El Cid

Austin Shakespeare’s November show will be a new adaptation, built for Austin of Corneille’s El Cid, a romantic tour de force. It is the story of a young hero who must fight for his father’s honor by dueling with the father of the woman he loves. Imaginative costumes for El Cid will blend the modern and historical for a reimagining of the classic play.

“I am so enthusiastic about our re-visioning of El Cid,” said Austin Shakespeare Artistic Director Ann Ciccolella. “We’ll have new music composed by Jeff Britting and approximately 10% Spanish language from internationally known translator, Michael Meigs.”

First performed in the 17th century, the popular play is the dramatic tale of how Rodrigo Diego becomes the hero El Cid while he faces conflicts with the love of his life, Ximèna, and her noble father. “El Cid features everything from inner conflict to virtuoso dueling,” said Austin Shakespeare Artistic Director Ann Ciccolella. “We’re very proud to bring this rarely performed Romantic French classic to Austin.”

El Cid will feature several actors new to Austin Shakespeare. The hero is played by Sebastian Vitale, who has been acting in Austin since 2020 when he arrived from Buenos Aires, Argentina with a career in TV, film and stage musicals. Ximèna is played by Veronica Kraemer, whose career includes recent acting jobs in France and Italy. Also new to the company is Nolan Muña, who plays Ximèna’s father, Count Gomes.