Cabaret, while most often associated with Weimer-era Berlin, is practiced the world over, from New York to Cape Town.
Mexico has its own thriving cabaret culture, a fact born out by the up-coming first edition of Guadalajara’s Festival de Cabaret, which will run from Friday, February 9 to Sunday, February 25.
The festival is the work of the Conjunto de Artes Escénicas of the University of Guadalajara, in collaboration with the Teatro Experimental de Jalisco and Foro Periplo, a Guadalajara-based performing arts association.
Much of the festival’s program will concern the transgender community and the abuse and discrimination its members face. Works in this vein include “La Procesion de Santa Mentira” and “Las Alegres Comadres de Atracomulco,” a take-off on Shakespeare’s “The Merry Wives of Windsor.”
Opening the festival on February 9 will be “Prietty Guoman,” which features the titular personage, created by veteran performer Cesar Enriquez, of a flamboyant trans woman from Veracruz who is obsessed with the film “Pretty Woman.” Enriquez’ show was a smash hit during its recent Mexico City run. The performer, in addition to his duties as a performer, will also give a series of workshops on the art of cabaret, February 12-16.
Each of the festival’s events will occur at one of three places belonging to the three organizations responsible for the festival:
The Conjunto, Av. Periférico Norte 1695, Zapopan; the Teatro Experimental de Jalisco, Calzada Independencia Sur, La Aurora, Guadalajara; Teatro Peril, Calle Prisciliano Sanchez 790, Colonia El Centro Guadalajara. See the festival’s Facebook page for times and ticketing. Prices vary.