Carmen: An Urban Adaptation of the Opera

Into the summer heat of New York's Spanish Harlem strides Carmen, a <i>chica</i> who is as hot as the sizzling city streets. When she first meets José, she falls for him hard. He's not like the gansta types she knows - <i>tipo duros</i> who are tough, who think they are players. But José has a quick temper, and he likes to get his own way. And nobody gets in Carmen's way. <br><br>When Escamillo rolls into town, everyone takes notice of the Latino Jay-Z - a quadruple-threat singer/rapper/producer/businessman. But he only notices one person - Carmen. And Carmen has given up on José - he's not going to get her out of her tough neighborhood, <i>el barrio</i>, and into the action. Escamillo will. <br><br>But José won't let that happen. <br><br>Passion, love, and betrayal explode into tragedy in this modern retelling of an enduring love story. <br><br>&quot;...this concentrated dose of high drama is full of sharp repartee and would make a lively classroom read-aloud.&quot; - <i>Publisher's Weekly</i>