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WED | 05.18 SUN | 05.22
THEATER
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FREESTYLE LOVE SUPREME
Straight from the Broadway stage, Freestyle Love Supreme is a hip-hopstyle musical created by theater director Thomas Kail, actor and improv instructor Anthony Veneziale and Broadway superstar Lin-Manuel Miranda. The winner of a special 2020 Tony Award, the interactive musical takes audiences on what is described as a “freestyle, hip-hop, improvisational comedy ride.” The idea for the musical came to Miranda while he was making his musical In the Heights. During breaks, the cast would spend some of their time rapping and beatboxing. Now that idea has become its own stage production in which entertainers engage with audience members to give them suggestions for rap themes. For those who want to know more about the musical, a 2020 Hulu documentary called We AreFreestyle Love Supreme directed by Andrew Fried (Val) offers an inside look. The group also created its own TV series now available on Prime Video and YouTube. “The thing about the show is that it’s totally different every night,” Miranda told Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show in 2019. “You give us a verb, and then 80 minutes later, you have an entire hip-hop musical show.” $30-$70, 7 p.m. Wednesday-Friday, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday, Charline McCombs Empire Theatre, 226 N. St. Mary’s St., (210) 226-3333, majesticempire.com. — Kiko Martinez
Courtesy of Empire Theatre
THU | 05.19
DRAG
CARMEN FARALA
The ever-expanding Drag Race universe ventured into Spain in 2021 with Madrid-based entertainer Supremme de Luxe slipping swimmingly into the sky-high heels of franchise creator RuPaul. Among the 10
performers who inaugurated Drag Race España was Carmen Farala — a Sevillian bombshell who stru ed into the “werk room” in a skimpy ode to ’90s-era Versace and declared: “I’ve fought many ba les with company, but I’ll win this war on my own.” A statuesque beauty armed with an exacting sense of style, mad makeup skills and serious sewing chops to boot, Farala was a frontrunner from the get-go but only got be er as the series progressed. In addition to wowing the judges with elaborate, homespun runway looks — including a strategically wrapped plush snake that paid tribute to trans icon La Veneno and an Iberian lynx costume she created in honor of her late father — Farala proved herself as a natural comedian and a true team player. In one of the show’s most poignant moments, fellow contestant Dovima Nurmi explained to the judges that Farala had thoughtfully whipped up an alternative outfit at the last minute to avoid wearing the same thing as Nurmi — a copy of Spanish singer Rosalía’s dress for the 2019 MTV Video Music Awards. In sisterly style, Farala even gave Nurmi the prop she’d planned to carry:
Dominik Valvo a replica of the MTV “Moonman” trophy. Winner of three of the show’s maxi challenges, Farala never landed in the bo om. During her very first lip sync — at the series finale — Farala unsurprisingly snatched the crown, along with €30,000 in prize money, from runners-up Killer Queen and Sagi aria. Currently reigning as “Spain’s First Drag Superstar,” the bronzed glamazon lands in San Antonio for two performances presented by Rey Lopez Entertainment and hosted by Tencha la Jefa. $20-$25, 10:30 p.m. and midnight, Bonham Exchange, 411 Bonham St., table reservations at (210) 386-4537, facebook.com/reylopezentertainment. —
Bryan Rindfuss
FRI | 05.20 SUN | 06.12
THEATER
SHE LOVES ME
A timeless fan-favorite, the 1930s love story of Joe Masteroff’s She Loves Me is taking the stage at the Public Theater of San Antonio. Set in Europe, the play follows Amalia and Georg, two shop clerks who bu heads, but find themselves caught up in a whirlwind of romance via love le ers they exchange with unidentified admirers. It’s no coincidence that the fresh escape of She Loves Me is taking the stage after two years of pandemic-induced turmoil. The show brings much-needed reminders and lessons of love, community and joy in the mundane. The Public Theater’s production is directed by Laura Michelle Wolfe Hoadley and stars Lauren Esquivel and Grant Bryan as Amalia and Georg, respectively. $17-$47, 7:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday, The Public Theater of San Antonio, 800 W. Ashby Place, (210) 733-7258, thepublicsa. org. — Dana Nichols
