"Death and The Artist" Opens With Standing Ovations + SF BATCO Day

San Francisco-Multicultural theater expert and playwright Carlos Barón's "Death and the Artist" directed by SF BATCO co-founder Marcelo Javier received standing ovations over its opening weekend, October 17th-19th at the Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts in San Francisco's historic Mission District.

Artistic déjà vu is at work given "Death and The Artist" debuted at the Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts, twenty years ago.  The historic occasion was noted by Mayor London Breed's office with a proclamation in honor of The San Francisco Bay Area Theater Company (BATCO). Mayoral envoy DeAnthony Jones made the presentation to BATCO co-founders, San Francisco natives, Rodney Earl Jackson Jr., Marcelo Javier, BATCO's Board President Mecca Billings, and playwright Carlos Barón.

With Latino culture at the heart of Barón's creative adaptation of "Death and The Artist," BATCO's production turns the Latino folk tale into a musical dramedy that juggles past and present conversations around life, death, inequity, and immigration, touching on moral questions we all face.

When an old Californio and ex-coyote named Pobreza ("Poverty" played by Alfred Muller) in his final moments on Earth tricks Death up a tree, he faces the dilemma "would you risk the fate of the world for a longer life?." With death gone, chaos ensues and everyone from the Governor to St. Peter and the Devil try to persuade Pobreza to let Death go to save humanity from its plight. This dark comedy brings emblematic characters to life in a theatre experience that takes the audience on an emotional rollercoaster full of farce, fear, fun and la familia with Pobreza's sister Miseria ("Misery" played by Mercedes White) always seeking company.

"Opening weekend was ELECTRIC! Between being honored by the Mayor's office, celebrating SFBATCO day and having wild, enthusiastic audiences laugh their heads off, it definitely made the long days and nights leading up to the show worth it. I just can't wait for people to see the next two weekends," said Director Marcelo Javier.

Javier was nine years-old when "Death and The Artist" first debuted twenty years ago.

"When I found the play I was fascinated by it and totally amazed that some of the power struggles between government and the people, economic disparity, and other social conditions hadn't changed," continued Javier. "We added some themes from today's headlines and social conditions our country is dealing with and the play is funny and contemporary as ever."

"It is wonderful to see that "Death and The Artist" speaks to today's generation and affirms the experiences of those that have a few more notches on life's belt," said playwright Carlos Barón. "It was great seeing the energy of the cast and hearing the audience respond with such laughter."

With Latino culture at the heart of Barón's creative adaptation of "Death and The Artist," BATCO's production turns the Latino folk tale into a musical dramedy that juggles past and present conversations around life, death, inequity, and immigration, touching on moral questions we all face.

When an old Californio and ex-coyote named Pobreza ("Poverty" played by Alfred Muller) in his final moments on Earth tricks Death up a tree, he faces the dilemma "would you risk the fate of the world for a longer life?." With death gone, chaos ensues and everyone from the Governor to St. Peter and the Devil try to persuade Pobreza to let Death go to save humanity from its plight. This dark comedy brings emblematic characters to life in a theatre experience that takes the audience on an emotional rollercoaster full of farce, fear, fun and la familia with Pobreza's sister Miseria ("Misery" played by Mercedes White) always seeking company.

"It was such a pleasure to finally show off all of our hard work to an audience. It was well received and we had so much fun putting on the show," said Alfred Muller. "I am looking forward to hitting our groove."

"Death and The Artist" major sponsors include: BNY Mellon Management; California Arts Council; First Republic Bank; La Taqueria; Theater Communications Group and the Zellerbach Family Foundation.

It runs over the next two weekends at the Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts with 8:00 pm performances Friday- Saturday and Sunday 2:00 pm. On Thursday, October 31st, the special Halloween show time is an hour early at 7:00 pm. Theatergoers are encouraged to wear their Halloween costumes. The ninety-minute nonstop show ends in time to make a Halloween party or two.

General tickets are $40. Senior/student and military $25 discounted tickets are available.

This original article originally ran on www.wrightnow.biz. Contact: Jackie Wright at jackiewright@wrightnow.biz / 415 525 0410

Photos: William Hammons II