Frida Kahlo, one of Mexico’s greatest artists, was born on July 6, 1907, but claimed that she was born three years later so that people would associate her with the Mexican Revolution of 1910. Our suggestion for Frida’s Birthday Cake: Mexican Cinnamon-Swirl Bundt Cake with Chili-Ganache Frosting!
The Core Ensemble first produced its chamber music theater show “Tres Vidas” in 2001. Based on the lives of three legendary Latin American Women (Mexican painter Frida Kahlo, Salvadoran peasant activist Rufina Amaya and Argentinean poet Alfonsina Storni), for nearly 20 years the show has been seen in hundreds of venues around the United States and the United Kingdom. We offer special thanks to script writer Marjorie Agosin and the wonderful actresses who have worked with us: Georgina Corbo, Karina Barros, Desiree Rodriguez, Roseanne Almanzar, Denise Estrada, Cristina Obando, Rosa Rodriguez, Francisca Munoz, and Jenyvette Vega.
Frida Kahlo left us a joyful legacy through her paintings that celebrated the colorful Mexican culture that she loved while fearlessly exploring gender, class, race and identity.
Frida Kahlo’s style was iconic: her famous unibrow shows a rebelliousness in an era when such a thing might have been plucked into submission. Frida adopted a traditional style of Tehuana dress: full skirts, embroidered blouses and a regal coiffure, accented with the flowers of Mexico: gardenias, dahlias, and bougainvillea.
Frida Kahlo was rumored to have had numerous affairs with both men and women – the list is impressive: Soviet revolutionary Leon Trotsky, Japanese sculptor Isamo Noguchi, actress Dolores Del Rio, Hungarian American photographer Nicolas Muray, artist Georgia O’Keefe, Mexican chanteuse Chavela Vargas – but the greatest of all her loves was Mexican painter and muralist Diego Rivera, whom she married not once, but twice! In this video clip from the Core Ensemble show “Los Valientes”, hear Paulo Quiros as Diego talk about his passionate relationship with Frida.
Your support of music theatre that celebrates diversity is more important than ever. Core Ensemble programs would not exist without the help of our donors! Please consider a contribution today to sustain our virtual library of shows illuminating social justice and to ensure that we may resume live performances when it is safe to do so.
