The Bronx Academy of Arts and Dance presents Elizabeth “Macha” Marrero in Retro Petro. This one-woman comedic show following the life and times of a ghetto matriach has sprung from the hyperactive, bilingual mind of Ms. Marrero who works with choreographer Arthur Aviles as her director. The shows will be presented Fridays and Sat., Nov. 15, 21, 22, 28 and 29 at 8 pm. Performances are at BAAD!, 841 Barretto Street in Hunts Point. Tickets are $15 with reservations and $20 at the door. Reservations can be made by calling (718) 842-5223.
Through her six shows all created and developed at BAAD!, Marrero has created enough characters to fill an entire South Bronx apartment complex. With Retro Petro she reaches into her repertory of work and brings together the many faces of Petronelia, one of her most beloved characters, who is the quintessential, Latina, ghetto matriarch. From her humble beginnings in her Bronx tenement, the voracious and unstoppable Petronelia has won big in Las Vegas, found herself donning a habit and joining a convent, become a professor and expert on the female anatomy, starred in a Broadway show, run a farm in Puerto Rico while raising her family, caring for her husband, being a leader in her community and having a torrid affair with drag king Macha.
Marrero, also known as Macha, the papi chulo drag king, burst onto the club scene with her drag king act in 1999. She quickly became a name in certain households with her diverse manifestations of Macha. She began her performance career with Bessie Award Winning dancer/choreographer Arthur Aviles performing the role of Maéva in over a dozen dance pieces over the past 15 years. In 2001, she premiered Machataso: A One Woman ‘Cho In BAAD! ASS WOMEN 2001. Since then she premiered Macha Does Vegas in 2002, Petronelia’s Finca in 2003, Petronelia: Her Broadway Cho’ in 2004, The Macha Monologues in 2005 and Santa Macha in 2006. She is the recipient of a 2003 BRIO (Bronx Recognizes It’s Own) Award from the Bronx Council on the Arts and was awarded a Tanne Foundation Fellowship in 2005. She has performed in the United States, France and Puerto Rico. She has also performed her work at WOW Café, Lincoln Center Out-Of-Doors, The Lovinger Theatre at Lehman College, Pregones Theatre, Long Island University, and in every major club in New York City including La Escuelita. In addition to the U.S., she’s performed in France and Puerto Rico, and lives in the Bronx where she was born.
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Internationally renowned pianist Elena Kuschnerova will deliver a special performance at Lehman College on Wed., Nov. 19, at 7:30 pm in the Music Building Recital Hall. Hosted by Dr. Deena Bernstein, acting dean of Arts and Humanities at Lehman, and Dr. Dimitra Karabali, chair of the Physics Department, the recital is part of the Music Department’s Guest Artist series. This performance is free and open to the public. Reservations are recommended.
Kuschnerova will perform two Beethoven sonatas—”Pathetique” and “Moonlight”—as well as Lokshin’s Prelude and Theme with Variations; Mendelssohn’s Variations Serieuses; and Brahms’ Variations on a Theme by Paganini. The performance will be followed by a wine and cheese reception.
For complimentary tickets call (718) 960-8247, or visit the Music Department located on the third floor of the Music Building.
Lehman is located at Goulden Avenue and Bedford Park Boulevard.
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Join the Bronx Concert Singers with music director Robert Rene Galvan for their 27th Annual Concert on Sun., Dec. 14 at 4:30 am at St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1891 McGraw Avenue. The program features seasonal favorites as well as yuletide works spanning the Renaissance through the 20th Century performed with professional brass ensemble and percussion. General admission tickets are $20, two for $35. Tickets for seniors and students with valid ID are $15. For children through high school, tickets are only $5. For more information call (917) 743-4641.
The music for this holiday celebration ranges from the sublime to the exuberant and includes Tomas Luis de Victoria’s O Magnum Mysterium, Giovanni Gabrielli’s Jubilate Deo, Bach’s Jauchtzet Gott in allen Landen, the beloved favorite O Holy Night and much more. Soloists are Melissa Raymond, Dale Smith, Harry Thompson, Jr. and members of the BCS ensemble. The keyboardist for this program is Joyce Smith. This concert is made possible with public funds from the Bronx Council on the Arts through the New York State Council on the Arts Decentralization Program.
