Back By Popular Demand!
Casa 0101’s Beauty and the Beast – Opens May 11th
by Dale Reynolds
Omar Mata is perhaps better known as a mariachi singer than as an actor, but his heart and talents are large enough to encompass both. Just shy of 39, in a long-term relationship with Belen Velazquez, sans children, but blessed with two dogs, he is reviving his lead role as The Beast in the Disney Broadway version of Beauty and… at CASA 0101 in Boyle Heights.
Born at L.A. County General Hospital in East Los Angeles in 1979, for twenty years he played trumpet, sang, and M.C’d with the renowned Mariachi Voz De America. His acting came about when CASA 0101 producer Eddie Padilla convinced him to study at CASA’s acting classes. “He and [co-founder] Josefina Lopez honed my acting chops, as well as my Zarzuela ones.” And, more importantly, mentored the tall (6’6”) and imposing fellow.
And it’s just this passion for art that has sustained Mata through the years, since the beginnings of his artistic studies at Belvedere Jr. High, where he learned trumpet and acting at T. Roosevelt High School. “My passion for the stage was honed at CASA and at the [Ricardo] Montalban Theatre (in Hollywood), when I performed in a production of Luisa Fernanda” [with a 40-piece orchestra, under the influence of opera maestro Placido Domingo, whose parents were singers in the Zarzuela tradition].
At CASA 0101 he performed the major role of Jafar in Disney’s (Spanglish, as in DLE, Duel Language Edition) stage version of Aladdin two years ago, and as one of the first cast members to play both the older and younger musician characters in Josefina Lopez’ meaningful Trio Los Machos, which he claims was the perfect segue from music to acting, as it gave him a chance to pull from his own Chicano background, and then into the co-starring role in Beauty.
Omar Mata as Jafar in Casa 0101’s Aladdin production
It turns out one of his major influences was the late Mexican movie star, Pedro Infante (1917-1957), “who helped me understand how music works, as well as the impact he had on Mexicans after his tragic passing [in a plane crash] – just how many people gathered to publically grieve; he attached himself to all Latinos with his singing and acting. As a musician and singer, I try to emulate that, which has given me much positive feedback.”
One of the major thrusts in his life is the awareness of how much Latinx People need to help each other out, sharing skills to market each other, as there is a huge Latinx and other audience to tap into.
Mata’s very much aware of just how varied and deep is the Latinx culture, specifically with how much mariachi music has to offer non-Hispanic America. Taking the point: his years of commitment to the L.A.-based mariachi band, Voz de America. Established in 1997, Voz has accompanied a number of world famous recording artists and has appeared on many Southern California radio and television shows. At the 4th Annual Encuentro Internacional del Mariachi in Guadalajara, Mexico, in ’97, they represented the City of Los Angeles, and in 2002/3 shared the stage at the famous Teatro Degollado with Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlan, which is when MVDA established itself as one of the top international groups. And then in 1998, they were chosen to be representatives of Mexican Art and Folklore Culture during a six-week tour in France.
But for all that, his day job/career at the Behavior Education & Learning Institute in Alhambra is the center of his life for now. It’s where he teaches music and life skills to adults who are living with the challenges of Autism, Down Syndrome, Mental Disability, etc. “These folk are high-to-mid-to low-functioning, ranging in age from 21-72. Working there has made me feel better about myself and the world, as they feel love and respond back with it.”
As it’s a private organization, no academic degrees are necessary; just an ability to empathize and to teach through love. “It’s a small school, but provides me a fulltime job, allowing me to be grateful for the sharing I am capable of giving. We help them instill self-esteem and to create bonds with others; to tackle life with a smile and a positive outlook on their lives.”
He readily acknowledges how important this work is to him, but “Art can’t pay my bills – yet.”
CASA 0101 Theater, Josefina López, Founding Artistic Director and TNH (Teatro Nuevos Horizontes) Productions, Rigo Tejeda, Founding Artistic Director and Abel Alvarado, Associate Artistic Director will be bringing back their critically acclaimed production of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, The Broadway Musical to be presented in association with Councilmember Gil Cedillo and El Centro Del Pueblo featuring a diverse and multicultural cast of 28 actors on the Main Stage of CASA 0101 Theater, 2102 East First Street (at St. Louis Street), Boyle Heights, CA 90033 on Fridays at 8:00 p.m., Saturdays at 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. and Sunday at 3:00 p.m., for a five-week run, May 11 – June 10, 2018. Discounted Preview performances will be presented on May 4, 5 and 6, 2018. Press Opening Night is Friday, May 11, 2018.
Beauty and the Beast plays through June 10th at the well-respected CASA 0101 Theatre, 2012 East First Street (at St. Louis Street), Boyle Heights, CA 90033. Tickets: 323.263.7684.
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