-Brenda Hillegas
photo by Chris Jordan Photography
If Siluetas wasn’t on your theatre radar for the season, you need to push everything else aside and get to this stunning world premiere musical from Power Street Theatre (PST). Written by award-winning playwright (and PST co-founder) Erlina Ortiz and Broadway performer/composer Robi Hager (Spring Awakening, Fun Home), Siluetas started as a Zoom musical in 2021- a draft with just five songs. A year later, it was selected for presentation during the National Music Theater Conference at The O’Neill Center with a new cast and workshop. A concert version of the musical took place at Norristown’s Theatre Horizon last fall. Now, the show’s journey lands at the Randall Theatre on Temple University’s Campus where you can experience it through June 23rd.
Siluetas tells the story of Dinora (Angel Alzeidan), a Cuban-American immigrant, who has not seen her family in 20 years. Dinora (played by Tony Award-winning KO in their return to the stage following Moulin Rouge!) just left her husband and is starting fresh. She moves in with Khalilah, a Syrian refugee, who came to Philadelphia to study art. Together, they watch the 2016 presidential campaign unfold in ways that will directly change the course of these two women.
KO and Angel Alzeidan give two of the strongest, most relatable performances I have seen anywhere all season. These characters and this story are a harsh reminder of the upcoming election and why we need to rally for our family and neighbors who come here from afar. Dinora and Khalilah are constantly faced with fear, losing everything they’ve built, not knowing what their next move should be, and how quickly their entire world can do a 180. Are their families alive? Will they see them again? Can they ever go home?
The cast also includes Guillermo Jemmott Jr. and Garrick Vaughan as Richard and Ian, respectively. These two roles provide hope, humor and offer friendship as Dinora and Khalilah build a community and make friends who become family. I’m sure so many people who walk on the Temple University campus can relate. Whatever reason they’re here, Siluetas shows all of us that ultimately, we are not alone. You’ll find people who are rooting for you every step of the way.
Rounding out the show- Victor Rodriguez Jr., Rob Tucker, Johanna Carlisle-Zepeda, and Kara Rantovich. You can tell how dedicated these actors are to this story. It’s flawless.
The music and lyrics are tight as well, ready for bigger stages and larger audiences to memorize every note (can we crowd fund a cast recording asap?!). The story, of course, is just as powerful and relevant and the topics can apply to all of us. So please, come be a part of this musical before it wows the rest of the world.
Speaking of community, Power Street Theatre is curating several affinity nights throughout the run of the show including Temple Alumni Nights, Pride Night, and Alza La Bandera/ Raise Your Flag Night. PST is also offer free childcare for the June 9 and 16 matinees in partnership with Parent Artist Advocacy League (PAAL) and Broadway Babysitters. A complete list of events can be found on the website.
Tickets are currently on sale by visiting here and thanks to a “pay what you decide” scale, Siluetas can reach so many people. Please consider paying it forward if you can, though, and cover the cost for someone else to attend.
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