GALA Hispanic Theatre is proud to present the world premiere of the musical Aguardiente: Where Magic Transcends Borders, commissioned by GALA and conceived by Puerto Rican Luis Salgado and Colombian Daniel Alejandro Gutiérrez. This enthralling new musical is written, directed, and choreographed by Helen Hayes multi-award winner Luis Salgado, with music and music direction by Daniel A. Gutiérrez, and lyrics by both Salgado and Gutiérrez. A bilingual production with surtitles in English and Spanish, the show runs April 30 through May 24, 2026, at GALA Theatre. Blending Afro-Caribbean rhythms such as bomba, currulao, and cumbia, and Gabriel García Márquez’s magical realism, Aguardiente is a bold new musical about the messy, urgent act of making art in a world on fire. As a group of artists race to finish a new show, their rehearsal room becomes a battleground of ideas, ambition, and lived experience — especially for a composer whose undocumented status makes the dream of success anything but simple. ‘Aguardiente’ illustration by Ariel Gómez As the team wrestles with what story they should tell, the line between reality and imagination begins to blur, until — like two currents meeting in the same river — the artists’ own struggles spill into the story they are creating: a vibrant tale set in a river town on the brink of environmental collapse, where two young lovers must decide whether to stay and fight for their homeland or leave in pursuit of a dream, making Aguardiente a theatrical journey about migration, memory, and the complicated act of transforming real lives into art. ABOUT THE ARTISTS Luis Salgado (Playwright, Director, Choreographer) is an award-winning international director, choreographer, and educator from Puerto Rico, based in New York City. He is honored to return to GALA Theatre to direct and choreograph Aguardiente, a new musical celebrating identity, magic, and cultural connection across borders. At GALA, Luis previously directed and choreographed the Helen Hayes Award-winning On Your Feet! La historia de Emilio y Gloria Estefan ¡En Español!, a new adaptation of Fame, and the U.S. premiere of the Spanish version of In the Heights, which received nine Helen Hayes Awards. Broadway and international credits include In The Heights (Director/Choreographer across multiple productions), On Your Feet! (Director/Choreographer, Second National Tour and international productions), and Paramour by Cirque du Soleil (Associate Director/Choreographer). As a director/choreographer, his work includes 1776 (Ford’s Theatre), Ragtime, Matilda, Fame, Song of Solomon, Barba: El musical, In the Heights en Español, Concert for America, Speed the Plow, and The Tempest. Luis is the creator and director of several original works, including Candela fuerza y pasión, My Friend the Elf (with music by Joshua Henry), The Choreographers Festival Series, Verano en sueños, and Aguardiente, presented as part of GALA Theatre’s 50th anniversary celebration, along with new projects celebrating Latino stories, musical innovation, and movement-driven storytelling. Luis is the founder of Salgado Productions and R.Evolución Latina, organizations dedicated to developing artists, creating original work, and empowering communities through the arts. Daniel Alejandro Gutiérrez (Composer, Music Director, Conductor) is a Colombian pianist, composer, orchestrator, arranger, and music director from Cali, Colombia, currently based in New York City. He returns to GALA after having served as Associate Music Director for On Your Feet! in 2022. Other musical theater credits include new orchestrations for 1776 (Ford’s Theatre), Music Director of the U.S. National Tour of On Your Feet! (2022-2024), Facings (Off-Broadway), and Music Consultant for On Your Feet! (Drury Lane Theatre, Chicago). He founded the Latin jazz and fusion project Manteca Blue The Latin Corner, performing in concerts and cultural venues in Colombia, including Ajazzgo Festival. From 2017 to 2023, Daniel was the pianist of the internationally acclaimed Latin funk band “La Mambanegra,” performing at major jazz and world music festivals in the United States, Europe, and Latin America. He is developing two additional original musicals — Valencia and Growing Up with Big Hair — in collaboration with director and choreographer Luis Salgado. ABOUT THE PRODUCTION Aguardiente: Where Magic Transcends Borders features an 18-people multicultural cast that includes Samuel Garnica (Venezuela) as Alberto, who appeared in GALA’s On Your Feet! in 2022, and several artists making their GALA debut: Sebastián Treviño (Colombia and Mexico) as Alejandro, Vin Ramos (Puerto Rico) as Azuquita, Ana Luisa Martínez (Mexico) as Anís, Shayla Hernández (Puerto Rico) as Kiara, Emy Ramos (Dominican Republic and United States) as Beta, Eric González (Spain) as Eve, Machirán (Cuba) as Pepe/MC, and Leanna “Leah” Finol (Venezuela and Hungary) as Mamá/Mom. The ensemble, mostly comprised of performers making their GALA debut, includes Ralphie Rivera (Puerto Rico, Dance Captain) who appeared in GALA’s musical Momia en el clóset: Evita’s Return, Álvaro Medina Molina (Puerto Rico and Colombia, Alberto U/S), Santiago Ayala (Colombia, Alejandro U/S), Brianna Ríos (El Salvador and Puerto Rico, Anís U/S), Ana Daniela Pérez (Panama, Beta U/S), Bibi Sánchez (Mexico), Julia Neveu (United States), Zaramaría Fas (Puerto Rico, Swing), and Rodrigo Calderón (Peru, Swing). Scenic Design is by Clifton Chadick who also designed for On Your Feet! and Fame, The Musical at GALA, Lighting Design is by Colin Bills, Projections Design is by Milton Cordero, and Madeline “Mo” Oslejsek is Sound Designer. Costume Design is by Jeannette Christensen who also designed for On Your Feet! and The House on the Lagoon at GALA, Properties Design is by Chelsea Dean, and Hair and Makeup Design is by Andre Hopfer who has designed for several GALA productions, including The House of Bernarda Alba and Kiss of the Spider Woman earlier this season. Sorany Gutiérrez is the Dramaturg, Valeria Cossu is Associate Director, and Ralphie Rivera is Associate Choreographer. Cody Von Ruden is Assistant Costume Designer and Elias Hall is Assistant Properties Designer. The band includes Daniel Gutiérrez (Music Director, Conductor, Keys), Sebastián Natal (Assistant Music Director, Multi-instrumentalist), Juan “Juancho” Gómez (Guitar), Iván Navas (Multi-instrumentalist), Jaime Rodríguez (Percussion), Roger Torres (Trumpet), and Michael “Mike” Ventura (Saxophone). Ester Teixeira Vianna is Stage Manager, Brian Martínez is DC Assistant Stage Manager, Ilyana Rose-Dávila is Production Manager, Amanda Leyva is Assistant Production Manager, Anson Stevie is Technical Director, Delbis Cardona is General Manager for Rehearsal Space, and Lorena Suárez is Company Administrator. Gustavo Ott is the Producer and Rebecca Medrano is the Executive Producer. Aguardiente: Where Magic Transcends Borders runs April 30-May 24, 2026, at GALA Hispanic Theatre, 3333 14th St NW, Washington, DC. Performances are Thursdays-Saturdays at 8:00 PM and Sundays at 2:00 PM. Regular tickets are $60 Premium, $55 Orchestra Standard, $45 Orchestra Value, and $35 Balcony Value; $35 Seniors (65+), Military, Teachers, and Groups (10+); $25 25 and under. Add $5 to all ticket prices for Noche de GALA (Saturday, May 2). Purchase tickets online or call 202-234-7174. ...read more read less