Placido Domingo on Relatability of FIGARO (90210), Starting Next Month Off-Broadway

Following a critically-acclaimed run in 2016, ¡Figaro! (90210) returns to the New York stage April 7th through April 23rd for 15 performances only.

With its unique mix of uproarious comedy and heartfelt message of cultural inclusion in our nation of immigrants, ¡Figaro! (90210) is back at The Duke on 42nd Street, a New 42nd Street project (229 West 42nd Street). Celebrating diversity in a time of social unrest, the three-week limited engagement opens with high praise from Maestro Plácido Domingo and a special partnership with Sing for Hope.

This adaptation of Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro blends the original score with a new English (and Spanglish) libretto by Vid Guerrerio and recasts the title character and his fiancée as undocumented workers in a mansion of a Beverly Hills real estate mogul and his actress wife. Combining the original score with fresh, pop-culture references and up-to-the-minute slang, librettist Guerrerio gives Mozart a contemporary kick with this amped-up, pared-down two-and-a-half hour musical that infuses the timeless comedy of the original with an especially timely relevance.

After attending a performance of the show in New York, world-renowned opera singer and conductor Plácido Domingo hailed ¡Figaro! (90210) as "not only funny, but also sexy, as well as heartwarming, with a message of unity that could not be more timely." This comes as especially high praise for José Adán Pérez, once again taking on the title role, who is an alumnus of the L.A. Opera Plácido Domingo program, and who also made his operatic debut in La Boheme at L.A. Opera under the baton of Maestro Domingo.

"I love ¡Figaro! (90210) for the way it honors the timeless beauty of Mozart's masterpiece, while making the story and characters completely relatable to today's multicultural audiences," Domingo says.

In order to share the work's powerful message of diversity and inclusion, the producers are partnering with Sing for Hope, to provide free tickets to the show for the organization's community network, with a focus on immigrant communities traditionally underserved by the classical arts - the very characters that take center stage in this production.

"The celebration of equality and diversity at the heart of ¡Figaro! (90210) is a perfect match for Sing for Hope's mission to share the informative power of the arts with the communities who need it most," Domingo says of the partnership, who also serves on the Board of Directors of Sing for Hope.

Joining Pérez in reprising their roles from the original 2016 run are Samarie Alicea as Figaro's fiancée Susana, as well as Luke Scott and Raquel Suarez Groen as their employers, Paul and Roxanne Conti. They will be joined by newcomer Christin Byrdsong, in the role of Li'l B-Man, alongside a full cast of returning performers who reflect the increasingly diverse demographics of the United States.

¡Figaro! (90210) is directed by Melissa Crespo, with music direction by Raphael Fusco and choreography by Stephanie Card. Sets are designed by Steven C. Kemp, with costumes designed by Lux Haac and lighting designed by Gina Scheer.

The playing schedule for ¡Figaro! (90210) is as follows: Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7PM; Fridays and Saturdays at 8PM; and Sundays at 7PM. Tickets are $89. To purchase tickets and for further information, visit Figaro90210.com or Dukeon42.org. Tickets also available by phone at 646-223-3010, or at the box office. (Regular box office hours at The Duke on 42nd Street are: Tuesday-Friday 4pm-7pm; Saturday 12pm- 6pm. Box Office hours are extended on performance days.)

Since 2006, Sing for Hope's arts outreach programs have brought hope and inspiration to thousands of individuals in under-resourced schools, public hospitals, hospices, veterans' centers, after-school programs, neighborhood centers, nursing homes, and disability networks. To date, Sing for Hope has partnered with over 250 nonprofit organizations, involved over 3,500 artists in community volunteerism, and placed over 335 artist-created Sing for Hope Pianos throughout NYC's parks and public spaces for everyone to play - a symbol and celebration of art for all. Learn more at www.singforhope.org.

Founded in 1990, the NEW 42ND STREET is an independent non-profit organization charged with the continuous cultural revival of 42nd Street between 7th and 8th Avenues. Committed to the transformational power of the arts, the NEW 42ND STREET builds on the foundation of seven historic theaters to make extraordinary performing arts and cultural engagement a part of everyone's life. The NEW 42ND STREET fulfills this purpose by ensuring the ongoing vibrancy of 42nd Street's historic theaters; maintaining and fully using the NEW 42ND STREET Studios and The Duke on 42nd Street to support performing artists in the creation of their work; and through The New Victory Theater, New York's premier theater for kids and families.

The Duke on 42nd Street is an intimate black-box performance space in the heart of the theater district, which is available for rental to both nonprofit and commercial organizations. Featuring a gallery along all four walls and a custom, state-of-the-art seating system, The Duke on 42nd Street is a fully-staffed facility that offers full light, sound, and support systems in various configurations. Some performing arts companies have called The Duke on 42nd Street their home, including Primary Stages, Transport Group, Theatre for a New Audience and Lincoln Center Theater LCT3, while other acclaimed companies have performed on its stage, including The Royal Court Theatre, Steppenwolf Theater Company, Armitage Gone! Dance, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Naked Angels, Classical Theater of Harlem and the National Theater of Great Britain.

Photo Credit: Aaron Gerson