Based on the novel The Mapmaker’s Opera by Béa Gonzalez
(With the permission of the author – underlying-rights merged)

At its heart, this weeping romantic musical is about freedom—who possesses it, who is denied it, and what it costs to defend it.

The Story…

On the eve of the Mexican Revolution Diego, a gifted young Spanish artist travels to the Yucatán to illustrate its rare birds—and falls in love with Sofia, a fiercely independent young woman determined to escape the life chosen for her. But, in a land where birds are kept in cages and Indigenous workers are held in brutal servitude, Diego can no longer remain an innocent observer. As rebellion ignites around them, the Diego and Sofia must choose between safety and freedom in a sweeping story about love, courage and the price of looking away.

The 2018 New York workshop cast L to R: Doreen Montalvo (sadly missed), Natalie Toro, Carlos Gomez, Mary Joanna Grisso, Nora Marie Schell, Michael J. Farina, Jeff McCarthy, Rodney Ingram, Michael James, Robert Ariza.

Béa Gonzalez and The Mapmaker’s Opera

Béa Gonzalez was born in Spain and immigrated to Canada as a child. Following studies in Spain and Toronto, she pursued postgraduate studies in London, England, where she received an MA in Literary and Historical Studies from the University of London.

Gonzalez is the author of many articles, literary essays and reviews. She is also a lecturer and educator and designs and leads tours to Spain and Latin America to study their poets and writers.

She is the author of two novels, The Bitter Taste of Time and The Mapmaker’s Opera. To date, her books have been published in seven countries. You can read more about Béa here.