The cast and creative team are set for Pregones/Puerto Rican Traveling Theater’s upcoming engagement of Torched! In Concert.
Directed by Artistic Director Rosalba Rolón, who wrote the book and lyrics, performances will run May 28–June 7 at Pregones Theater in the Bronx. Torched! composer Desmar Guevera is the musical director.
The cast will feature John Cencio Burgos as Burt, Christin Eve Cato as Gina De La Vega, José Joaquín García as Tito, Austin Turner as Mr. B and Jay, Jenyvette Vega as Candy/Insurance Broker, and Nyseli Vega as Linda. The artists will be backed by a band that includes Guevara on keyboard, Alvaro Benavides on bass, Anthony Carrillo on percussion, and Marcos Torres on drums.
The production explores the complex legacy of the Bronx fires of 1970s New York, exposing the arson-for-profit schemes. The musical, according to press notes, pulses “to the beat of salsa, funk disco, and hip hop … [while transporting] audiences between 1970s New York and the present-day.”
“Revisiting our original TORCHED!—The People Ignited production
and re-envisioning it in a concert allows us to expand its
possibilities, making it possible to perform it as a full musical
production or as a concert in many other cities,” said Rolón in a statement. “Our goal is to add to the
voices of countless artists who have worked over the decades to correct
history, sharing one of the most tragic eras of our beloved Bronx,
bringing it to light, and exposing the truth behind the fires. We are
dedicating this run to the countless firefighters, the thousands of
residents whose lives were at risk throughout an entire decade, and the
leadership for their guidance.”
Torched! In Concert will also have lighting design by Lucrecia Briceño, costume design by Harry Nadal, and projection design by Eamonn Farrell. Jessica Moya is the production manager, Brianna Guillen is the stage manager, and Samara Lee is the assistant stage manager.
Visit PregonesPRTT.org.