The Iconic Legend Reimagined
Story by Terry Check
In Miami Beach at the Faena Theater, Masquerade Magazine relived the story of Carmen as created by Faena Live in partnership with Quixotic, an award-winning performance art collective. We spoke with Brian Forti, Executive Producer & Director of Creative Entertainment at Faena Live, and Maggie Andriani, Staging Director from Quixotic, for an inside look. Join us as we explore Carmen: The Iconic Legend Reimagined.
Masquerade: Carmen is a tale that has been told in many forms over the years. How does this production stand apart from previous interpretations such as Carmen: A Tale of Passion and Betrayal? Under the blazing sun of Seville, Carmen, a fiery gypsy with a beauty that bewitched all, danced her way into the hearts of men. Her allure was irresistible, her spirit untamed. Among her admirers was Don José, a disciplined soldier who abandoned his duty and honor for her love. He was captivated by her charm, following her into the smoky depths of taverns and the secrets of gypsy camps.
But Carmen’s heart was a tempest, unwilling to be chained. She craved freedom and passion, which she found in Escamillo, a dashing bullfighter whose confidence and bravado matched her own fiery spirit. Escamillo’s victories in the bullring mirrored his triumph in winning Carmen’s affections.
Don José, consumed by jealousy and heartbreak, descended into madness. He pleaded with Carmen to return to him, but she refused, declaring that she would rather die than live without her freedom.
On a fateful day outside the bullring, as the crowd roared for Escamillo, Don José confronted Carmen. Overwhelmed by his unrequited love and her defiance, he committed the ultimate act of passion and despair, plunging a dagger into her heart. Carmen’s death was as dramatic as her life – intense, tragic, and unforgettable
Brian Forti: Faena Theater and Quixotic are honored to be creating an immersive cabaret version of the classic and timeless story of Carmen. The intimate, 150-seat theater has become known for its ambitious artistic productions and highly acclaimed performances, and this new resident show is no different. Carmen, ‘The Iconic Legend Reimagined,” whichdebuted in the fall of 2024 follows the record-breaking triumph and longstanding success of Allura, an electrifying contemporary cabaret with breathtaking choreography, entrancing music, and astonishing light technology. Continuing to bring imaginative live entertainment to South Beach, our team at Faena Live has breathed new life into the timeless classic of Carmen with a daring, live masterpiece.
Faena’s creative entertainment team, in partnership with award-winning performance art collective Quixotic, has injected its own signature style into the iconic story of Carmen with a vibrant and bold flair, while celebrating the production’s enduring legacy. The captivating rendition of Georges Bizet’s 19th-century opera marries the fierce passion of flamenco with cabaret, fire artistry, cirque nouveau, and percussive live music, breathtaking visuals, and mixed styles of contemporary dance forms, all enriched with bold Spanish-inspired flavor. The show is a celebration of the past and present, brought to life in a spectacular, immersive performance. A thrilling blend of striking visual illusions, contemporary Latin flair, and pulse-pounding rhythms of the soul, Carmen celebrates the esprit de vie (the spirit of life) while igniting the flames of deep desire.
Masquerade: Faena Theater is known for its unique aesthetic and immersive experiences. How does Faena’s signature style influence the storytelling in this production?
Brian Forti: Hand-selected and commissioned from around the globe, Faena Theater’s magnificent performers bring a fresh and dynamic energy to this timeless tale, making it an unforgettable experience. The show features lead talent including master of ceremonies Mimi Barber, the captivating voice behind Ibiza’s most legendary soirées, who encompasses Carmen’s vibrant spirit. Barber’s journey from electrifying stages, to sharing the spotlight with icons around the world, brings her soulful blend of jazz, soul, and deep house to life. With unmatched charisma and vivacity, she ignites the passionate essence of Carmen, accompanied by a renowned ensemble that elevates this reinterpreted classic to its fullest brilliance. Audiences can also enjoy electrifying performances from JC Nicot as Don José, and Kamal Zebib as matador Escamillo, with choreography and a guest feature from flamenco dancer Alondra Matamoros.
Masquerade: The collaboration with Quixotic promises a dynamic, multi-sensory experience. Can you share how their artistic vision shaped the production?
Maggie Andriani: Our productions are always multi-disciplinary and multi-faceted. While we wanted to pull a lot of Spanish and traditional flamenco into this show of course, we also made sure to give it a modern twist that infuses cirque artistry, modern music, and technology. We also included a unique blend of pop and hip-hop influence. It’s a particular fusion of styles and influences that we were incredibly intentional about while creating the show so that it would be a version of Carmen that audiences have never seen before.
Masquerade: What elements of flamenco, cabaret, and cirque nouveau have been infused into the performance to bring Carmen’s world to life?
Maggie Andriani: We really have a bit of everything! The show starts with a traditional flamenco number to pay respects to the original story and Spanish culture, then from there, we move into more fusion style pieces with a heavy cabaret influence. Then, you will see aerial numbers, custom fire acts, sword balancing, and live music that happens throughout the audience. It’s truly jam packed with so many elements, but I like to think we do a good job of seamlessly blending all those things together to tell our story in the most visually striking way.
Masquerade: How do the performers bring out the complex emotions of passion, jealousy, and betrayal that define the story?
