An inventive children’s’ musical commissioned by the Kennedy Center opens next weekend. “Barrio Grrrl!,” a book by Quiara Alegria Hudes who wrote the award-winning “In the Heights,” is about a spunky 9-year-old girl named Ana.
“Ana is being raised by her grandfather in Philadelphia,” said Ana Nogueira, who plays the lead, in a recent interview. “Her mother is with the Army, fighting in Iraq. The family doesn’t have a lot of money, but Ana’s got a wild, amazing imagination, personified by an imaginary friend. This alter-ego — Barrio Grrrl — is a superhero who can fix any problem.”
Ana also has a second imaginary friend, the Amazing Voice, played by Natascia Diaz. The music for “Barrio Grrrl!” is by Bill Sherman, who won a Tony Award for his contribution to “In the Heights.” “The music has a lot of Latin, soul and gospel influences,” said Nogueira. “It borrows from many different cultures and represents today’s city kids, who are inspired by fun, funky music, not simple songs. They like things that challenge them and have distinct dance rhythms.”
Nogueira said she has no problem preparing to play a 9-year old girl.
“I go for what makes my character Ana, not what makes Ana nine,” she explained. “One thing the director, Peter Flynn, and I have been working on is how younger children deal with difficult situations.
“Adults have been through rough places time and again, so there’s a resignation on their part. But children don’t know disappointment yet, so they’re constantly trying to make the best of bad situations. It takes a lot to get Ana — or any of her friends — to go to a dark place. Even though her life is difficult from an adult point of view, she doesn’t see it that way.”
Nogueira said although “Barrio Grrrl!” is designed for children, it is true family fare, with music and ideas that will intrigue adults as well as children. “The script is about friendship,” Nogueira explained, “about how people are lifted up and strengthened by the people around them.
“Most of all, it’s about finding your everyday superpowers, realizing that being a hero is not about giant accomplishments. Being “super” can mean being very small, very simple, seeing that those little things you do every day make a big difference. Ana absolutely gets to that point, where she knows that her everyday acts of kindness are really special and that she doesn’t need to be a huge comic book figure in order to be a hero.”
“Barrio Girrrl!” will be at the Kennedy Center’s Family Theatre Oct. 24 through Nov. 15. Tickets are $18. Call 202-467-4600 or visit kennedy-center.org for information.
