Copyright © 2001 NLThomas
All Rights Reserved

Theatre Live! in the Heart of the Hennepin Theatre District. Native American Recording Artist, Robert Mirabal performs in Minneapolis, Minesota, Friday, October 12, 2001.

The Historic State Theatre presents Robert Mirabal, on Friday, October 12, 2001 at 8:00 p.m. Tickets are $22.50 and $27.50, available at the Historic State Theatre box office and all Ticketmaster locations including Marshall Fields, Mervyn's and Rainbow Foods. To charge tickets call Ticketmaster 612-673-0404 or visit Ticket Master. For groups of 10 or more call 612-373-5665.

Mirabal's latest project, Music From a Painted Cave, was taped and recorded late last year for PBS television. The special has been in heavy rotation on PBS stations nationwide, since it originally aired in March during their annual pledge drive. With it's extraordinary success, (ranking among top 4 programs in most markets including Los Angeles, Washington DC, Chicago and Philadelphia) many stations repeated the show in June, with others airing it for the first time, throughout August and September.

Now, Mirabal is taking this dramatic and entertaining performance on the road. The road show, like the special, presents an overview of his work with stunning stage theatrics and presentations. Most all of the performances are intertwined with narratives of Mirabal's life, frequently delivered with a humorous edge. Many of the lyrics are sung or spoken in Mirabal's native Tiwa, exposing the audience to an ancient language many have never heard.

The Rare Tribal Mob, Mirabal's band, consists of an ethnically mixed group of musicians, vocalists and dancers with whom Mirabal has worked with for many years and who help weave modern stories of ancient myths handed down from Mirabal's grandparents throughout the show. Mirabal uses his musical talent to inform and educate others about his culture in a cutting-edge blend of flute, Australian didgeridoo, drum solos, rock, hip-hop, world-beat and techno with chant and storytelling. This approach is both unique and bold, perfectly synthesizing Native American drums and flute with rock 'n roll, to make an interesting hybrid. "What I do is so new, it's never been done before," Mirabal says. "But because people are not educated in my culture, they see it as something old and traditional."

Mirabal was voted Native American Music Awards ( NAC) Songwriter of the Year in 1998 and 2000, and was Amazon.com's New Age Artist of the Year in 1999. Visit Robert Mirabal online.