Kitty and Lina
Wed–Sat, Apr 1–4, 8pm
Sun, Apr 5, 3pm
Teatro Santa Ana
Biblioteca Pública
Reloj 50A
100 pesos

Direct from Albuquerque, via Portugal, Texas and New York City  By Keith Wall

Nancy Jeris as Lena and and Tawni Lee Waters as Kitty

Camino Real’s production Kitty and Lina, by Portuguese-American playwright Manuel Igrejas, consists of exquisite portraits of two women from different parts of the world and different ends of the age spectrum, both of whom are dealing with the joys and struggles of living in New York City.

Kitty (Tawni Vee Waters), 20-something, half Anglo and half Mexican-American, is finding that being an aspiring actress in the Big Apple is not the same as being a pretty girl in Texas.

Lina (Nancy Jeris, who portrayed Georgia O’Keefe in Still Life) is an immigrant from Portugal who escaped her arranged marriage and, through pluck, luck and a little on the side, had a big publishing career in New York City. Now she’s retired, her longtime lover has a new young wife and family, and, though she still loves New York, she’s finding that for a woman of a certain age the challenges are not fun. 

Camino Real Productions is one of several new theatrical production companies founded in Albuquerque, which has become the live theater hub of the Southwest. The company, named “Theater of the Month” by abqtheater.org, is the brainchild of veteran actor/director Linda López McAlister, who brought Still Life: A Portrait of Frida Kahlo and Georgia O’Keefe here two years ago. 

McAlister was attracted to Kitty and Lina for a number of reasons. The fine reviews it received when it opened in New York at Manhattan Theatre Source intrigued her (“Four stars. Deeply affecting.” Time Out New York). When she read the play, she could see fantastic roles for two actresses. She could also identify with both characters. She believes these women’s stories have universal resonance and will speak to audiences of all ages and backgrounds. They are also very entertainingly told.

Kitty and Lina opens a five-day run on April 1. Ticket proceeds benefit AnYel School of Music in San Miguel, which provides musical experiences to local youths.