Updated Sept. 13, 2018 - Since we originally published this story, the mother-daughter duo of Carmen and Isabel Garcia have continued performing in musical theater separately and together.
In June they played a grandmother and granddaughter in Mustard Seed Theater’s “Luchadora”, a drama about Mexican wrestling.
Isabel is in an October production of St. Louis University High School’s “Putnam County Spelling Bee.” Carmen is playing Evita’s mom in The Rep’s current production of “Evita.” It’s only been a little over a year since Carmen Garcia returned to professional theater after more than 20 years and she says “stepping onto The Rep stage feels phenomenal.”
Original story from Jan. 25
For years, teenager Isabel Garcia performed in school plays as her mother, Carmen, beamed from the audience.
Isabel knew her mom once loved to perform, too, and had the playbills to prove it. But she’d never seen her mother on stage.
Last year, Isabel urged her mother to audition for R-S Theatrics’ production of “In the Heights,” by Lin-Manual Miranda. Carmen Garcia wound up with a major role: Abuela Claudia, who helps raise a boy who grows up to run his parents’ bodega and dreams of much more.
But sometimes a daughter has to put up boundaries. Like when her mom “does that face.” “She looks at you with so much love; it’s like ew, what’s that?”
In our latest Cut & Paste podcast, we talk with the Garcias about their relationship and shared love of singing.
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