PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — 2016 was a tense and complicated year in America — especially for some immigrant populations, as the Cuban embargo was beginning to loosen and the Syrian Civil War was escalating. This is the setting of “Siluetas,” a new musical premiering with Power Street Theatre this month.
“‘Siluetas’ is about a Cuban American woman and a Syrian woman who move in together at the beginning of 2016,” said co-writer Erlina Ortiz.
“Dinora, who is a Cuban woman … is faced for the first time in a lifetime with the possibility that she may be able to go home … and then Khalilah, who's the roommate, she's Syrian, and she's having sort of the opposite realization. She's been so excited to go back home for years … and then realizes, you know, maybe that might not actually be an option.”
Ortiz partnered with composer Robi Hager, who recently finished performing in and directing “tick, tick…BOOM!” at Norristown’s Theatre Horizon and was part of the original Broadway cast of “Spring Awakening.”
“His music is very healing and inspiring,” Ortiz said of Hager.
The production is trilingual, with actors speaking and singing in English, Spanish and Arabic. There will also be scene descriptions available in each language.
“Music has a way of conveying emotion beyond the words,” said Ortiz. “English is the dominant language of the show … but I think that the moments of Arabic and the moments of Spanish throughout will help to bring those folks in and to feel seen and heard in the story.”
Ortiz co-founded Power Street Theatre with Gabriela Sanchez in 2012, with the goal of creating a space for multicultural artists.
“We were about to graduate and just very much feeling like there's no place for us in this community,” Ortiz said. “As Latinas, as young artists, like, who's gonna hire us? Where are we going to get a chance to practice, to learn, to fail? That just didn't exist for us.”
They’ve been putting on productions primarily in North Philadelphia for 12 years, receiving great feedback from the community.
“Siluetas” will be performed at Temple University’s Randall Theatre, with a cast featuring some local performers alongside Tony winner KO, who’s known for originating roles in “In the Heights” and “Moulin Rouge” on Broadway.
Power Street Theatre is hosting various affinity nights for “Siluetas” and offering free childcare during two performances — June 9 and 16 — in partnership with Broadway Babysitters, the Parent Artist Advocacy League and Tree House Books.
The show runs May 29 – June 23. Tickets are available on a pay-what-you-decide scale on Power Street Theatre’s website.