Musical celebrates life of Selena

By April Phillips
Correspondent

A sensational death can do big things for record sales. Michael Jackson is the most recent example of fans trying to celebrate a fallen artist's life through his surviving work.

Texas-based Tejano singer Selena recorded an album, "Dreaming of You," that achieved the crossover appeal she had long been aiming for. It was released in the summer of 1995, a few months after her slaying at the hands of her fan club president. It debuted at No. 1 on Billboard's album chart.

Another way to celebrate her life will be offered by the Generic Theater downunder Chrysler Hall in this weekend's "Como La Flor: The Selena Musical."

The musical revue, written and directed by Philip Odango and starring Andrea Gomez, is a one-woman show that Odango hopes will give audiences a greater appreciation for the performer, who was an accomplished clothing designer and artist as well as a singer.

Odango, who is 26 and a Filipino American who came to the United States when he was 2, said he was inspired by the fact that Selena was never discouraged by anyone who said she couldn't succeed because she was young, female and Hispanic.

"She never knew those obstacles existed," he said. "For me as an artist, I was compelled by the idea of an artist who could create the world she wanted and the art within her own context."

Odango said he never realized he was one of the few Asian-Americans in local theater until someone pointed it out to him. The ODU grad with a degree in psychology also works as the creative director for Norfolk-based Operation Smile.

He said "there's a certain serendipity to all things," which is an idea he shares with his lead actress.

"Things happen for a reason, and I was meant to do this show right now," said Gomez, a music education and vocal performance major at ODU. At 23, she's the same age as Selena when she died. She said she hopes fans familiar with the movie about Selena starring Jennifer Lopez will see the Generic Theater production.

"They'll learn more about her," Gomez said, citing the meticulous research Odango did while he was writing the show. He pored through hours of interviews to create a first-person account of Selena's life.

Gomez also hopes the people who were upset that Lopez, a Puerto Rican American, was cast to portray a Mexican American in the movie will look past her own Venezuelan American heritage.

"I hope it doesn't offend anyone, but Selena was so universal that I don't think she'd be mad," Gomez said.

Odango agreed, and said he was surprised to learn how down-to-earth Selena was.

"She was a humble person who enjoyed the creation of her art. She was a great performer, but she never brought that persona offstage," he said, referring to Selena as a "chaste sex symbol" whose appeal emanated from her ability to respect herself as an artist.

Although the show doesn't shy away from the performer's death, the focus is a celebration of her life and the lessons she taught fans through the way she lived.

"She was so happy and positive and entertained with such joy," Gomez said. "I hope to channel a little bit of her spirit and bring it to the stage in an intense, intimate setting."

April Phillips, apes1@cox.net