Staff Reports | Happenings & Events
Music theatre and mixed martial arts rarely intersect on stage, but a new production titled “Triângulo” will bring the two together when it makes its world premiere at Arizona Broadway Theatre in April 2027.
The limited engagement marks the debut of a new music-theater work developed by a creative team spanning theater, opera, dance and combat sports, according to a press release.
Set in Rio de Janeiro and Miami in the early 1990s, “Triângulo” follows Esperança, a young woman navigating the male-dominated world of Brazilian jiu-jitsu and mixed martial arts. The production is structured to echo the energy of a live sporting event while maintaining the narrative framework of a staged musical.
Conceived as a contemporary MMA opera, the work draws inspiration from earlier genre-blending productions such as “Tommy,” “Jesus Christ Superstar” and “Hadestown,” which introduced operatic scale and storytelling to modern musical theater.
“Triângulo” is written and directed by Ms. Crystal Manich, an Emmy-nominated writer and director whose work spans theatre, opera, film and circus. The score is by Mr. Martin Bejerano, a Latin Grammy-nominated Cuban American pianist and composer, incorporating Brazilian and Afro-Brazilian musical traditions alongside early-1990s pop, rock and dance influences.
Movement and fight choreography are led by Mr. George Birkadze, an internationally known ballet director and martial arts practitioner whose career bridges classical dance and combat sports. The production also includes fight consulting by Mr. Greg Jackson, a longtime mixed martial arts coach, and orchestration consulting by Mr. Alex Lacamoire, a Tony, Grammy, Emmy and Olivier Award winner.
The project was conceived and is produced by Mr. Joseph Specter, former president and general director of Arizona Opera and current president and chief executive officer of the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation.
The creative team began developing the project more than a decade ago, exploring how music theatre, dance and martial arts could be combined into a single stage experience. Arizona Broadway Theatre is partnering with the team to host the world premiere in spring 2027.
At its core, “Triângulo” centers on themes of family, ambition and survival. After a promising athletic path is disrupted, Esperança discovers Brazilian jiu-jitsu and embarks on a journey from Rio to Miami that tests her resilience and identity.
The production is performed primarily in English, with Spanish and Portuguese woven into the dialogue and lyrics.
“Creating the character of Esperança has been a journey of exploring the women who helped pave the way in MMA,” Ms. Manich said. “Hers is the story we need right now, a story about the resilience and passion required to succeed in a world that hasn’t always made room. After years of development, our creative team is thrilled to be entering the final stretch together as ‘Triângulo’ prepares for its world premiere.”
Arizona Broadway Theatre Co-Founder, Executive Producer and Chief Executive Officer Kiel Klaphake said the production aligns with the organization’s interest in expanding the scope of contemporary musical theatre.
“For more than two decades, Arizona Broadway Theatre has produced Broadway-caliber productions for audiences across the Valley,” Mr. Klaphake said. “Coming out of our 20th anniversary season, it’s exciting to help launch the world premiere of a new work like ‘Triângulo.’ With its story, concept and creative team, this is the type of production that can continue to grow beyond its initial run.”
