boys

In September 2021, Rose and Barnard began searching for theaters across New York City to showcase “¡Americano!.”

They didn’t find a venue.

But 10 days after returning to Phoenix, Rose challenged the show’s executive consultant Ken Davenport to find a theater. Six hours later, Davenport called.

The Shubert Organization — the company which currently operates 17 Broadway theatres and six off-Broadway venues — had an open theater at New World Stages. People from the organization had seen “¡Americano!” in its world premiere in January 2020 — and loved it, Rose said.

“The organization said, ‘your timing is impeccable,'” Rose said. “‘Do you want to go in next to Jersey Boys?'”

The show was slated to premiere in April 2022. But to put the show on the stage, Barnard and Rose needed to raise more than three million dollars in less than three months.

“It was a Herculean task,” Rose said.

Two months later, Chicanos Por La Causa decided to invest in the project.

How Chicanos Por La Causa helped  ‘¡Americano!’ get to New York

It was November 2021 when the “¡Americano!” cast and crew flew to New York City for a two-week workshop to refine the musical. At the end of the workshop, the cast performed three shows.

Board members from Chicano Por La Causa  (CPLC) were in the audience. After the shows, the team met with David Adame, president and CEO of CPLC.

“They talked about the play, they talked about the opportunity, and then they had those guys perform in our boardroom,” Adame said. “And with that, I said, ‘game over. We’re gonna be part of this.’ This could be the next “In the Heights.”

Since the start of the pandemic, CPLC has served more than 2.1 million people across the Southwest with offices in Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, California and Texas. The organization helps meet the needs of the Hispanic community in five ways:  Health & human services, housing, education, economic development and advocacy.

The mission of “¡Americano!” — to share the struggles of Dreamers across the United States  — aligned with the mission of CPLC, Adame said.

“When I heard the details of the story, I said that plays out every day,” Adame said. “We need other communities understand our journey and understand our story, understand and not listen to some of the negative rhetoric that goes out there. If this thing is successful, could we have bought a greater platform to tell our community story on a national stage? The short answer is obvious. No.”

When to see ‘¡Americano!’ and how to get tickets

Details: April 21 through June 19. New World Stages, 340 W 50th St, New York, NY. https://bit.ly/3uWcI9k

The post Arizona ‘Dreamer’ musical to debut off-Broadway: ‘This could be the next ‘In the Heights’ appeared first on Americano The Musical.

(PHOENIX, Ariz.) – Americano! – a record-setting musical based on the life of a DREAMer –finalized an agreement with New York City-based Amas Musical Theatre to co-produce a live production of Americano!, starting with a two-week workshop in Fall, 2021.

For over 50 years, Amas has been a non-profit, multiethnic theatrical organization in New York, founded in 1968 by Ms. Rosetta LeNoire to create more diversity in the American theatre. The organization is devoted to the professional production of new American musicals presenting cultural equity, minority perspectives and the emergence of new artistic talents.

“Americano’s story and music inspires us. We knew we wanted to be a part of its promising journey. We’re pleased to have completed our agreement after negotiations and evaluations over the past number of months,” said Donna Trinkoff, Artistic Producer of Amas.

The agreement between Amas and Americano! Producer Jason Rose and his Quixote Productions also provides an option for both parties to continue to co-produce moving forward.

“I believe Americano! has the chance to be the most emotionally resonant and successful musical to ever come out of Arizona,” said Michael Barnard, Artistic Director, Co-Author and Director of Americano!. “We are thrilled to be partnering with Amas as they will bring a new and unique perspective on the production. We couldn’t think of a more appropriate theatre to continue to help tell this important and timely story to audiences in New York City, and hopefully, all over the world.”

Playwright and Co-Author of Americano! Jonathan Rosenberg added, “With a new administration in the White House, now is the time for DREAMers to have a pathway to citizenship that has been long-promised but never received. I believe Americano! can assist the building of that path by showcasing to the theater-going public that experience of one courageous DREAMer, Tony Valdovinos.”

Americano! is the true-life story of Antonio Valdovinos, a DREAMer who grew up in Phoenix and learned of his undocumented status on his 18^th birthday after trying to enlist in the U.S. Marine Corps.

Americano! completed its record setting 27-show run on February 23^rd 2020 at The Phoenix Theatre Company, breaking all-time state records for an original musical. Besides the box office record, nearly 10,000 people saw Americano! with a string of 10 sold-out performances to complete the run.  Americano! was also the centerpiece of The Phoenix Theatre Company’s 100^th Anniversary season.

Tony Award-winning producer Ken Davenport serves as Americano!’s Executive Consultant. He was instrumental in initiating the deal with Amas. Davenport has produced 20 Broadway shows and received a Tony Award for Kinky Boots and Once on This Island. Broadway veteran Ryan Conway has been hired as the General Manager as the show continues to press forward in New York.

The production is also proud to have the first Latina composer of a major American musical, singer-songwriter Carrie Rodriguez, and a cast that was, in Arizona, ninety percent Latino. The musical’s choreography is by the multi-talented Sergio Mejia. The show is fortunate to have Sergio Mendoza, a member of the Grammy nominated band Calexico, as its musical arranger.

For media inquiries please contact Jennifer Parks-Sturgeon at (480) 495-3806 or by emailing Jparks-Sturgeon@RoseMoserAllynPR.com.

(PHOENIX, Ariz.) – Americano! – a record-setting musical based on the life of a DREAMer –finalized an agreement with New York City-based Amas Musical Theatre to co-produce a live production of Americano!, starting with a two-week workshop in Fall, 2021.

