Julia Alvarez joins her "Girls" at Round House

[Howard Hartman]

Julia Alvarez, author of the novel How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents, was a member of the Round House audience on September 22 for the opening night performance. After seeing the play, she remarked, "Congratulations!  Karen's adaptation, the wonderful set, the ingenuity and surprises of the production, the music, the costumes, the way the accents got thicker, the fabulous acting, and courageous direction - it all worked. Your production deserves packed, appreciative audiences!" Ms. Alvarez (in the pink jacket) is pictured below with members of the cast at the post-show reception. Read a Washington Post interview with Karen Zacarías, Julia Alvarez, and Blake Robison - click here. Watch our Garcia Girls video - click here. "Beguiling" "Vigorous" "Entertaining" "Beautiful" "Outstanding" "Spicy" "Terrific" "Beguiling...vigorous...The most becoming features of Blake Robison's eye-pleasing production are the portraits of the four Garcia sisters, embodied with charm and brio by Maggie Bofill, Sheila Tapia, Gabriela Fernandez-Coffey and Veronica del Cerro...The play succeeds most vividly as a bittersweet, coming-of age comedy, one not afraid to reflect on various degrees of women's grown-up disillusionments." - Peter Marks, Washington Post "An abundance of charm and perception that is certain to resonate with U.S. audiences of any origin...the four talented actresses dive headfirst into meaty roles as responsible adults, impetuous adolescents, and everything in between...astute direction...The play is likely to enjoy a healthy life entertaining audiences of every stripe." - Paul Harris, Variety "Garcia Girls dazzle...The breadth and reach of Miss Alvarez's novel is vivaciously evoked in Round House Theatre's production, directed with a keen eye toward sun-soaked Caribbean color and light by Blake Robison." - Jayne Blanchard, Washington Times "Four stars...Beautiful...Clean and simple, and told through a series of well-paced vignettes, Karen Zacarías' adaptation draws on the essence of Julia Alvarez's novel and avoids becoming mired in attempting a slavish page-by-page transcription. This is a play, not a reading, and it blossoms as such....The well-crafted script is delivered by a strong cast...[the] four actresses form a powerful family of talent who are a joy to watch." - Tom Avila, Metro Weekly and from audience members: "I loved this play. The show exactly captures the feeling of being an exile in another country. The acting is outstanding and the actors bring the characters of the book to life." "The acting was first rate and the story had moments where you wanted to cry and others where you laughed out loud." "Excellent acting and spicy musica latina. It was a terrific evening." Good seats are available but they're going fast: call 240.644.1100 or click here. Best seats available Wednesday through Friday evenings Prices start as low as $25 Audio-Described Performance Saturday, October 4 at 3 pm Sign-Interpreted Performance Thursday, October 9 at 8 pm Groups of 10 or more save at Round House - call 240.644.1387 or email groupsales@roundhousetheatre.org Discounts available for patrons under 25 and over 65 - click here or call 240.644.1100 Uprooted from their home in the Dominican Republic, the four Garcia sisters arrive in New York City to find a life far different from the genteel existence they left behind. As they plunge headfirst into the American mainstream, they remain forever caught between the old world and the new. What they have lost and what they find is revealed in a story of assimilation, family, and America from a Latina perspective. Recommended for ages 17 and up. Garcia Girls contains brief nudity and adult situations. Round House Theatre Bethesda 4545 East-West Highway Metro: Bethesda Flexible packages of 3 or more plays are still available. Save up to 26% and receive great subscriber benefits. Call 240.644.1100 or download a subscription form at roundhousetheatre.org For directions, parking and information to plan your visit to Round House, click here. Photo of Gabriela Fernandez-Coffey and Garcia Girls promotional video by Danisha Crosby. Photo of Julia Alvarez and the Garcia Girls cast by Andrea Locke.