Mia Isabella Photography
COMEDY
FRANCO ESCAMILLA
Mexican standup comedian Franco Escamilla has been around the globe with his comedy shows. From London to Barcelona to Tokyo and across the United States, Escamilla knows how entertain audiences no ma er what culture he’s stepping into. Born about 100 miles south of Mexico City, the 41-year-old comic has performed in venues including the Auditorio Nacional and the Arena Ciudad de México. He’s also taken the stage with fellow Latino comedian Gabriel “Fluff y” Iglesias at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. Currently, Escamilla has two specials streaming on Netfl ix — 2018’s Por la Anécdota and 2019’s Bienvenido al Mundo. For a while, he had his own comedy show on Estrella TV called The Franco Escamilla Show, and he’s also made appearances on series including Bar Central, Drunk History and Mr. Iglesias. Surprisingly, Escamilla said that at the start of his career he didn’t like to admit he was a comedian. “I didn’t want to be a comedian,” he told the Yordi Rosado podcast last year. “In fact … I was embarrassed to say I was a comedian. I didn’t like being told I was a comedian.” Now, it looks like Escamilla has learned to love the laughs. $83.50-$143.50, 8:30 p.m., Majestic Theatre, 224 E. Houston St., (210) 226-3333, majesticempire.com. — KM
Instagram / francoescamillaofi cial
SAT | 05.21
SPECIAL EVENT
SAN ANTONIO BOOK FESTIVAL
The San Antonio Book Festival returns in-person to the Central Library and Southwest School of Art for the fi rst time since 2019 for its 10th anniversary event. This year’s lineup features authors ranging from Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Jericho Brown to familiar local face Judge Nelson Wolff . The free, daylong festival features more than 90 local, regional
Courtesy of Artpace
THU | 05.19
ART
Artpace opens two new exhibitions on May 19 in its Main Space and Hudson Showroom. “Every Time We Say Goodbye” will showcase the ceramic sculptures of Michael Guerra Foerster, and the group show “Carbonate of Copper,” curated by Jennifer Teets, will feature the work of artists Gwenneth Boelens, Anna Mayer, Kate Newby, George Smith, Josie Ann Teets and Roberto Tejada. “Every Time We Say Goodbye,” which will remain on view through Sept. 4, explores themes of intimacy, separation, grief and memory, all brought to the surface from the Foerster’s subconscious. On view through Aug. 28, “Carbonate of Copper” explores themes of circuitry, fl ow, foundation and cultural inheritance within the context of the environment, time and infrastructure. Free, opening reception 6-9 p.m. Thursday, May 19, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday, noon-5 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, Artpace, 445 N. Main Ave., (210) 212-4900, artpace.org. — Ashley Allen
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and national authors including Emma Straub (This Time Tomorrow) and Fernando A. Flores (Valleyesque), and a gamut of all-ages programming. Panels include both live and virtual options for in-person a endees, and sessions held in the Russell Hill Rogers Tent and Texas Monthly Terrace will also be streamed on the festival’s YouTube channel for those who can’t make it all the way downtown. Notable panels include “Assimilation and Belonging,” featuring Julissa Arce (11:15 a.m., Russell Hill Rogers Tent); “Graphic Storytelling: Past and Present,” featuring David Bowles, Raúl the Third and Laura Gao (1:30 p.m., Coates Chapel); and “Trans Literature and Art,” featuring Alex Marzano-Lesnevich, Eileen Myles, Denne Michele Norris and Torrey Peters (3 p.m., San Antonio Book Festival Virtual Tent). Free, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Central Library, 600 Soledad St., Southwest School of Art, 300 Augusta St. and 1201 Navarro St., (210) 750-8951, sabookfestival.org. — Kelly Nelson
Reminder:
Although live events have returned, the COVID-19 pandemic is still with us. Check with venues to make sure scheduled events are still happening, and please follow all health and safety guidelines.
