Concert: Lady Zen, Don Krim, and Paul Voudouris
Saturday, August 11, 7pm
San Miguel Playhouse, Avenida Independencia 82
Tickets:
400 and 300 pesos
Boleto City, Second floor, Mercado Sano, Ancha de San Antonio 123
Online: latroupemexico.com

Lady Zen, Don Krim, and Paul Voudouris in an All-Star Benefit Concert

Lady Zen, Don Krim, Paul Voudouris

By Fredric Dannen

The biggest problem I’ve had producing concerts for three of San Miguel’s greatest vocal stars—blues and gospel singer Lady Zen, countertenor Don Krim, and singer-songwriter Paul Voudouris—is that on each occasion, there were more people clamoring for tickets than there were seats in the concert hall. As they say, it’s a good problem to have.

On Saturday, August 11, at 7pm, at the San Miguel Playhouse, all three performers will appear together for one night only in a special concert. Proceeds will help offset the costs of producing one of the most exciting theatrical events ever to come to San Miguel—the first production outside the United States of a new play by Stephanie Alison Walker, The Madres, about the disappearance of dissidents during the Argentinean military dictatorship and its effect on one family. The Madres will debut, with the playwright in attendance, at the Playhouse on Thursday, August 23. When Walker’s play received its world premiere earlier this year in Los Angeles, Broadway World raved, “Astounding! … Demands to be seen.”

Alzenira Quezada, known to fans as Lady Zen, is an opera-trained mezzo soprano who turned her vocal talents to jazz, blues, and gospel early in her career. She gave two sold-out performances at the Playhouse last March in a tribute to Bessie Smith, singing such barn-burning numbers as “On Revival Day” and “Aggravatin’ Papa.” Lady Zen, who has just returned from a tour in Puerto Vallarta, will reprise some of her Bessie Smith songs, among other repertoire, at the benefit concert.

New York-born countertenor Don Krim, described as “extraordinary” by Metropolitan Opera star Grace Bumbry, is also a noted actor. His wide-ranging repertoire, which runs from Bach and Handel to jazz and spirituals, makes him perhaps the only countertenor who can segue effortlessly from Baroque to blues, from Gustav Mahler to Fats Waller. At the August 11 concert, he’ll be veering toward Waller, in songs such as “Keeping Out of Mischief Now.”

EMI recording artist Paul Voudouris is a singer, songwriter, and pianist with twenty albums to his credit, a devoted following, and critical acclaim (“Haunting, ethereal, eloquent and inspiring,” in the words of one reviewer). His concert last June at the Bellas Artes resulted in a rare sight at that theater—audience members sitting on the floor when available seats ran out.

Reserved seat tickets for the benefit concert are 400 pesos (center section) and 300 pesos (side sections), on sale at Boleto City, the ticketing booth on the second floor of the Mercado Sano (Ancha de San Antonio 123), or online at latroupemexico.com. Tickets for The Madres are also on sale at Boleto City and at the same website.

Now, tickets are selling out rapidly for a special, one-night-only concert on Saturday, August 11, 7pm, at the San Miguel Playhouse (Avenida Independencia #82) featuring all three artists, along with special guest vocalist Fil Formicola, and the combined talents of Claudia Shiuh (violin), Susan Varcoe (piano), Aaron Romo (bass), and Israel Chavez (drums). The San Miguel Playhouse features secured parking and taxi concierge service.

Reserved seats can still be purchased for 400 pesos (center section) and 300 pesos (side sections). Tickets are on sale at Boleto City, the ticketing office on the second floor of the Mercado Sano (Ancha de San Antonio 123) open daily between 11am and 5pm. Tickets can also be purchased online by visiting sanmiguelplayhouse.com or latroupemexico.com. If you are purchasing online with a smartphone or tablet, you can choose your section; the best available seats will be assigned to you. If you buy online from a desktop or laptop, you may choose your specific seats. Even after the event is listed as sold out, there will be additional seating on the night of the performance, but early arrival is recommended.

Proceeds of the concert will help offset the costs of producing one of the most exciting theatrical events ever to come to San Miguel – the first non-U.S. production of The Madres, an acclaimed new play by Stephanie Alison Walker that just had its world premiere in Los Angeles this past April. The Madres, set in Buenos Aires in 1978, concerns the disappearance of political dissidents during the Argentinean military dictatorship, and the effect of one young woman's abduction on her family. Following the play's L.A. premiere, Broadway World raved, "Astounding!...Demands to be seen." The Madres will debut at the San Miguel Playhouse on Thursday, August 23, with the playwright in attendance. (Walker will also be present for the second performance, on Friday, August 24). Marcela Brondo directs the La Troupe Mexico production of The Madres at the San Miguel Playhouse. Laura Crotte, a Chicago-based actor (Goodman Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre Company) leads a superb cast.

La Troupe Mexico is San Miguel's first-ever bilingual theater company. All productions include supertitles, either in English or Spanish, to make plays accessible to a combined audience of English-speakers and Spanish-speakers. La Troupe's debut production last year, Eugene O'Neill's Long Day's Journey Into Night, performed in Spanish with English supertitles, was called a "tour de force" by Obie-award winner Jesusa Rodriguez.

Tickets for The Madres, which will be performed in Spanish with English supertitles, are on sale now at Boleto City, or online at sanmiguelplayhouse.com or latroupemexico.com.
We hope to see you at the San Miguel Playhouse for the All-Star Concert, and during the run of The Madres. Thank you for supporting La Troupe's mission to bring high-quality, bilingual theater to our community.