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Friday, March 31, 2000

Forever a local legend
Musical about life of Selena celebrates slain Tejano star's legacy
By Ricardo Baca
Caller-Times

Photo courtesy of Joan Marcus

Veronica Vasquez in concert as Selena Quintanilla in 'Selena Forever.'

It's sort of a theatrical home-field advantage.
   Even though "Selena Forever" opened in San Antonio, its subject is from Corpus Christi, and cast members feel the performance here will be unusual.
   "I think it's gonna be different in Corpus, because it's Selena's hometown and many people there knew her," said 11-year-old Denise Stefanie Gonzalez, who plays the young Selena.
   Nervous or not, the show will go on - in Corpus Christi's Selena Auditorium April 5 through 7. The performance is a musical narration of the star's life, the latest tribute to the slain Tejano singer. Starting with Selena and her father, Abraham, dreaming of lives onstage, the show carries through with the Quintanillas running a restaurant in Lake Jackson, living on a bus while touring the country and making it big. It ends with people mourning Selena's death.
   Her tragic story already has been told in the format of an hour-long PBS documentary and a feature-length film, "Selena," starring Jennifer Lopez. But the producers emphasized that the musical takes an entirely different approach.
   "What makes this musical unique is its celebration of Selena's legacy of live concert entertainment," said producer Michel Vega. "The experience for the theater-goer is much deeper than the film."
   Added producer Tom Quinn: " 'Selena Forever' is different than the film because it features original music and the story is focused on her meteoric rise to fame."
   They're right for the most part. The musical features Selena singing about her first date with Chris Perez in the playful song "Pizza and Coke." In another song, Chris asks Selena to "Meet Me in Corpus Christi."
   Tejano theater

Caller-Times file photo

The dancers of the musical 'Selena Forever' rehearse their moves March 7 at Edgewood High School in San Antonio.

   But the most exclusive trait this musical has is its style. Two vastly different worlds will meet at center stage Wednesday night. Tejano, meet theater. Theater, let me introduce you to Tejano music.
   Young Selena crosses downstage. She's singing at the Quintanilla family's restaurant. She grows up and breaks down barriers as a Latina making a difference in mainstream music.
   It's musical theater with the tonal inflections of Texas' homebred flavor - Tejano. The influence is heard in songs throughout the show.
   It's not only "Baila Esta Cumbia" and "I Could Fall in Love." The show is based around many of Selena's concerts and her well-known songs, but the majority of the songs are written originally for the musical with music by Fernando Rivas and lyrics by Edward Gallardo.
   It's important to remember that this is theater. Selena's voice will not be used, however, the women who play Selena - Veronica Vazquez and San Antonio's Rebecca Valadez - do a beautiful job of portraying her. The show will likely release an original cast recording, which will include the music in the show on CDs and cassettes. Selena's label, EMI Latin, saw the show on opening night, producers said, and the label might release the cast recording.
   Broad appeal
   Producers hope "Selena Forever" will be Broadway-bound. And the meeting of Tejano and the theater world is a new marriage that works and draws a completely different audience.
   "Selena Forever" will appeal to theater-goers of all ages, Tejano music aficionados and Selena fans. Its wide appeal will carry it successfully through Texas - home to Tejano and Selena - but will it survive critics and audiences along the yellow brick road for a crack at one of the few theaters in New York City's Emerald Palace (aka Broadway)?
   Broadway or not, the musical's opening in San Antonio brought a large number of Hispanics into Municipal Auditorium - quite a feat as producers across the country are trying to figure out ways of getting Hispanics and other minorities in the seats.
   Many fans at the opening night said it was their first time to a real theater; They came solely to see the latest installment about a girl they once knew, loved and admired.
   "I don't usually go to the theater," said Myra Martinez of San Antonio. "I get that feeling from a lot of the people here - the only reason we're out here is because it's Selena. ... We loved her and this is our way of mourning."

   What: "Selena Forever," a theatrical musical tribute to the late Tejano star from Corpus Christi
   When: 8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, and 5 and 9 p.m. Friday
   Where: Selena Auditorium
   Cost: $13.75 to $37.50
   More Info: Call Ticketmaster at 881-8499

   "Selena Forever" Schedule
   April 5-7: Selena Auditorium in Corpus Christi
   April 11-16: Don Haskins Center in El Paso
   April 18-23: Jones Hall in Houston
   April 25-30: Rosemont Theater in Chicago
   May 2-7: Gammage Auditorium in Phoenix
   May 9-28: Wiltern Theater in Los Angeles
   June 6-11: Temple Buell Theater in Denver
   June 13-18: San Diego Civic Theater in San Diego

   Songs
   Act I
   "A New Show's About to Begin"
   "The Ballad of Selena"
   "Somewhere Over the Rainbow"
   "Simply Me"
   "Abraham's Dream"
   "Como La Flor"
   "Blue Moon"
   "One Half Hour More"
   "The Ballad of Selena (Papa Gayo's)"
   "Abraham's Dream (reprise)"
   "Living on a Bus (medley)"
   "Dame Un Beso"
   "A Million to One - La Bamba"
   "Baila Esta Cumbia"
   "I've Grown Up, Daddy"
   "Pizza & Coke"
   "My Daughter Wants to be Just Like Selena/Techno Cumbia"
   "Amor Prohibido"
   "I Could Fall in Love/Act I Finale"

   Act II
   "God's Child"
   "Just Be Yourself, Selena"
   "La Carcacha"
   "To Him She's a Woman"
   "The Ballad of Selena"
   "Missing My Baby"
   "Meet Me in Corpus Christi"
   "I Wanna Grow Old With You"
   "You're Gonna Die Today, Brother"
   "Amame, Quiereme"
   "If Tomorrow"
   "Dress Like Selena"
   "Bidi Bidi Bom Bom"
   "Letters to Selena"
   "You're Too Trusting, Selena"
   "Dreaming of You"
   "Bidi Bidi Bom Bom"

   "Selena Forever" Plot
   Act I: The show opens with a multimedia montage chronicling Selena's life, followed by scenes depicting her childhood and her parents' dreams for their children. She then meets Chris Perez, who is to be her future husband, and she tells her sister of her feelings for Chris right before her father kicks Chris out of the band.
   Act II: Selena impresses the fans in Monterrey, and that leads to a recording contract with EMI Latin. Selena and her father argue over her relationship with Chris, and he finally accepts Chris' role in her life. The two young lovers then elope. Then Selena performs at the Astrodome and her family tells her that the president of her fan club is embezzling from her. Selena says she'll confront the woman by herself. Then there are the reports of the shooting, and the cast closes out the show with a performance of "Bidi Bidi Bom Bom."



Ricardo Baca can be reached at 886-3615 or by e-mail at bacar@caller.com.

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