About Betsy

In April 2006, Roadside Theater and Pregones Theater premiered their new musical BETSY at Pregones’ theater in The Bronx, New York. After a successful run, the production is now headed for a 2007-2008 national tour. For booking information contact Holden and Arts Associates.

BETSY is the story of a Bronx born and bred Puerto Rican jazz singer who stirs up the little known history of her Scots-Irish ancestry. The play is a full-out musical with original compositions ranging from ballads to jazz delivered by a five-member Latin-Appalachian band and three powerful vocalists.

Award-winning singer Elise Hernández, legendary Nashville jazz pianist Beegie Adair, Old Time/Bluegrass instrumentalist and composer Ron Short, and Puerto Rican composer Desmar Guevara join in the dynamic performance of BETSY. The play is co-directed by Dudley Cocke and Rosalba Rolón.

Pregones and Roadside each pride themselves on their respect for cultural traditions, their ability to reach a popular audience, and their aspiration to tell new American stories. The two ensembles have been hanging out and working together for ten years. Their last co-creation, Promise of a Love Song, toured nationally in 2000-2002 and was published in 2005 by Theatre Communications Group, New York.

Pregones Theater has received numerous awards for theatrical excellence and is now celebrating its landmark 26th anniversary. A wide range of arts events in Spanish and in English and the launch of a new theater venue in The Bronx are among the highlights of this historic celebration. The company’s current international work includes the creation of a virtual theater school with theaters from eight other countries.

About the Betsy music residency

Quotes from the media about Roadside Theater, Ron Short, and Beegie Adair

Betsy images

Book Betsy

Listen to musical excerpts from Betsy:

1. Overture
2. Alone Again
3. Honey, Come and Dance
4. Jazz Waltz