Back in the 1930’s Colombia was infused with a music that was born on its shores, which hug the tropical Caribbean island hotbed.  That music, which quickly became popular all over the Caribbean and Latin America, was called CUMBIA.  Like much of the Caribbean’s culture, Cumbia is a blend of African-Indigenous-European sounds that coalesce into a rhythm which the body can not resist.  This music is the background to a comedic love story called “Cumbia de Mi Corazon.”
Long ago on the Caribbean coast of Colombia, in the town of Barranquilla, Don Heriberto and Maruca met when they were at the prime of their youth, and through the dance of the cumbia became one; only to be separated in the flesh by Heriberto’s untimely death.  Some fifty years now between heaven and hell, Don Heriberto, refuses to enter his final resting place without the love of his life, Maruca.  Now an elderly woman, Maruca transitions into the afterlife, but is a bit lost.  Along with two Angels who are trying to earn their wings, Don Heriberto helps Maruca find her way with the sounds that led them to one another long ago in the carnal world. Share in their journey to rejoin with one another and become one body enveloped in the sound of their coastal Caribbean rhythm.
This theatre production features a script written by Toby Campion and produced by C. Raul Espinoza; and features an American trained, Spanish speaking cast form a variety of Spanish speaking countries.  This play also marks the directorial debut in Los Angeles of German Jaramillo. German Jaramillo was one of the original founders, and actors, of the Teatro Libre de Bogata (Free Theatre of Bogata) back in 1973.  Teatro Libre de Bogata was the first theatre company-owned playhouse that served as a training center and performance venue in Colombia.  In 2001 Jaramillo moved to New York where he founded the celebrated ID Studio Theater and Research Center.  Jaramillo finds that “This storyline takes place in the origins of the music called Cumbia, in a time when Cumbia is most popular and an integral part of these two people’s lives.” As a native Colombian who is well versed in the music and dance of the Cumbia, Jaramillo was a shoe in to direct this production.
Although this play is in Spanish it does feature English supertitles, so do not miss out, join the Bilingual Foundation of the Arts, in Los Angeles, April 30-May 23, 2010 as they present “Cumbia de mi Corazon.”  For information on times, dates and address please refer to our Calendar of events!

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Cumbia de mi corazón
04/30-05/23 Fri-Sun
Times: Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m.; Sunday at 3 p.m.
Location: Bilingual Foundation of the Arts, 421 N. Avenue 19th, Los Angeles, CA 90031
Tickets: Cumbiademicorazon.tix.com or (323) 786-6281
$25 General Admission; $40 Opening Night Performance and Gala Saturday May 1st; $15