Video Backgrounder: THE FANTASTIKOS, Classic Theatre, San Antonio

(Video backgrounder by KSAT television)

Step into a world of whimsy and wonder with a groundbreaking bilingual adaptation of the beloved classic musical that enchants audiences of all ages. Set in a mysterious and magical world, The Fantastikos follows two neighboring families who fake a feud to unite their children. As boy meets girl, they journey through trials and tribulations and discover the true meaning of love and the power of imagination. This adaptation, the first of its kind, has been granted special permission from Musical Theatre International. This is Classic Theatre’s first full musical production.

In a bilingual adaptation of The Fantastikos, themes of love and romance, parental influence, and the tension between illusion and reality take center stage, highlighting the universal nature of human experiences. The narrative celebrates cultural fusion, emphasizing that love and growth transcend linguistic boundaries, and showcases the journey of personal growth and self-discovery. This adaptation enriches the story by incorporating cultural elements and traditions from both languages, making it resonate with a diverse audience. 

Online review by Byrd Bonner, Sept 13, 2024

The production has a musical score by Harvey Schmidt, with a book and lyrics by Tom Jones, as well as bilingual coordination by José Rubén De León based on the Spanish translation and adaptation by Julieta Kalik. The production will be directed by José Rubén De León, with music directed by Jaime Ramirez and choreography by Amanda Navar. Performances will be presented at Classic Theatre’s space at San Pedro Playhouse, the former Cellar Theater.

“The Fantasticks is a delightfully universal tale of love and self-discovery that invites opportunities for cross-cultural exploration. We at San Pedro Playhouse are incredibly proud to add to the canon of culturally diverse musical theatre adaptations with our upcoming production of The Fantastikos.We believe that diverse and representative theatre is not only about highlighting authentic cultural voices, as we've seen with A Raisin in the Sun and The Boys in the Band; it is also about creating opportunities within traditionally Western theatre classics like A Midsummer Night's Dream and now, The Fantasticks. San Antonio and specifically San Pedro Playhouse should be at the forefront of crafting dramatic works for the Latine community, not just in our city but across the USA.” — J. Robert “Jimmy” Moore, Production Artistic Director.

 

Director José Rubén De León adds: “I was not yet born in 1950 when two college students at the University of Texas in Austin began working on a musical titled The Fantasticks based on Edmond Rostand’s ‘Les Romanesques.’ According to ‘The Amazing Story of The Fantasticks’ by Donald C. Farber and Robert Viagas, ‘In an age of waste and ostentation, an age when Broadway musicals seemed to be getting bigger but somehow hollower, the play offered a compact streamline alternative, full of heart yet bursting with theatrical inventiveness.’ The original cast recording of the timeless musical has played in my heart since 1977. Now, at the age of 65, I have been offered the opportunity to direct a fully bilingual world premiere of the off-Broadway hit titled The Fantastikos, a simple but timeless story of the tenacity of love with costumes inspired by the images of Lotería and set in someone’s backyard during the month of September as a gentle breeze and the flickering lights from fireflies envelope our guests. Theatre audiences are invited to a night of romanticism where they will be drawn to ‘Try to remember the kind of September when life was slow and oh, so mellow.’”

 

The cast includes ADRIAN RAY SOLIZ as El Chico (Matt), ISABELLA GRACE CERVERA as La Chica (Luisa), ISIDRO MEDINA as Narrador (El Gallo), SOFIA MEJIA as La Madre de el chica (Bellomy), KATY SISCO as La Madre de la chico (Huckabee), HUMBERTO GARCIA as El actor viejo (Henry), JULIO ALBERTO SEPULVEDA as El hombre que muere (Mortimer), and ELENA SAPIEN as El mudo (Mute).  

 

The creative team includes JOSÉ RUBÉN DE LEÓN as Director, JAIME RAMIREZ as Music Director, AMANDA NAVAR as Choreographer, ALFY VALDEZ as Scenic Designer, PEDRO C. RAMÍREZ as Lighting Designer,  JOEY RIOS as Costume Designer, RACHAEL LORENZETTI as Assistant Costume Designer, ALEJANDRO URDIALES as Stage Manager, JESSICA MCMICHAEL as Properties Designer, and MEREDITH SHUMAN and JAIME RAMIREZ as Co-Sound Designers.

THE CAST 

El Chico (Matt) — Adrian Soliz

La Chica (Luisa) — Isabella Grace Cervera

Narrador (El Gallo) — Isidro Medina

La Madre de el chica (Bellomy) — Sofia Mejia

La Madre de la chico (Huckabee) — Katy Sisco

El actor viejo (Henry) — Humberto Garcia

El hombre que muere (Mortimer) — Julio Alberto Sepulveda

El mudo (Mute) — Elena Sapien

 

THE CREATIVE TEAM

Director — José Rubén De León

Music Director — Jaime Ramirez

Choreographer — Amanda Navar

Stage Manager and Light Board Operator — Alejandro Urdiales

Costume Designer — Joey Rios

Assistant Costume Designer — Rachael Lorenzetti 

Lighting Designer — Pedro C. Ramírez 

Scenic Designer — Alfy Valdez

Properties Designer — Jessica McMichael

Sound Designer — Meredith Shuman 

Asst. Sound Designer — Jaime Ramirez

Playwright/ Adaptation by — José Rubén De León

Dramaturg — Dr. Elizabeth C. Ramírez, Ph.D.

Intimacy and Fight Coordinator — Nick Lawson

Classic Theatre and San Pedro Playhouse are two San Antonio theatre community pillars dedicated to producing transformative, diverse, and entertaining live professional theatre. 

 

 

 

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The Fantastikos
by Adapted from Harvey Schmidt and Tom Jones
Classic Theatre of San Antonio

September 12 - 29, 2024

Classic Theatre at San Pedro Playhouse 

800 West Ashby Place San Antonio, Texas 78212

Get tickets here.

Single Ticket Prices with fees included for Classic Theatre are $50 (Adult), $35 (Military, Student, Older Adults 60+, First Responders), and $20 (Child Under 12). Patrons can purchase tickets at www.classictheatre.org, www.sanpedroplayhouse.org, or by phone at (210) 733-7258. Classic Theatre is wheelchair accessible. 

Events in Celebration of The Fantastikos.

• Champagne Opening Night — Thursday, September 12, 2024 at 7:30 p.m.

• Pride Night — Friday, September 13, 2024 at 7:30 p.m.

• ASL Performance — Sunday, September 22, 2024 at 7:30 p.m.

Run time: Approximately two hours with one 15-minute intermission.