City Theatre opens its doors to "Where Did We Sit on the Bus?," Brian Quijada's one-man show that moves to a Latin beat, with elements of rap, hip-hop, spoken word and live looping — the recording and playback of music in real time.
It’s a joy to watch Brian’s story unfold and see the magic of what one performer and a laptop can do,” said Clare Drobot, City’s director of new play development.
The title comes from a lesson about the civil rights era and Rosa Parks, when Mr. Quijada was a third-grader in Highwood, Ill., circa 1996. He told the Chicago Tribune that he raised his hand to ask, "Latinos — where did we sit on the bus?" And the teacher's reply was, "Oh. They weren't around."
The show he created to answer his question “encapsulates our 2018-19 season theme of ‘your world, our stage,’ ” Ms. Drobot said. “We’re thrilled to bring Brian Quijada and [director] Chay Yew to Pittsburgh with a production that’s both timely and immensely engaging.”
She called the performance a tour de force and added that the “themes of family, heritage and an artist finding his voice will deeply resonate with our community.”
When the show originated at Teatro Vista/Victory Gardens in Chicago, the Chicago Sun Times raved, "An explosion of energy, raw emotion and irresistible storytelling.” The autobiographical production earned Mr. Quijada a Chicago stage Jefferson Award, and the off-Broadway run was nominated for two Drama Desk Awards in 2017. An audio version of the performance, “Where Do We Sit on the Bus: The Mixtape,” is available on music streaming services.
"Where Did We Sit on the Bus?," is at City Theatre's Lester Hamburg Studio, 1300 Bingham St., South Side, Jan. 19-Feb. 24 (opening night on Jan. 25 is sold out); 7 p.m. Tues.; 1 and/or 7 p.m. Wed.; 8 p.m. Thurs. and Fri.; 1, 5:30 and/or 9 p.m. Sat.; and 2 or 7 p.m. Sun. $29-$44 ($15 under age 30 and student and senior discounts where applicable, check website), www.citytheatrecompany.org or 412-431-2489.
Sharon Eberson: seberson@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1960. Twitter: @SEberson_pg. Sign up for the PG performing arts newsletter Behind the Curtain at Newsletter Preferences.
First Published: January 17, 2019, 5:00 a.m.
