What better way to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month than looking forward to two signature productions coming to downtown Denver’s Arts Complex in the 2026/27 theatre season. 

First up, Destiny of Desire: A Telenovela Play with Music playing the Wolf Theatre September 11 through October 4. Audiences will remember playwright Karen Zacarías from the Denver Center Theatre Company productions of Mariela in the Desert (2009/10), Native Gardens (2017/18), and world premiere of Just Like Us (2013/14) based on the book by Helen Thorpe. Destiny of Desire is her fourth production at the DCPA, making her the most produced female playwright in the Theatre Company’s history.  

According to BroadwayWorld, in Destiny of Desire, Zacarías lovingly skewers “the not-so-subtle art of telenovela” compressing “an entire series’ worth of over-the-top melodramatic goodness into a two-act play that, not surprisingly, comes off as an intentionally hilarious comedy.” Plus, as Zacarías commented to Applause, “with melodrama comes the idea of music, right? — melos is part of that,” so be prepared for a rousing evening of laughter and drama punctuated by music. 

To deliver both comedic timing and musical chops, the Theatre Company hired an all-Latiné cast. Patrons will recognize Zeus Mendoza as Armando Castillo from the world premiere of twenty50 in the Theatre Company’s 2019/20 season. He’ll be joined by Victoria Gómez (Basura, Alliance Theatre) as Victoria María del Río, Adam Enrique Hollick (Jersey Boys, Pioneer Theatre Company) as Sebastián José Castillo, Adrián Javier (The Reservoir, Geffen Playhouse) as Dr. Diego Mendoza, Jessica Lopez (DCPA debut) as Pilar Esperanza Castillo, Bianca Marroquín (Chicago, Broadway) as Fabiola Castillo, Francisca Muñoz (The Gardens of Anuncia, Lincoln Center Theatre) as Hortensia del Río, Elijah Reyes (Hamilton, national tour) as Ernesto del Río, Al Rodrigo (Open Admissions, Broadway) as Dr. Jorge Ramiro Mendoza, and Cheryl Umaña (Alma, Center Theatre Group) as Sister Sonia. 

Six members of the creative team draw upon their heritage to create the world of Destiny of Desire. Described as a Chilean-American director who blends “heightened theatrical form with emotional authenticity,” Marcela Lorca seems the perfect fit for a telenovela. This “play with music” requires the input of Music Director Deborah Wicks La Puma, self-described as Mexican-American, whose Theatre for Young Audiences production of Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! The Musical is simultaneously playing across the street. 

Lorca and La Puma are joined on the creative team by Choreographer William Carlos Angulo who was raised in a Bolivian-Texan household, Costume Designer Raquel Barreto who was born in Brazil, Lighting Designer Pablo Santiago and composer Aldo Max from México, and Voice & Dialect Coach Elisa Gonzales who identifies as Mexican-American. These individuals join other members of the creative team to bring to life what Zacarías described as the “best darn telenovela” she could write for the stage.  

To complement the play, the Denver Center for the Performing Arts offers a variety of ways to engage: 

• First Act: A free sampling of the 2026/27 season at the Arts Complex. Sept 12, 9:30am-1pm 
• Latiné Heritage Celebration: A free, pre-show event featuring music, entertainment, and food. Sept 17 at 6pm. Stay for the play with Buy One, Get One tickets.
• Post-Show Discussions: Stay after the play on Sept 17, 22 and 30 for a free discussion with the cast.
• Spanish Interpreted Performances: Enjoy complimentary Spanish language translation when you buy a ticket on Sept 17 at 7pm and Oct 3 at 1:30pm. INFO 

Another Latiné production on Denver Center stages this season is the first national tour of Buena Vista Social Club™ playing the Buell Theatre April 28 through May 9.  

Based on the artists who recorded the original “Buena Vista Social Club” album — a story enshrined in the documentary Buena Vista Social Club — this musical was honored with a GRAMMY® Award for Best Theatre Album and five Tony Awards including a special honor given to the musical’s on-stage band for its authenticity.  

Perhaps the musical’s accolades are no surprise given the album that inspired it was selected for preservation in the U.S. National Recording Registry and Library of Congress due to its cultural significance. Additionally, in 2022, the album was named to the Guinness Book of World Records as the best-selling world music album, a title it holds to this day, representing more than 8 million units sold. 

The musical spans two periods of time — one in which a talented singing duo must choose their fate in the face of the impending 1950s Cuban Revolution and the other in 1990s Cuba in which Havana’s “Queen of Feeling” is called upon to reclaim the stage. 

Latiné members of the creative team behind the musical include Marco Ramirez, a Cuban American playwright and screenwriter, was nominated for Best Book of a Musical for Buena Vista Social Club™. He was joined by first generation Cuban American Patricia Delgado who, along with co-choreographer Justin Peck, received the Tony Award for Best Choreography. Additional Latiné members of the creative team include Music Consultant Juan de Marcos (Cuba), Music Arrangers Javier Díaz and David Oquendo (both originally from Cuba), Associate Director Moses Garcia (Mexican American), Associate Choreographer Carlos E. Gonzalez (Cuba), and Dialect & Accent Coach Rosie Berrido (native New Yorker of Hispanic parents). Carlos Falú from Puerto Rico joins the tour as Associate Choreographer. 

The cast brings the iconic rhythms and soul of Cuba to life. The touring production features Karmine Alers (Omara), Frank Rodríguez (Company), Mauro Castillo (Ibrahim), Robert M. Jiménez (Rubén), Isabel Gonzalez (Young Omara), Aidan Olmo (Young Compay), Jaleel Battles, Jr. (Young Ibrahim), Irving Aday O’Connor (Young Rubén), San Miguel Pérez (Eliades), Liana Morales (Young Haydee), Holiday (Juan de Marcos), and Erica Simone Barnett, Kwabena Bawuah, Armando Brydson, Jazlyn Carreras, Jhon Destrade, Adrían Guardián, Destinee Jimenez, Alex Llorca, Gabby Rembert, Ralphie Rivera de Jesús, Orgena Rose and Josh Tower.

But this talented cast needs the pulsating heart from an on-stage musical ensemble featuring Nicolas Perez (Music Director, Piano), Abraham Dorta (Guitar), Jorge Bringas (Bass), Ray Contreras (Percussion), Keisel Jiménez Leyva (Percussion), Caleb Michel (Percussion), Roisel Suárez (Trumpet), Ben Romanow (Trombone), Joaquín Sosa (Woodwinds) and Marcos A. Torres III (Percussion Swing). Denver audiences are in for some of the best, most authentic Cuban music to light up any stage in the Mile High City.

While these two productions specifically focus on Latiné stories, performers, and creative teams in the DCPA’s 2026/27 season, they do not represent the full spectrum of artists who work on- and off-stage to share compelling stories with local audiences every year. The Denver Center values the contributions of its Latiné artists and invite the metro Denver community to join these and other productions that reflect the rich history, shared differences, and incredible stories of our neighbors — both near and far.  

The Denver Center for the Performing Arts (DCPA) NewsCenter is the organization’s editorial platform for stories, announcements, interviews, and coverage of theatre and cultural programming in Colorado. We are committed to producing accurate, trustworthy, clearly sourced journalism that reflects our mission and serves our community.