For over 50 years, Amas has been a non-profit, multiethnic theatrical organization in New York, founded in 1968 by Ms. Rosetta LeNoire to create more diversity in the American theatre. The organization is devoted to the professional production of new American musicals presenting cultural equity, minority perspectives and the emergence of new artistic talents.

“Americano’s story and music inspires us. We knew we wanted to be a part of its promising journey. We’re pleased to have completed our agreement after negotiations and evaluations over the past number of months,” said Donna Trinkoff, Artistic Producer of Amas.

The agreement between Amas and Americano! Producer Jason Rose and his Quixote Productions also provides an option for both parties to continue to co-produce moving forward.

“I believe Americano! has the chance to be the most emotionally resonant and successful musical to ever come out of Arizona,” said Michael Barnard, Artistic Director, Co-Author and Director of Americano!. “We are thrilled to be partnering with Amas as they will bring a new and unique perspective on the production. We couldn’t think of a more appropriate theatre to continue to help tell this important and timely story to audiences in New York City, and hopefully, all over the world.”

Playwright and Co-Author of Americano! Jonathan Rosenberg added, “With a new administration in the White House, now is the time for DREAMers to have a pathway to citizenship that has been long-promised but never received. I believe Americano! can assist the building of that path by showcasing to the theater-going public that experience of one courageous DREAMer, Tony Valdovinos.”

Americano! is the true-life story of Antonio Valdovinos, a DREAMer who grew up in Phoenix and learned of his undocumented status on his 18^th birthday after trying to enlist in the U.S. Marine Corps.

Americano! completed its record setting 27-show run on February 23^rd 2020 at The Phoenix Theatre Company, breaking all-time state records for an original musical. Besides the box office record, nearly 10,000 people saw Americano! with a string of 10 sold-out performances to complete the run.  Americano! was also the centerpiece of The Phoenix Theatre Company’s 100^th Anniversary season.

Tony Award-winning producer Ken Davenport serves as Americano!’s Executive Consultant. He was instrumental in initiating the deal with Amas. Davenport has produced 20 Broadway shows and received a Tony Award for Kinky Boots and Once on This Island. Broadway veteran Ryan Conway has been hired as the General Manager as the show continues to press forward in New York.

The production is also proud to have the first Latina composer of a major American musical, singer-songwriter Carrie Rodriguez, and a cast that was, in Arizona, ninety percent Latino. The musical’s choreography is by the multi-talented Sergio Mejia. The show is fortunate to have Sergio Mendoza, a member of the Grammy nominated band Calexico, as its musical arranger.

For media inquiries please contact Jennifer Parks-Sturgeon at (480) 495-3806 or by emailing Jparks-Sturgeon@RoseMoserAllynPR.com.

(PHOENIX, Ariz.) – Americano! – a record-setting musical based on the life of a DREAMer –finalized an agreement with New York City-based Amas Musical Theatre to co-produce a live production of Americano!, starting with a two-week workshop in Fall, 2021.

For over 50 years, Amas has been a non-profit, multiethnic theatrical organization in New York, founded in 1968 by Ms. Rosetta LeNoire to create more diversity in the American theatre. The organization is devoted to the professional production of new American musicals presenting cultural equity, minority perspectives and the emergence of new artistic talents.

“Americano’s story and music inspires us. We knew we wanted to be a part of its promising journey. We’re pleased to have completed our agreement after negotiations and evaluations over the past number of months,” said Donna Trinkoff, Artistic Producer of Amas.

The agreement between Amas and Americano! Producer Jason Rose and his Quixote Productions also provides an option for both parties to continue to co-produce moving forward.

“I believe Americano! has the chance to be the most emotionally resonant and successful musical to ever come out of Arizona,” said Michael Barnard, Artistic Director, Co-Author and Director of Americano!. “We are thrilled to be partnering with Amas as they will bring a new and unique perspective on the production. We couldn’t think of a more appropriate theatre to continue to help tell this important and timely story to audiences in New York City, and hopefully, all over the world.”

Playwright and Co-Author of Americano! Jonathan Rosenberg added, “With a new administration in the White House, now is the time for DREAMers to have a pathway to citizenship that has been long-promised but never received. I believe Americano! can assist the building of that path by showcasing to the theater-going public that experience of one courageous DREAMer, Tony Valdovinos.”

Americano! is the true-life story of Antonio Valdovinos, a DREAMer who grew up in Phoenix and learned of his undocumented status on his 18^th birthday after trying to enlist in the U.S. Marine Corps.

Americano! completed its record setting 27-show run on February 23^rd 2020 at The Phoenix Theatre Company, breaking all-time state records for an original musical. Besides the box office record, nearly 10,000 people saw Americano! with a string of 10 sold-out performances to complete the run.  Americano! was also the centerpiece of The Phoenix Theatre Company’s 100^th Anniversary season.

Tony Award-winning producer Ken Davenport serves as Americano!’s Executive Consultant. He was instrumental in initiating the deal with Amas. Davenport has produced 20 Broadway shows and received a Tony Award for Kinky Boots and Once on This Island. Broadway veteran Ryan Conway has been hired as the General Manager as the show continues to press forward in New York.

The production is also proud to have the first Latina composer of a major American musical, singer-songwriter Carrie Rodriguez, and a cast that was, in Arizona, ninety percent Latino. The musical’s choreography is by the multi-talented Sergio Mejia. The show is fortunate to have Sergio Mendoza, a member of the Grammy nominated band Calexico, as its musical arranger.

For media inquiries please contact Jennifer Parks-Sturgeon at (480) 495-3806 or by emailing Jparks-Sturgeon@RoseMoserAllynPR.com.

The post Record Setting Arizona Musical Signs Key Agreement with Diversity Focused New York Co-Producer and Organization appeared first on Americano The Musical.