Castillo Theatre Extends Run of CARMEN'S PLACE (A FANTASY) Until 6/16

The Castillo Theatre production of Carmen's Place (A Fantasy), called "an aria to behold" by critics in this opera-within-a musical running through June 16. Carmen's Place features an original pop score by Annie Roboff and FrEd Newman, and in its show-within-the-show, some of the best-known and best-loved operatic numbers ever performed. Director Gabrielle L. Kurlander received the AUDELCO "Viv" Recognition Award for Excellence in Black Theatre as Best Director of a Musical Production in 2012 for Newman-Roboff's Sally and Tom (The American Way).

In the musical we meet Carmen, a young waitress who grew up Puerto Rican and working class in the projects behind Lincoln Center. She's been in love with her boyfriend, José, a beat cop, since they were 10-years-old. One day, three young opera singers, on a break from rehearsal for the opera, Carmen, come in to the Opera Diner where she works and strike up an unlikely friendship with Carmen. A new romance is sparked. Will Carmen, José, and their new friends fall under the spell of the drama and tragedy of the opera? Or can they create a new kind of love?

In a case of life imitating art, the cast is made up of a mix of aspiring, young musical theatre and opera singers: Gabrielle Flores, Stephanie Harter Gilmore, Gabriel Kerr, Sean Kroll, with David Woodrow. The Black Star News said, "Both Gilmore and Schultz have superb operatic voices and Kroll is well suited to the character Placido." They also added, "The sets by Joseph Spirito were inventive, especially the Lincoln Center fountain scene."

Castillo Theatre (artistic director Dan Friedman) is located in the All Stars youth development and performance arts center at 543 West 42nd Street. Castillo is New York City's community political theatre, member supported with 100% private funding, with diverse audiences from neighborhoods across the city and is staffed by volunteers of all backgrounds.

Performances are selected Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2:00 p.m. through June 16 at the Castillo Theatre, 543 West 42nd Street (between 10th & 11th Avenue). Tickets are $35 for adults, $10 for students and seniors. Group rates are available. Tickets can be purchased through the Castillo Box Office at 212-941-1234 or at www.castillo.org.