Americano!, a timely new musical opening Jan. 29 at The Phoenix Theatre Company, is the true story of local man Tony Valdovinos.
A graduate of Camelback High School, Valdovinos story begins when he tries to enlist in the Marine Corps on his 18th birthday at a recruiting station in Phoenix, only to discover his parents hadn’t told him that he was an undocumented immigrant who was brought from Mexico when he was only two years old. But this DREAMer didn’t give up on serving the only country he had ever known—he did it in other powerful ways instead.
“Imagine someone calling you out of the blue and then a year or so later you hear about 20 songs involving the most important and intimate details of your life? But this journey is worth it to get people to think more about what DREAMers and their families are going through. And it will also put a smile on their faces.
Tony Valdovinos
Over four years in the making, Americano! is a collaboration between The Phoenix Theatre Company and Quixote Productions, owned by Scottsdale public relations executive Jason Rose. The musical is the Company’s latest contribution to the cannon of new American theatre and is the heart of their 100th anniversary season.
The team behind Americano! include Executive Producer Ken Davenport, a Tony Award-winning producer of show like Kinky Boots, Macbeth and more; Michael Barnard, the theatre’s Artistic Director and Co-Author of Americano!; singer-songwriter Carrie Rodriguez, who will compose the music; Sergio Mendoza, an Arizona native and member of the Indie rock band Calexico and leader of Orkesta Mendoza who will arrange the music; Jonathan Rosenberg, co-writer of the musical; and more.
Americano! will take place in the Mainstage Theatre Jan. 29 through Feb. 23 with the world premiere on Jan. 31.
For tickets and more information, visit: americanothemusical.com
