Original multimedia show to kick off new arts scene, foundation

Playwright/director Kimberly Hall multitasks

Strangely Familiar: an ambitious start for a new arts initiative
photos by Eric Jackson

"Strangely Familiar" is an original bilingual multimedia show that brings together people who have been active on several of Panama City's arts scenes. It will also be the kickoff for a new arts collective and foundation that will provide a space for creativity in a national culture that provides ever fewer opportunities for original work to see the light of day.

With the play by Kimberly Hall and the music composed by Krista Quinn with help from some of the other musicians in the show, theater goers will have a chance to see and hear something different --- they're calling it "concert theater," but that's just where the distinctions begin --- on October 23-25 at the Teatro Anita Villalaz on Plaza Francia. It's a large production about the invention of a new instrument that seems to take on a life of its own (or is it possessed by some other intelligence?).

Musician and composer Krista Quinn

¿Alguna vez has escuchado una canción --- you just can't shake?

Strangely Familiar

Oct. 23-24, 8 pm; Oct. 25, 5 pm
Teatro Anita Villalaz
(on Plaza Francia in the Casco Viejo)

Graciela Núñez

Acting:
Elsa Fajardo as MARIE
Hilary Hughes as JACKIE
Andres Clemente as JORGE
Giulio J. Mercer as GABRIEL
Jose Batalla as JEAN MICHAEL
Matthew Addis as Dr. T.
Nicole Dillman as SUSIE
Alfredo Hidrovo as FRANCO
Krista Quinn as COLETTE
Arnoldo Ho as SMALL CHILD 1
Juan Manuel Cristo - SMALL CHILD 2

The Band:
Graciela Núñez - Violin
Yumiko Tokumoto - Cello
Mar Alzamora-Rivera - Double Bass
Alfonso Lewis - Piano
Alfredo Hidrovo - Drums and Percussion
Giulio J. Mercer - Guitar
Jorge Arango - Electric Bass
Ruben Vallarino - Trombone
Leony Delgado Palmer - French Horn
Jorge Ortega - Tuba
Ruben Riveria Rodriguez - Trumpet
Roberto Ortega - Trumpet
Angie Harari - Vocal
Emely Myles - Vocal
Horacio Hiram Harris - Vocal
Nicole Dillman - Vocal
J.F. Espinosa - Vocal

The Artists:
Marta Noriega
Tony Loew
Claire Peterson
Elsa Fajardo
Maria Theoktisto

Choreographers and Dancers:
Ela Spalding
Ana Maria Sarmiento
Jorge "Yoryi" Campos
Maria Gabrielle Sealy

Production team:
Gale Cellucci - Producer
Kimberly Hall - Co-Producer & Director
Krista Quinn - Music Director
Nick Miles - Tech Director
Danielle Scott - Production Advisor & Asst. Director
Giulioz j. Mercer & Krista Quinn - Orchestration & Arrangement
Jacob Ehrler - Marketing Director
Christina McGrath - Costume Designer
Maria Theoktisto - Design Director
Varoon Anand - Production Advisor

Angie Harari

Alfonso Lewis

Elsa Fajardo

ORIGINAL PLAY WRITTEN BY KRISTA QUINN & KIMBERLY HALL
ORIGINAL MUSIC BY KRISTA QUINN
ORIGINAL CHOREOGRAPHY BY ELA SPALDING

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