The moment you set your eyes on Inma Heredia, the star of My Audition for Almodóvar, you realize you are in for a memorable night. Heredia’s one-woman show, directed by Alberto Ferreras and currently playing at the Centro Español, is a unique blend of song, dance and comedy while simultaneously paying homage to Spain and the great Spanish director, Pedro Almodóvar.

Dressed in a shock of pink embroidered with white flowers, Heredia’s stage presence is electric only made more tangible by the cheers and applause from her loyal fan base, ever present at the April 3rd performance. Heredia’s triple-threat status of comedienne, singer and Flamenco dancer puts her in a distinguished light, one that fully shines during the brief, but eventful time spent watching her perform.

Heredia’s journey takes her from Seville, Spain to the island of Manhattan in a grand pursuit of her dream to become an actress, hopefully as a lead in one of Almodóvar’s upcoming projects. But as with any dream worth pursuing, there are a few obstacles to overcome; a thick Spanish accent, prejudice from the industry and being overshadowed by one of Spain’s most popular stars, Penelope Cruz.

We, the audience, are not only there to witness Heredia as she effortlessly moves from comedy to singing to dancing and then back again, but we are also pseudo-critics helping her to prepare for her long-awaited audition for Almodóvar. Part of the charm of Heredia’s one-woman production is the interaction between performer and audience, breaking a wall that makes us active participants and not just idle observers.

Heredia also interjects her dialogue with song, beautifully executed in Spanish. Her voice has a powerful, booming quality while still remaining slightly vulnerable. This effect makes it almost unnecessary to understand Spanish in order to connect with Heredia on an emotional level, but she does memorably perform one number with an English translation for the non-Spanish speaking patrons of the audience.

The message of doing whatever it takes to see your dream fully realized is a universal one, resonating beyond cultural and language barriers. In her journey to become a famous actress, we see our own struggle and are able to relate with the obstacles that Heredia faces, including a hilarious jealousy involving Penelope Cruz. While our journey may not be worthy of a staged production and our goals may not include a leading part in an Almodóvar movie, we still revel in Heredia’s comic timing, her deep desire to do what she loves and most importantly, her resolve to never comprise what makes her exceptional, Spanish accent and all.

My Audition for Almodóvar
Centro Español,
239 West 14th Street, between Seventh and Eighth Avenue
www.MyAlmodovar.com
Performance Schedule: 7 p.m. May 1 and June 5, 12, and 19