Destiny of Desire

By Karen Zacarias
Originally produced at Arena Stage, Washington, DC
September 11 - October 18, 2015

About the Premiere Production:

(Marian Licha, Gabriela Fernandez-Coffey, and Oscar Ceville. Photo by C. Stanley Photography.)

On a stormy night in Bellarica, Mexico, two baby girls are born — one into a life of privilege and one into a life of poverty. When the newborns are swapped by a former beauty queen with an insatiable lust for power, the stage is set for two outrageous misfortunes to grow into one remarkable destiny. “A writer of comedic skill” (Variety), Helen Hayes Award-winning playwright Karen Zacarías (The Book Club Play) infuses the Latin American telenovela genre with music, high drama and burning passion to make for a fast-paced modern comedy. Part of the Women's Voices Theater Festival.

Cast: Esparanza America, Oscar Ceville, Gabriella Fernandez-Coffey, Carlos Gómez, Fidel Gomez, Rayanne Gonzalezs, Cástulo Guerra, Marian Licha, Nicholas Rodriguez, Elia Saldaña, and Rosino Serrano.

Director: José Luis Valenzuela
Scenic Design: Francois-Pierre Couture
Costume Design: Julie Weiss
Lighting Design: Pablo Santiago
Sound Design: John Zalewski
Wig Designer: Anne Nesmith
Casting: Caparelliotis Casting
Stage Manager: Kurt Hall
Assistant Stage Manager: Trevor A. Riley
Casting: Pauline O'Con

News:
• "Playwright Karen Zacarías on ‘Destiny of Desire’ at Arena Stage,'" DC Mettro Theater Arts , October 12, 2015
• "Arena Stage brings outlandish Latin-American melodrama to the stage in its latest production,'" Wahsington City Paper , October 2, 2015

Additional Funders: The Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation’s Women Playwrights Commissioning Program.