GALA Hispanic Theatre proudly closes its 49th anniversary season with the world premiere of Gustavo Ott’s adaptation of Botiquín de Boleros Columbia Heights (Columbia Heights Bolero Bar), an immersive cabaret-style musical by Venezuelan playwright Rubén Leon that takes audiences on a nostalgic journey through love, breakup, and self-love. Directed and choreographed by Valeria Cossu, who choreographed the 2025 Helen Hayes Award-nominated Mummy in the Closet, this production is on stage June 11 – 29, 2025.
Columbia Heights Bolero Bar regales us with stories and memories of broken hearts and lost loves through the music, dance and songs of boleros that are timeless. Come to the Columbia Heights Bolero Bar and join this musical adventure where patrons and performers share their heartache and longing for long ago lovers as they sing and dance to classic boleros such as Bésame mucho and Mi viejo San Juan. You will be swept away by this beloved genre that became a sensation from Cuba to Mexico to South America and around the world.
Performances are Wednesdays through Saturdays at 8 pm and Sundays at 2 pm at GALA Theatre in Spanish with English surtitles.
This production is recommended for ages 13+ and runs approximately two hours, including a 15-minute intermission.
ABOUT THE PRODUCTION
The cast features Fran Tapia as Verónica (2023 Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Supporting Performer for On Your Feet! En español); Rachael Small as Valentina; Facundo Agustín as Simón; and Luis Obed as Dino. These artists all appeared in the 2025 Helen Hayes-nominated Mummy in the Closet (Momia en el clóset) last season. Making their GALA debut are Anna Malavé as Claudia and Estella Maris (Understudy).
The creative team for Columbia Heights Bolero Bar includes Scenic Designer Gisela Estrada; Lighting and Projections Designer Hailey LaRoe; Costume Designer Becca Janney; Sound Designer Brandon Cook; Tessa Grippaudo is Properties Designer, and Andre Hopfer is Hair, Makeup and Wig Designer. Walter “Bobby” McCoy is Music Arranger and Fran Tapia wrote the music and lyrics for the new bolero Amor de mi alma. Bayron Celis is Stage Manager, Anson Stevie is Technical Director, and Ilyana Rose-Dávila is Production Manager.
ABOUT THE PLAYWIRGHT AND DIRECTOR
Rubén León (Playwright) is a multifaceted Venezuelan artist with 47 years of experience. He began his acting and puppeteering career in 1978 at the age of 12. A decade later, he emerged as a voice actor. In 1992, he expanded his career to include work as a director, set designer, and costume designer; and in 1993, he presented his first work as a playwright. To date, his credits include 72 characters for stage and 12 for feature films, 20 stage productions as director, and 15 plays as a playwright. For 36 years, he has lent his voice in Latin American Spanish for feature films, series, documentaries, soap operas, and animated shows — his most iconic role being “The Joker” in DC Comics/Warner Bros. animated productions, a role he continues to this day.
Valeria Cossu (Director & Choreographer) is an international director and choreographer. She toured throughout Europe with several dance and theater companies and served as John Rando’s Assistant Director on the Broadway production of The Wedding Singer in Spain. Upon moving to NYC, she choreographed Ser o no Cer…Vantes, 2011 Choreographers Festival, BOUNTIFUL, To Be Or Not To Be, and The Tempest in collaboration with REvolucion Latina. Valeria served as choreographer/associate director in the LONJ Opera production of La Boheme, and she choreographed the musical Momia en el clóset: The Return of Eva Perón (2025 Helen Hayes Awards nominee, Outstanding Choreography) at GALA. As a director, Valeria’s credits include In the Heights at Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival and the musical Discovering Magenta, for which she won a Best Director Award. Valeria joined Salgado Productions and worked with Luis Salgado as Associate Director/Choreographer in productions such as In the Heights, Ragtime, Fame, Aida, Matilda, and the world premiere of On Your Feet! En español.
IN THE LOBBY
During the run of Columbia Heights Bolero Bar, enjoy the exhibit The Divine Orishas by Cuban artist Reina María Valdés in the GALA lobby. The artist brings to life the iconography and mythology of Afro-Cuban culture with strength and vigor through colored paper and pastel crayons as mediums. The exhibition includes six Yoruba Orishas (spirits) framed in the unique flora and fauna of the island and its waters.
Valdes’ work evokes the rites, celebrations, and symbolism of the Regla d Ochá through vibrant images of Eleguá, guardian of the road; Babalú Ayé, healer of the sick; Yemayá, queen of the sea; Changó, fury of the heavens; Ochún, goddess of freshwater and gold; and Obatalá, eye and father of the universe.
Born in Pinar del Río, Cuba, Valdés studied painting and sculpture, and then then moved to Havana where she specialized in set and stage design, textile techniques, and artisanal paper manufacturing. As she curates national and international exhibits, her art has received awards and been lauded in Cuba, Mexico, Germany, Czech Republic, Poland, Venezuela, and the US. She wrote “Cuba en la gráfica” and “Obra del caminante, Isidoro Núñez Miró.” Both her paintings and recent publications will be available for purchase and all proceeds will fund humanitarian projects in Cuba.
Botiquín de Boleros Columbia Heights (Columbia Heights Bolero Bar) runs June 11-29, 2025, at GALA Hispanic Theatre, 3333 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20010. Tickets are $48 (Wed/Thu/Sun), $50 (Fri/Sat), $35 (seniors 65+, military, groups 10+), $25 (under 25), $55 (Noche de GALA, June 14). Call the box office (202) 234-7174 for tickets, or purchase online.