Maggie Andriani: We put a lot of thought and conceptualizing into how our emcee and singers tell the story through song. While some of the music may be recognizable classic songs that we’ve all heard, we made sure that the lyrics and meaning of the songs fit the storyline and what the characters are feeling in that moment– romance, fury, hurt, celebration of life, et cetera. And while our performers all specialize in dance, circus, or both, they are also experts at conveying the story through their acting abilities and artistry. As far as the darker themes of the show go, such as jealousy and betrayal, it made it the perfect production to infuse fire dancing elements into, such as a fire sword fight.
Masquerade: Carmen is famously known as a fiery, free-spirited character. How does this production explore or reinterpret her character in a modern context?
Maggie Andriani: Without giving too much away, when the original story of Carmen was written in the late 1800s, it was definitely a tragedy. When we conceptualized the story to fit a modern world and a message we wanted to convey, we really wanted to focus on truly giving Carmen the freedom and free spirit that she is known for, which means the ending of our version can be seen as giving Carmen the option of making her own decisions and choosing her own fate, even long after the curtain comes down; she is a spirit that lives on. I believe she really deserves that respect and redemption as such a well-known heroine.
Masquerade: The story is rich in Spanish cultural elements. How did the creative team approach capturing the essence of Spain while bringing a fresh, contemporary twist?
Brian Forti: Our vision blends the heart of Spanish culture with a fresh, modern twist. Carmen ignites a tale of love, jealousy, and defiance, brought to life through flamenco, cabaret, fire artistry, cirque nouveau, live percussion, and contemporary dance, all enriched with bold, Spanish-inspired aesthetics. Guests can also elevate their experience with Faena Theater’s Spanish-inspired menu, featuring shareable tapas, decadent desserts, craft cocktails, and an extensive wine list, perfectly paired with the show’s vibrant themes.
Masquerade: Fire artistry is a striking component of the show. Can you describe how it’s used to convey the drama and intensity of Carmen’s journey?
Maggie Andriani: We knew we wanted to do a fire performance focused production that Faena Theater has not had before, and Carmen just happens to have the perfect thematic elements that can be represented through fire. Passion and freedom can be fiery, but so can rage and jealousy. It’s the perfect way to connect all of the story’s most important themes, whether it’s a whirling fire skirt to represent freedom, or a climactic fire sword fight to represent rage.
Masquerade: How do live percussion and music enhance the atmosphere and tension within the performance?
Brian Forti: The music for this latest production of Carmen features an eclectic modern mix of flamenco and pop with a dash of hip-hop. The melting pot of new and classical music weaves together the story of Carmen in a fresh way. The production also introduces two world renowned singers, Bita, a vocalist and songwriter from Granada, Spain, and Mimi Barber from Ibiza, whose styles juxtapose beautifully. Also cast are brilliant flamenco guitarist Rodrigo Valdez and one of Miami’s top percussionists, Otto Santana Selis. As with every production at Faena, showgoers can anticipate an exciting combination of multiple music styles to create something exciting for everyone.
Masquerade: Given that the production intertwines various art forms, how does the choreography work to seamlessly blend these distinct styles?
Maggie Andriani: Since we blend so many different styles of dance and performance art it was imperative that we used multiple choreographers who were experts in their own field of dance, whether that was flamenco, heels dance, contemporary, martial arts, or fire dancing. I believe the show has about six or seven choreographers total, myself included. One of my jobs as the staging director was to make sure that all of these pieces blended together to tell one story, while also celebrating such a diverse team of choreographers and their unique styles.
Masquerade: The storyline involves a dramatic love triangle with themes of devotion and betrayal. How do the performers embody and intensify these intense emotional dynamics?
Maggie Andriani: When we cast the roles of Carmen, Don Jose, and Escamillo, of course they had to be incredible performers in their own respects, but the acting element was also such a huge part. We really have to believe the chemistry between them, which I think they all do an incredible job with. The show would simply not work if our three main characters did not embody the intensity that they do so well. There are a few favorite scenes of mine where the passion and rage are so palpable, you can immediately feel it when you’re sitting in the theater watching it. It gives me chills.
Masquerade: For those familiar with Carmen, what surprises or reinterpretations might they find in this new production? What do you hope audiences take away from this fiery retelling?
Maggie Andriani: We did create a new character for this retelling, the High Priestess, who helps drive our storyline by foretelling Carmen’s fate through tarot cards, which was a really fun element to emphasize from the original story. I don’t want to give away too much about how our story of Carmen ends, but it’s definitely a twist, and I do think people will appreciate a more modern take on Carmen’s fate. The Spanish music in the show is so fun, and the acts performed are so strong in variety, I think anyone coming to Faena Theater will leave that theater feeling a little more invigorated with life than when they came in.
Many thanks to the staff of the Faena Miami Beachl for an amazing performance and for the photography published in this cover story.
In addition to Carmen: The Iconic Legend Reimagined, the Faena Miami Beach boasts exceptional restaurants, bars, lounges, and a world-class theater, offering a diverse array of entertainment and unforgettable experiences. Guests can enjoy original productions, interactive cooking classes, nightly live music, concerts, meditative sessions, and much more. For information and tickets click on https://www.faena.com/miami-beach/things-to-do/events-calendar .
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