Noche Flamenca to Perform New Work SEARCHING FOR GOYA at the Joyce

Noche Flamenca will perform the New York premiere of its new work, Searching for Goya, April 23-28 at The Joyce Theater.

In light of recent political and global events, Santangelo and Barrio felt drawn to revisit the work of artist Francisco de Goya (1746-1828), whose graphics and paintings reveal the horrors of war, the monsters that live within us, the humiliation of the humble, and the value of the strength and sensibility of animals. The complexity of content and emotion motivated them to reimagine Goya’s works through flamenco. With the help of Goya expert and Metropolitan Museum Curator Mark McDonald, Santangelo and Barrio embarked on the creation of Searching For Goya. The production has been in development since early 2022—at The Joyce Theater, The 62’ Center at Williams College, Plays and Players Theatre, and other prestigious cultural institutions. It made its world premiere in November 2023 at the University of Washington’s Meany Center for the Performing Arts.

Searching for Goya features two-time Bessie Award winner Soledad Barrio alongside some of Spain’s greatest flamenco dancers, musicians, and singers.  

The creative team includes Martin Santangelo (artistic direction, choreography, and musical composition), Soledad Barrio (choreography), Emilio Florido and Manuel Gago (vocal composition), Eugenio Iglesias, Salva de María, and  David “Chupete” Rodriguez (musical composition), Mary Frank (mask work),  Dr. Mark McDonald, Ph.D. (artistic consultation), and Mark London(lighting design).

Searching for Goya is a perfect illustration of what Noche Flamenca has become, three decades after it formed as a constellation around Barrio as star: a seamlessly integrated group of collaborators in which every dancer and musician is a master of their craft.

The upcoming performances at the Joyce follow a December 2023 / January 2024 developmental run of Searching for Goya at the Second Floor Theatre at 122CC.  The show will develop even further for its engagement at the Joyce, where a bigger stage will allow the creative team to fully realize their vision.

The New York City premiere of Searching for Goya is part of a North American tour that has included engagements this fall at the Pittsburgh Playhouse in Pittsburgh, PA; Field Arts and Events Hall in Port Angeles, WA; the Meany Center in Seattle, WA; and Théâtre Maisonneuve in Montreal, CAN, where it was presented by Nuits d'Afrique (January 18, 2024). The production will travel to the Lucas Theatre in Savannah, GA, as part of the Savannah Music Festival (April 13); and to the Irvine Barclay Theater in Irvine, CA (April 18), before returning to New York City for the performances at the Joyce. Following The Joyce, selected excerpts of Searching for Goya will play at Jacob’s Pillow August 14-18. 

NYC Performance Schedules and Tickets

The Joyce Theater presents Searching for Goya April 23-28, 2024. Tickets can be purchased at www.Joyce.org, or by calling Joyce Charge at 212.242.0800. The Joyce Theater is located at 175 Eighth Avenue (at West 19th Street) in Manhattan. Tickets for all of Noche Flamenca’s performances can be purchased at their website at www.nocheflamenca.com.