As promised, Four Guys Named José..and Una Mujer Named María will return to their Nebraska Veterans of Foreign Wars stage once again. This time, the show's VFW setting will be housed by the Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre in Coral Gables, Florida. The Florida premiere of the Off-Broadway hit is set to run Oct. 5-Dec. 30 with a possible extension.
Original OB director Susana Tubert helms members of the original cast who will reprise their roles. According to production spokespersons, contract negotiations are not complete with the original cast that included Phillip Anthony, Allen Hidalgo, Henry Gainza, Ricardo Puente and former Miss Florida/Miss America finalist Lissette Gonzalez.
In Four Guys a quartet of Latino men, all Josés, each from a different culture (Cuban, Dominican, Mexican and Puerto Rican,) have put together a musical production in hopes of launching themselves into stardom, yes, from Nebraska. Their leading lady María — actually the roommate of the star who is ill — 'wings' her way through the show, which she has picked up by hearing her friend rehearsing.
The musical revue features a book by Delores Prida, who co-conceived the production with David Coffman. The original creative team behind the OB production remain intact for the new production. They include Mary Houston (sets), Aaron Spivey (lighting), Tania Bass (costumes) and T. Richard Fitzgerald (sound). The show also boasts a live Latin band, led by musical supervisor and arranger Oscar Hernandez (The Capeman) and choreography by Maria Torres (Swing!).
Four Guys opened OB at the John Houseman Theatre before transferring two blocks uptown to the Blue Angel Theatre where it took its final bow March 4. Dasha Epstein (Ain't Misbehavin', Children of a Lesser God) produced the second staging with her friend, Grammy Award-winning latin pop star Enrique Iglesias. For tickets to Four Guys at the Miracle Theatre, 280 Miracle Mile, in Coral Gables, FL, call (305) 444-9293 or visit them online at www.actorsplayhouse.org.
— by Ernio Hernandez
