Artists paint dynamic “Still Life”
By Keith Wall, June 1, 2007

Theater Still Life: A Theatrical and Musical Portrait of Georgia O’Keeffe and Frida Kahlo Fri, June 8–Sat, June 16 Teatro Santa Ana  Biblioteca Pública Reloj 50 A

The production of Still Life: A Theatrical and Musical Portrait of Georgia O’Keeffe and Frida Kahlo, opening on June 8 at the Teatro Santa Ana, brings to San Miguel some of the southwest’s most talented actors and musicians, direct from the National Hispanic Cultural Center in Albuquerque.

This “parallel portrait” by Harry Clark draws on letter-exchanges and biographies of these 20th century icons, incorporating dialogue, music and projections of the artists’ paintings. The San Miguel production stars Nancy Jeris as Georgia O’Keeffe and Sabina Zúñiga-Varela as Frida Kahlo.

The actors bring vast theatrical experience to their respective roles. Nancy Jeris was a member of John Houseman’s UCLA Theatre Group where she performed as Goneril in King Lear with Morris Carnovsky, Ariadne in Heartbreak House with Carroll O’Connor, and as Hypollita and Casilda in Tis Pity She’s a Whore and Peribaniz. She toured with Henry Fonda in The Time of Your Life and performed onstage with Frank Langella in The Devils and Paul Sorvino in Tales from Hollywood. For many years she was a familiar face on television, with recurring roles on Knots Landing and on the children’s series, Fudge, and in guest appearances on The Bill Cosby Show, Archie Bunker’s Place, and Felicity. As for her role in Still Life, Nancy says “it’s wonderful to be working in this play,” portraying one of the most fascinating and influential American artists over nearly a half century of her life.

Sabina Zúñiga-Varela (Frida), a native New Mexican, is deeply involved as both actor and director in the blossoming theater and film scene in Albuquerque. This season she was Dolores Magdalena in the world premiere of The Magdalena Cantata by José Garcia Davis, produced by Teatro Nuevo Mexico. She is also a member of Las Meganenas which tours with Rio de Lagrimas/River of Tears, a performance piece that addresses the femicides of hundreds of women on the US/Mexico border. Ms. Zúñiga-Varela will direct her first feature film this fall.

Sabina is no stranger to Mexico, having lived in Oaxaca for a year, or to Frida Kahlo, for whom she has always had a special affinity. “Speaking personally, Frida has been a huge influence on my life, not just because of her painting but because of her struggles; I had similar physical ailments when I was little... and I feel so blessed to have been influenced by her.”

Still Life is not only theater, it is chamber music as well. The cello represents O’Keeffe and the guitar represents Kahlo. Guitarist Carl Bernstein and cellist Cristien Beeuwkes provide live accompaniment to the projection of images of the works of Kahlo and O’Keeffe between dialogues. 

Bernstein, faculty member of the New Mexico Highlands University and United World College, has traversed the Caribbean and Latin America where he performed over 60 concerts sponsored by the US State Department. For the past 25 years he has lived and worked in New Mexico, performing classical guitar concerts and playing with a jazz ensemble. Since Carl’s parents lived in San Miguel years ago, he’s excited to be paying a return visit.

Cellist Christien Beeuwkes, who hails from Maine, has served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Bulgaria and taught English as a Second Language in Moscow. She is currently earning a Master’s Degree in cello performance at the University of New Mexico. 

Bill Kersey is responsible for the design of the visuals representing the art work of the two iconic 20th-century artists.

Still Life, directed by Linda Lopez McAlister, who brought Copenhagen to San Miguel last year, and which benefits AnYel, a local musical education program for children, will be presented two weekends at the Biblioteca’s Santa Ana theater beginning Friday, June 8. A reception follows the opening night performance. Tickets are on sale in the Biblioteca courtyard starting Wednesday, June 6, and will also be available at the door.