Celebrate a century in the life of Ybor City with tales about men and women from Tampa’s cigar-making days up through present day. Playwrights Richard and Mary Ellen DiPietra, who brought us the Tampa biographical performance piece I Am a Cuban Sandwich, presents a brand new show this year: The Ybor Stories. We can all but smell the cafe con leche and cigar smoke thinking about it.
Very much a family affair, the production enlists son Nick as co-stage manager with longtime pal Kristen Perry. Nephew Jon DiPietra plays the modern-day busker and Broadway reject. Other actors include Petrus Antonius, Lillian Almodovar, Melissa Misener, Justin Medlin, Marlene Peralta, Miriam Carlson and Katie Berger with music by Ray Villadonga and Hector Mayoral. Jim Rayfield directs.
Vignettes acquaint us with real-life inspired people such as El Lector, The Midwife of Ybor and Little Albert, who’s growing up during a time of change Specifically, the scenes are set in 1930, 1940, 1960 and today.
Admission is $20. Sat., June 20. CL Space, 1911 N. 13th St., Ybor City. Event page on Facebook.
This article appears in Jun 11-17, 2015.