PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Public officials give up high-profile offices for many reasons. But Philadelphia Commerce Director Alba Martinez offered one of the most unusual reasons ever in announcing her resignation this week.
The city says Martinez is leaving the Commerce Department in May “to pursue a unique opportunity — producing her original musical, ‘La Guagua 47.’”
There was no further information about play and a city spokesman said no one, including Martinez, could comment until a more formal announcement next week.
But KYW Newsradio learned the Philadelphia Theater Company is producing the musical and spoke to artistic director Tyler Dobrowski, who said, “It’s kind of Alba’s story.”
Dobrowski says ‘La Guagua 47’ is SEPTA bus route 47, which goes between South Philly and Oak Lane, right through the heart of the Hispanic community.
Martinez did a short film about it a few years ago with original music that tells the story of a young woman moving to Philadelphia, missing her Latino community until she learned about the 47 bus, where she finally found the rich diversity that made the city feel like home.
Dobrowski says doing work reflective of the community is fitting for Martinez.
“It feels very Philadelphia. It feels very of a place and it tells a story that, in its specificity, also feels universal,” said Dobrowski, who hopes to do a concert version by the end of the year with a full production next year and perhaps take it on the road after that.