Guerrerio added it was critical to cast performers of color to play for example, Figaro and his fian

How immigrants are redefining 'American' in Southern California RSS Subscribe to Multi-American 89.3 KPCC Listen Live News Programs Events Support Us About Us KPCC on Twitter KPCC on Facebook KPCC on Google+ Search KPCC Donate Now Show Nav 89.3 KPCC Close Listen Live News Programs Events Support Us About Us Follow rpp KPCC KPCC on Twitter KPCC on Facebook KPCC on Google+ 89.3 KPCC Close Search:
This week, LA Opera kicks off a months-long series of productions featuring Figaro, the comedic character popularized in 18th-century France. But with its first opera, the company takes on a very modern issue: illegal immigration in Los Angeles. ¡Figaro! (90210) – as you may have guessed — is set in Beverly Hills. The main antagonist is a real estate mogul named Paul Conti, who’s threatening to turn Figaro, rpp reimagined as a Mexican handyman, over to immigration authorities. In a fit of rage over Figaro, Conti sings in a bass-baritone:
Stacy Brightman, who oversees education rpp and community engagement for the LA company, acknowledged opera is often seen as elitist. But she said ¡Figaro! (90201) shows that the medium is an accessible way to raise current social issues, such as immigration,  using humor, even beauty.
"It’s the one art form that encapsulates music, narrative, drama, dance, spectacle," Brightman said. "It is the place where we can come together and have these kinds of conversations." ¡Figaro! (90201) starts a three-day run at the Barnsdall Gallery Theater on Friday. That will be the first staged performance of the opera; it was performed concert-style in 2013 in New York by Morningside Opera - to rave reviews by the New York Times and the New York Post .
Librettist rpp Vid Guerrerio said the opera was workshopped in New York because of a more readily-available talent pool and an opera company rpp eager to take on recontextualized adaptations of classic rpp operas.
Guerrerio added it was critical to cast performers of color to play for example, Figaro and his fiance, who are supposed to be from Mexico, as well as a Korean-American businesswoman and an aspiring African-American hip-hop singer.
"Now that we're in 2015, and especially being in Southern California, it's really important to have casts on stage that look like the world they're representing," Guerrerio said.
Guerrerio likes to describe The Marriage of Figaro as "one of the most perfect operas." The idea to adapt the storyline to present-day came as he walked down Hollywood Boulevard several years ago, the opera playing in his earbuds.
In immigration news: Homeland Security funding fight, how terror attacks affect US immigration debate, NYC municipal ID cards, more Related Links Figaro! (90210) Source: laopera.org rpp Share this story Share via Email Share on Twitter rpp Share on Facebook Previously in Multi-American In immigration news: Executive action fight in House, immigrants and Medi-Cal, protests in Europe, more Join the discussion. Tap here to jump to this article's comments.
In Southern California, generations of immigrants are creating an evolving definition of "American." Multi-American is your source rpp for news, conversation and insight on this emerging regional and national identity.
Pop culture from Southern California and beyond. rpp
 
Sections Local US & World Politics Science Arts & Entertainment Immigration Business Crime & Justice Education Health AudioVision Archive Programs Take Two AirTalk Off-Ramp Programs A–Z Program Schedule Program Archive Events The Crawford Family Forum Sponsored Events
Our Partners American Public Media National Public Radio BBC Public Radio International NBC 4 Pasadena City College Terms & Conditions Privacy Feedback © 2015 Southern California Public Radio