Discussion of “Blood Wedding” by Federico Garcia Lorca

Each month, 35-50 Footlights members meet over dinner with playwrights, directors, and scholars to discuss modern drama.

Participants read the plays on their own (available at Backstage Books, Politics and Prose and Olsson’s), meet at inexpensive restaurants near Washington-area Metro stations, and usually attend performances. Membership is free, although a $5 donation is requested.

About Blood Wedding, by Federico Garcia Lorca

Federico Garcia Lorca is one of the most-translated Spanish writers in history, according to his biographers, and now judged to be one of the great writers of the 20th century. His surreal images, such as the "talking moon," put his work on a surreal level with the painter Dali, but Lorca is more earthbound. The passion in his poetry is undeniable and still touches the heart.

Blood Wedding is the first to be written of the three great Andalusian tragedies in the anthology of plays translated by James Graham-Lujan and Richard L. O’Connell. This is the edition that still includes the famous "PROLOGUE," by Lorca’s brother, Francisco. Consult the Washington D.C. library shelves for copies or order Lorca’s Blood Wedding online. Be sure it’s the Lujan-O’Connell translation, which will be used as a basis for the subtitles at the GALA. All productions at the GALA are translated in very clear, readable English.

The dinner discussion will feature Hugo Medrano who is the production’s director as well as GALA’s internationally known, producing artistic director. Our second guest will be Abel Lopez, this production’s producer, who is also president of the board of directors of the National Association of Latino Arts and Culture. Rosalind Lacy MacLennan will moderate.

We will see Lorca’s Blood Wedding at the GALA Theatre in Tivoli Square on Sunday, April 13, 2008, at 3 p.m. with a post-show discussion afterwards.