TAMPA, Fla. — A new stage show set to debut this month at Stageworks Theatre in Tampa hopes to do more than sell tickets and entertain audiences. It's part of a broader effort to increase involvement of the area's Hispanic community in local theater.

  • New show "Four Guys Named Jose and Una Mujer Named Maria" starts May 31
  • Company hopes to attract more Hispanic people to see shows, increase visibility of Hispanic actors
  • For tickets, click HERE

The stage is set for "Four Guys Named Jose and Una Mujer Named Maria," which tells the story of four young Latinos who meet in Nebraska and share a common dream: to stage a show of Latin standards that puts forth a positive image to counteract Latino stereotypes.

Directed by New York-based director JL Rey, the Stageworks production stars Pablo Alameda, Kidany Camilo, Richard Cubi, Michael Pruit, and Vanessa Rodriguez. 

Rey first heard of the musical when it debuted nearly 20 years ago. At the time, he was still living in Tampa. 

“I thought, 'this would be a great show to do in Tampa,'" Rey told us. "And at the time, there was no one interested.” 

Now it's finally being performed here, featuring an all Hispanic, bilingual cast of local talent.

An unmet need in the community 

The show is part of Stageworks' ongoing Hispanic initiative, which features multiple programs such as main stage shows, education outreach and Spanish spoken word.

“There really was an unmet need in the Tampa Bay Area, that there was not professional theater being created for Spanish-speaking audiences,” said Oreli Uzdavinis, director of audience services. 

But it's not just about getting more Hispanic people to attend the theater. It’s also an effort to increase visibility of Hispanic actors on stage.

“We could see there's art being created for multiple communities but not the Hispanic community in a way that they were the lead characters, the strong lead characters,” Uzdavinis said. 

When the curtain rises on the show's first performance later this month, it'll be an especially poignant moment for Rey.

“It’s beautiful, beautiful music that I grew up listening to,” Rey said. “My mom and dad used to sing these songs to each other when they were washing dishes. And so it’s emotional for me sometimes because I’m thinking about mom and dad, who are gone.”

The show debuts at Stageworks on May 31 and runs until June 16.