Catalonia's most popular musical returns to theaters for final run

'Mar i Cel', the most important musical in Catalonia, returns to Barcelona's Teatre Victòria this year for one final run.  

This iconic musical, based on the play by Catalan playwright Àngel Guimerà, marked a turning point in the history of Catalan musicals.  

Premiered in 1988 at the Teatre Victòria, it was an instant success and has since attracted more than 1.2 million spectators in 1,300 performances. 

'Mar i Cel' ('Sea and Sky' in English) tells the story of pirates and Christians and explores the clash between cultures and religions.   

On one side are the Christians aboard the ship carrying the Viceroy of Valencia, Charles, and his daughter, the main character, Blanca. On the other side are the Moorish pirates, expelled by order of King Philip III and led by Saïd.  

When the pirates board the Christian ship, Saïd's manners unsettle Blanca, causing her to confront unexpected feelings of love for him, giving rise to a myriad of doubts and complexities. 

"The story of pirates and Christians becomes a perfect metaphor for the world, whose inhabitants continue to fight, hate and destroy themselves for reasons that should have disappeared long ago," the company said. 

After an eight-year hiatus, the show will return to the stage in September. Although the opening date has not yet been announced, the company has begun selling tickets. Those who purchase tickets now will be able to change the date until July 31. 

Dagoll Dagom's final act 

'Mar i Cel' is the flagship musical of the renowned Catalan theater company Dagoll Dagom. After their success with a Catalan version of the comic opera 'The Mikado' in 1987, the company decided to transform a classic work by Guimerà into a musical.  

"They told us we were crazy, but the institutions supported us, although without much conviction, and we went all in. We invested everything we had," recalls Anna Rosa Cisquella, executive producer of Dagoll Dagom. 

"If it hadn't worked, we would have had to close up shop," she says. "But it turned out well and became the flagship musical in Catalan." 

Now the company has announced that it will dissolve after this final edition of 'Mar i Cel', coinciding with its 50th anniversary. 

Behind the Scenes: Mar i Cel's casting 

As the company launched ticket sales for Mar i Cel, the casting process has also kicked off to select the performers who will bring the production to life. 

With over a thousand applicants, casting directors will evaluate the final 109 candidates and choose 20 actors, 14 musicians, and 10 technical staff.  

Dagoll Dagom's executive producer, Anna Rosa Cisquella, has stated that some characters are hard to find, and others become challenging to select.  

"We have a final rehearsal with all the actors together. Some actors are excellent individually, but when you put them in a team, they don't work," she recalled.  

One of the first actors to participate in the auditions, Berta Lluna, said she would be thrilled to get the role.   

"It's the Broadway of Catalonia. I would die of happiness. It's the dream of every Catalan actor who wants to work in theater," she explained.