CARMEN: SHADOW OF MY SHADOW
DECONSTRUCTING THE ARCHETYPICAL FEMME FATALE THROUGH MUSIC AND FLAMENCO DANCE
CREATED AND PERFORMED BY: Audrey Babcock and Paola Escobar
ORIGINATED AND PRODUCED BY: Audrey Babcock
DRAMATURG AND DIRECTOR: Cordelia Istel
GUITER: Andres Vadin
CAJON: Diego "El Negro" Alvares
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LIGHTING DESIGN: Rose Malone
SET DESIGN: Elizabeth Smith
Carmen: Shadow of my Shadow is an Operatic Choreopoem using flamenco dance, re-purposed songs from southern Spain, moments of Bizet’s Opera Carmen, and vocal and physical improvisation. Two women, Audrey Babcock and Paola Escobar, wrestle to break down the façade and mystique of impenetrable femme fatale represented by the image of Carmen and the Flamenca. They dig under her suit of armor to find her true self, the messy, human center; the woman who is both vicious and vulnerable, terrified and terrifying, desperately shattered and yet completely whole. In the end, having excavated her gritty and earth bound life, they prep for stage and enter together for the last scene of George Bizet’s Carmen
Audrey met Carmen at a young age. She knew this character would be a part of her life if she only had the courage to claim her. Over 30 productions and 100 performances later, this original piece is a long-awaited chance to further explore this legendary creature. Making a career of playing this particular embodiment of epic female strength, sexuality, and determination has left traces in her life that she feels called to explore.
Similarly, Paola Escobar, saw a production of Carmen as a young girl and the dancing immediately took hold of her and gave her life purpose. She found her way to Spain as soon as possible and embarked on a career in flamenco dance culture for over 15 years.
Carmen gave each of them many things, but what were they? She also took things away. The blurring lines of life and work take on many layers when up against the idea of what it is to be a woman.