Summertime Stages Set
Dear Supporters,
The Bilingual Foundation of the Arts exists to inspire and nurture a lifelong love of the Hispanic performing arts in the communities of Los Angeles and promote education and communication through our programs. The Bilingual Foundation of the Arts (BFA) is the only full time professional bilingual theater on the West Coast of the United States. BFA’s mission is to serve communities by presenting classic Spanish language drama and contemporary plays, in order to bring awareness of Hispanic culture. BFA also provides educational resources and training opportunities in the performing arts. BFA strives to positively affect the image and self esteem of Hispanics, and encourage the inclusion of Hispanic culture in the public school curriculum, and to create a pool of talented, well trained theater artists. Your support will enable us to continue to bring World Class Theater to Los Angeles and Southern California communities, help us introduce young people to the performing arts and ensure that our wonderful theatre continues to thrive for generations to come. We look forward to seeing you here at Carmen Zapata Theatre, your stage for bilingual productions.
Ole! Tardeada Shines as Dreams Are Made Possible
BFA President Gil Moret opened his heart and his home for the 38th Annual Ole! Tardeada to celebrate and thank the generous supporters who keep the Bilingual Foundation of the Arts programs going each year. Assisted by the Bilingual Foundation of the Arts staff, the event was catered beautifully by La Parrilla Restaurants, a tequila bar welcomed patrons at the entrance where they could place bids on auction items. Fresh quesadillas complimented the Barefoot Wines assortment of reds, whites and champagne, while Jarritos and Budweiser cold beverages quenched the thirst around the pool in the San Marino afternoon sun.
After dinner, a preview of Don Quixote was followed by Jaime James on keyboard leading into the “El Angel” Awards. Long time BFA supporter and former District 14 Council member Arthur “Art” Snyder was handed his “El Angel” award by Carmen Zapata while Wells Fargo Bank Vice-President Roy Jasso and Department of Cultural Affairs Los Angeles Executive Director Olga Garay were also recognized for their contributions to BFA. Orlando Ortega was also honored with the first ever Don Quixote Award for his work joining the community to the corporations and Karla Ruiz was rewarded for her outstanding volunteer efforts in the community with a $1,000 Scholarship to be used towards furthering her education.
The night ended a success with The Chico Band getting the people on their feet dancing and Gil Moret serenading the night better than any other “Chairman of the Board” could offer. We look forward to a spectacular year on the stage, thanks to the community, the BFA Board of Trustees, BFA Board of Advisors, the Ole Planning Committee and the BFA Staff and Volunteers that make these events entertaining and possible. Special thanks to the BFA event sponsors and benefactors who gave generously in order to make the dreams of BFA possible.
July 15th Begins 1st Festival de Teatro en Accion de Los Angeles
The Bilingual Foundation of the Arts unites East Los Angeles on the stage for the first ever Theater Festival to be held in Lincoln Heights mid-July at the historic Old Jail. This summer, the first Theater Festival ever will be held in the Lincoln Heights area of Los Angeles and will benefit the communities surrounding East Los Angeles. With a bilingual flavor, there will be six different productions by six theater companies from six regions of Los Angeles. Hosted at the Old Jail off North Broadway and North Avenue 19, the Bilingual Foundation of the Arts will close the Festival with a new reading of “La Salamandra” directed by founder Margarita Galban.
Opening the 1st Annual festival will be the Awareness Theater under the Direction of Pablo Marz as he portrays the typical life of a Latino in Los Angeles. Hugo Quintana directs the Bilingual Foundation actors through a blind date gone awry centered around a park bench in “Cita a Ciegas”. In a tribute to Patronato del Teatro, a translation of the mysterious “Espíritu Burlón” will be performed under the watchful eye of Galban in a collaborative effort between theaters. In “Art”, Manolo Travieso Productions discuss art, psychology and power as the festival peaks and provokes thought among friends who have gathered. “Wild in Wichita” was the grand prize winner this year for the award offered by the MetLife Foundation and Repertorio Espanol since the year 2000. In honor of the memory of author and director C. Bernard Jackson, one of his most beautiful Works, “Piano Bar”, will be presented by Inner City Cultural Center and directed by Hawthorne James to conclude the summer festival.
Teatro en Acción : Festival de Teatro takes place 15th, 16th, 17th; 22nd, 23rd and 24th of July 2011 at 421 North Avenue 19 in Los Angeles. The event is supported by grants and donations from the NEA, LA County Arts Commission, the Consul of Spain to Los Angeles, the University of Minnesota, Union Bank, Dr. Herbert Miller, PhD. and the Metro. More than a community effort, this festival has international appeal and unites the Hispanic community through artistic, cultural and educational programs that reach for the essence of la vida in Los Angeles.
La Ultima Aventura de Quixote en el Otoño
This Fall Margarita Galban and Lina Montalvo combine their visions to bring Don Quixote alive in his final adventure based on the original masterpiece from Spain’s Golden Age author Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra. Margarita Galban directs the actors on the stage from the end of September through to the first weekend in November in a story set somewhere in the 16th century of Spain. Mixing in bands of gypsies, soldiers and a love story, the BFA fall work of fiction insures that there will be intrigue, betrayal, a duel and some great fight scenes that ends with a surprise. As a founding work of modern Western literature, and one of the earliest canonical novels, Don Quixote regularly appears high on lists of the greatest works of fiction ever published. In one such list, Don Quixote was cited as the "best literary work ever written". Opening night is Thursday, September 29th at Carmen Zapata Theater 421 North Avenue 19, Los Angeles, CA 90031. For more information please visit the BFA website at http://www.bfatheatre.org
