Friday, October 10, 2008

This is the perfect weekend to broaden your theatrical boundaries and check out the Washington area's thriving Latino stage scene.

The International Festival of Hispanic Theater is underway at Gunston Arts Center in Arlington. The festival, organized by Teatro de la Luna, runs through Nov. 15, featuring many U.S. debuts of Latin American plays and actors.

There is a range of shows to choose from, says Teatro actor Peter Pereyra: drama, musical variety, cabaret and comedy. A musical from Peru, "La Importacia del Abrazo (Huggings)" is on tap this weekend. The shows are in Spanish with dubbing in English (audience members can listen to live interpreters through earphones, like at the United Nations).

Across town on 14th Street NW, the children's theater arm of GALA Hispanic Theatre, GALita, is presenting a bilingual show for young audiences. "¡Que las hay . . . las hay! (Believe It or Not!)," by Argentine playwright María Inés Falconi, is a magical tale of a cheerful sorceress and a moody witch whose feud is disrupting the neighborhood. The play runs on most weekends through late December.

So take a step into another world, if just for one night. ¡Viva el teatro!

INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF HISPANIC THEATER Through Nov. 15. Gunston Arts Center, Theater Two, 2700 S. Lang St., Arlington. 703-548-3092. $30, with discounts for students and seniors; discounted festival passes are also available. For a complete schedule, visithttp://www.teatrodelaluna.org.

¡QUE LAS HAY . . . LAS HAY! (BELIEVE IT OR NOT!) Through Dec. 20. GALA Theatre, 3333 14th St. NW. 202-234-7174.http://www.galatheatre.org. $18, children $8, free for children younger than 2.