Thursday, May 19th 7pm

Inspired by Debi Thomas, the first black American to win elite National and World titles, Alicia Hall Moran joined “The Shadows,” a precision figure skating team in Fairfield County, Connecticut.  As Debi Thomas refined her Carmen-themed long program for the 1988 Olympics, it came to light that her East German competitor, Katerina Witt, would also skate to music from Bizet’s famous opera.  And so the Olympic showdown known to figure skating fans worldwide, “The Battle Of The Carmens,” was born.

Set to music inspired by Carmen as played by mariachi’s only all-female band Mariachi Flor de Toloache lead by Mireya Ramos, and interspersed with new poetry by  jessica Care moore, Alicia Hall Moran’s Battle of the Carmens features operatic soprano Martha Guth, classical guitarist Thomas Flippin, Latin percussionist Jacquelene Acevedo and the young actor King Thomas Moore.  Alicia’s childhood as a skating Shadow in Connecticut and Debi Thomas’ battle for Olympic gold set the stage for this night on the ice at National Sawdust.