'Tres Vidas' Comes to Laredo Thursday, March 17

Laredoans can partake in a unique experience March 17 through the collaboration
of Texas A&M International University and the Laredo Center for the
Arts.

The community is invited to "Tres Vidas" at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday,
March 17 at the Laredo Center for the Arts, 500 San Agustin. This free
event is open to the public.

The work, performed by singing actress Georgina Corbo and the chamber
music trio of the CORE Ensemble, celebrates the lives of three powerful
Latin American women: Mexican painter Frida Kahlo, Salvadoran peasant-activist
Rufina Amaya, and Argentine poet Alfonsina Storni.

In addition to the evening's performance, Georgina Corbo and the CORE
ensemble will conduct a workshop at TAMIU on Latin American culture and
theater. The workshop is also free and open to the public, and will take
place from 12 to 2 p.m. on Thursday, March 17, in the Western Hemispheric
Trade Center, room 111.

Dr. Mehnaaz Momen, TAMIU assistant professor and one of the coordinators
of the event, said the work was conceived by the Core Ensemble and features
a script by award-winning Chilean writer Marjorie Agosin.

"Georgina Corbo will portray all three women with the Core Ensemble
onstage. The trio will perform popular and folkloric music from a variety
of Latin cultures including the tangos of Astor Piazolla, Mexican rancheras
and popular songs from Latin America," said Dr. Momen, "Also
featured in the musical score are new works by Latin American composers
including Michael deMurga and Carlos Sánchez-Gutíerrez."

Dr. Phoebe Godfrey, TAMIU assistant professor and co-coordinator, said
the TAMIU Women and Gender Studies committee worked to bring the event
to Laredo.

"The Women and Gender Studies committee is a group of faculty and
staff at TAMIU committed to promote awareness and interest about women
and gender issues around the campus. We feel this is particularly important
for this campus community in Laredo, which is a highly underserved area
and exhibits traits of traditional patriarchal cultural norms," said
Dr. Godfrey.

Momen explained the three women featured in the performance are considered
ahead of their times in promoting women's rights and cultural change.

"Frida Kahlo's life was marked by suffering, and her self-portraits
are noted for their immediacy, frankness and strength," explained
Momen, "Rufina Amaya was the sole survivor of an anti-Communist slaughter
in 1981, in which nearly 1,000 peasants were killed. Alfonsina Storni
was Argentina's first feminist poet, born in 1892."

Godfrey encouraged all Laredoans to attend the events, and said everyone
would be sure to learn something about the Latin American women.

"It's a terrific opportunity for the community to learn about some
incredible people and enjoy a wonderful evening of music and acting,"
said Godfrey.

She said the two events were made possible through a grant from Humanities
Texas.

For more information, please contact the Laredo Center for the Arts
at 725-1715 or Dr. Phoebe Godfrey at 326.2662.

University office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Journalists who need additional information or help with media requests
and interviews should contact the Office of Public Affairs and Information
Services at pais@tamiu.edu