The 73^rd Avenue Theatre Company presents

FAUNA ROCK

By Leonor Azcarate, translated by Joshua Pilkington and Maru Garcia

Music by Mario Rivas and Jorge Neri

Directed and choreographed by Maru Garcia

Fauna Rock is a bilingual musical originally produced in Mexico City. Created by Leonor Azcarate, translated by Joshua Pilkington and Maru Garcia and with original music by Mario Rivas and Jorge Neri, the musical tells us the story of a Little Lion trying to be friends with the 'Punk' Lions. In order to be part of their pack they put him through several tests. While trying to complete the tests he meets a Squirrel, a Rabbit and a Bird finally realizing that his true friends are not the lions but the other animals in the jungle. Appropriate for all ages.

Fauna Rock has been performed several times in Mexico City with two productions by Leonor Azcarate herself, one of them just last year, a successful season of 100 performances with the Grupo Bochinche in 1992 and some other shows a few years ago in the city of Pachuca. This is the first time that Fauna Rock is produced outside of Mexico.

The cast includes Donovan Arterburn III (Pank), Maru Garcia (Ponk), Alma Lozano (Squirrel), Heather Jeanne Rawley (Rabbit), Julia Thompson (Little Lion) and Hannah Tippit (Bird / Queen).

A prolific writer of books and plays, Leonor Azcarate started her career as a student at the workshops of the well known playwrights Vicente Lenero and Hugo Arguelles. Her career has involved her in the world of theater, journalism, TV and radio. Azcarate has received national and international awards for her work and currently lives in Mexico City.

Jorge Neri is well known in Mexico for his participation creating music for TV, theater, and movies. His career is a long one with more than 30 years playing music. He created some additional songs for the recent productions of Fauna Rock including 'Una Nuez es una Nuez,' 'The Queen Song,' and 'You and I.' Mario Rivas was one of the first victims of AIDS in Mexico City. He died in 1990 before the world really knew much about HIV and AIDS. He created the original music of Fauna Rock and was able to participate in the first production of the play before his death. Through Aug. 29 - Saturday at 1:30 p.m., Sunday at 11 a.m. Tickets: $8 per adult, $ 6 per child.