WED | 05.25 SUN | 08.28
Viewers will be able to witness how the innovative artworks of Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque transformed traditional methods of representation at the McNay Art Museum’s exhibition “Picasso & Braque: Radicals,” which opens May 25 in the Lawson Print Gallery. The result of a major repositioning in the history of art, Cubist artworks capture shifting perspectives in the early 20th century. Picasso’s and Braque’s experiments with line, geometry and depth challenged artistic convention, thus making their marks in history as revolutionary fi gures. A selection of artworks by artists that gleaned inspiration from the pair are also included in the exhibition, including pieces by John Marin, Fannie Hillsmith and Bill Reily, among others. $10-$20, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Wednesday and Friday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Thursday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, noon-5 p.m. Sunday through Aug. 28, McNay Art Museum, 6000 N. New Braunfels Ave., (210) 824-5368, mcnayart.org. — AA
Estate of Pablo Picaso / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York
THU | 05.26 FRI | 05.27
DANCE
SOMBRA Y LUZ AND MISTERIO DEL FLAMENCO
San Antonio fl amenco troupe Arte y Pasión is presenting two shows, both collaborative eff orts with Belén Maya, that bring the internationally renowned dancer to the Alamo City. Led by Maya, the troupe will perform Sombra y Luz at Brick at Blue Star on Thursday, May 26 before moving to the Roosevelt Library for Misterio del Flamenco on Friday, May 27. In 1995, Maya appeared in Carlos Saura’s iconic fi lm Flamenco and has since become one of the most recognized fi gures in contemporary fl amenco. In the movie, Maya’s artistry represented a new wave of cu ing-edge movement and opened new avenues for female dancers. Although she was born into fl amenco royalty — her parents are the famed dancers Mario Maya and Carmen Mora — she did not begin dancing fl amenco until the age of 18. Maya entered the Spanish National Ballet and studied at Madrid’s world-renowned fl amenco school Amor de Dios. She is also a choreographer and educator who gives dance workshops and lectures all over the world. Among Maya’s acclaimed shows are 2005’s Dibujos and her one-woman show Romnia, which she’s performed throughout the U.S. in recent years. Maya’s work often highlights the plight of Romani women. That focus makes her a natural fi t for performing alongside Arte y Pasión, which often tackles pressing social issues within its work. Aside from her performances, Maya will also give a series of workshops on May 30 and 31 at Raices de Arte Español Studio. More details are available at Arte y Pasión’s Facebook page. Sombra y Luz, $15-$30, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Brick at Blue Star Arts Complex, 108 Blue Star, arte-y-pasion.com. Misterio del Flamenco, $40-$160, 8 p.m. Friday, Roosevelt Library, 311 Roosevelt Ave., (210) 8621062, rooseveltlibrary.com. — Marco Aquino
Nina Westervelt
THU | 05.26 MON | 09.05
ART
IMMERSIVE VAN GOGH
Before you start planning an evening of amazing, interactive art, we must be the bearer of bad news. The fi rst couple of weeks of the Immersive Van Gogh exhibition are sold out. But don’t cut your ear o just yet. There are plenty more chances to see this digital presentation of the 19th-century Dutch painter’s sunny landscapes, night scenes, portraits and still-life paintings. The illuminating exhibition runs through September 5, meaning those who missed the fi rst couple of weeks can purchase tickets to a show before they’re all booked. Among the projected works included in the installation are Mangeurs de pommes de terre (The Potato Eaters, 1885), Nuit étoilée (The Starry Night, 1889), Les Tournesols (Sunfl owers, 1888), La Chambre à coucher (The Bedroom, 1889) and other favorites. The show was originally scheduled to open in November 2021 and then again in February 2022 but was derailed by “venue-related issues.” In February, Corey Ross, producer at Lighthouse Immersive, apologized for the delay and said organizers had fi nally found “an optimal space in San Antonio” to put on the show. $39.99-$54.99, timed tickets required, Lighthouse ArtSpace, 221 Burleson St., (844) 307-4644, goghsanantonio.com. — KM
Michael Garcia
SAT | 05.28
SPECIAL EVENT
VINTAGE BLOCK PARTY AT BLUE STAR
Blue Star Art Complex’s Vintage Block Party off ers a chance to celebrate the onset of summer in Southtown with shopping, eats and music. Brickadelic Vintage Market partnered with Augustine Vintage, Divine Sunshine Collective and Helotes Creek Studios to bring a lively and versatile market-slash-block-party to the complex. Bexar Brass and DJ Kai will provide the tunes as shoppers browse a variety of vintage and pop-up boutiques off ering anything from retro and vintage threads to handmade student art (Trinity Art) and elaborate glass terrariums (Micro Terra). Participating eateries, including Alamode, Sukeban, Stella, Halcyon and Blue Star Brewery will off er vi les for hungry browsers. Free, 6-11 p.m., Blue Star Arts Complex, 1420 S. Alamo St., (210) 354-3775, bluestarartscomplex.com. — Macks Cook
SAT | 05.28
Courtesy of Carver Community Cultural Center
DANCE
NINE
Named for the “Li le Rock Nine,” the multimedia performance piece Nine tells the story of nine Black youths that pioneered integration of public schools in Li le Rock, Arkansas. Even when met with racist threats and language, the students braved crossing the color line. Nine tells their story through modern dance, moving music and visual elements, all combined to celebrate the Li le Rock Nine while encouraging refl ection on national history and its impact on current education systems. The show is a National Performance Network (NPN) Creation & Development Fund project co-commissioned by the Carver Community Cultural Center in partnership with Xavier University and NPN. It will be performed by Leah Glenn Dance Theatre. $30, 8 p.m., Carver Community Cultural Center, 226 N. Hackberry St., (210) 207-7211, thecarver.org. — DN
