In Philadelphia’s vibrant Latino community, Alba Martínez stands out for her rich and diverse background. A Puerto Rican and Philadelphian, she has worked as a legal services attorney, director of the Congreso de Latinos Unidos, city government official, leader at United Ways, and executive at the financial company Vanguard. Today, she is fully dedicated to the arts not as a pause, but as an evolution to communicate with the world.
Alba channels all this experience into a very special project: the musical La Guagua 47, which celebrates the identity, migration, and sense of belonging of Philadelphia’s Latino community.
Personal connection and project origins
“This project was born from my arrival to Philadelphia in 1985,” Alba explains. After Hurricane María, she felt the need to express herself through music and wrote the song La Guagua 47, which honors the Latino community that welcomed her. That song later inspired a community film in 2022, and before she knew it, she had 20 songs ready for a full musical.
The story of the musical
The musical follows Lucía, a 14-year-old girl from Jayuya, Puerto Rico, who moves to Philadelphia against her will. Feeling lost and without belonging, Lucía’s aunt encourages her to go out and take the Guagua 47 route, a real bus route that connects several Latino communities in the city. Along the journey, Lucía meets people who transform her view of the city and her own identity a journey of discovery and acceptance.
A fusion of genres to celebrate diversity
La Guagua 47 is not limited to a single musical style. Its soundtrack includes salsa, funk, soul, pop, reggaetón, and hip hop, aiming to reflect the variety of sounds that shape Latino identity and connect with audiences of different ages and backgrounds.
La Guagua Creativa: The artistic residency that unites the community
For Alba, community participation is essential. That’s why she created the artistic residency La Guagua Creativa at El Taller Puertorriqueño. This space allows the community to engage with the songs, dance, and script, and contribute ideas so the musical is born from the people and felt as their own.
From the start, Alba has committed to collective creation. Through the La Guagua Creativa residency, neighbors actively participate in the project’s development: sharing ideas, reacting to songs, and getting involved in staging. “Community participation is not optional; it’s essential,” Alba emphasizes. “We want this musical to be born from the people and for the community to feel it as theirs.”
Strategic partnerships to expand reach
The project has key partnerships, including the Philadelphia Theater Company, Esperanza, and El Taller Puertorriqueño. The goal is to bring La Guagua 47 both to Latino cultural centers and the public in Philadelphia, connecting diverse communities and expanding its impact.
Aspirations and more challenges
Alba hopes La Guagua 47 will have a real impact: creating opportunities for artists, generating income for the community, and sharing narratives that celebrate authentic stories. In times when many feel invisible, this musical is a counter-narrative affirming that we all belong and that America is also ours.
Alba’s greatest challenge is continuous learning, as this is her first musical production and residency. Although the process is complex and collaborative, she finds it exciting because it opens new worlds, relationships, and possibilities. She also insists on maintaining high artistic quality to ensure the show is professional and meaningful.
Special Activities in September
September 28: Puerto Rican Parade – There will be a float designed by César Viveros and Natalia Torres, featuring live music, characters from the musical, and community participation.
September 20 and 27: Open workshops at El Taller Puertorriqueño (12 to 5 p.m.) to help create art and decorations for the parade float.
Want to Join the La Guagua 47 Journey?
Visit: www.LaGuaguaMusical.com. Open activities at El Taller Puertorriqueño, Feria del Barrio, Puerto Rican Parade. Everyone is invited because we all belong.
