A musical co-written by a Cronkite School professor is headed to New York City to make its off-Broadway premiere.
“¡Americano!” will make its debut on April 21 at the New World Stages. Fernanda Santos, Southwest Borderlands Initiative professor of practice, co-wrote the story with Jonathan Rosenberg and Phoenix Theatre Company artistic director Michael Barnard.
The musical is based on the true story of Phoenix resident Tony Valdovinos, who wanted to enlist in the Marines when he turned 18, but found out he was undocumented. Valdovinos never joined the Marines, but instead embarked on a 12-year career in politics and activism.
Santos joined the Cronkite School after 12 years at The New York Times, where she served as Phoenix Bureau chief for five years. She also wrote “The Fire Line: The Story of the Granite Mountain Hotshots,” which received the Western Writers of America 2017 Spur Award for Best First Nonfiction Book.
Read the Arizona Republic’s story here.