“Tres Vidas,” a musical theater performance about three powerful Latinas, will be presented by the Center for Latino and Latin American Studies.

“Tres Vidas,” meaning three lives, is about the lives of Frida Kahlo, Rufina Amaya and Alfonsina Storni.

The performance will take place at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Music Building’s Recital Hall. Admission is free for all.

Each woman represented in the play has overcome her own personal tragedy and achieved greatness.

“One actress performs three different acts about three different women,” said Michael Gonzales, the center’s director.

Frida Kahlo was a well-known Mexican painter who suffered from polio and partial disability because of a bus accident.

Rufina Amaya witnessed the massacre at El Mozote in El Salvador in 1981, including the murders of her husband and children. She escaped and told journalists, who later uncovered the truth that the governments of El Salvador and the U.S. tried to deny.

Alfonsina Storni was a feminist poet from Argentina who had a child at 19 and was not married during a time when that was unacceptable. After battling breast cancer and then having it return, she decided to commit suicide.

“The presentation is done by a high-quality group of performers,” Gonzales said. “They have had success with this play across campuses and public theaters.”

“Tres Vidas” will be performed by Georgina Corbo, an actress who has appeared on Broadway and television. She will perform with the Core Ensemble, a trio that will perform a variety of music from different Latin cultures.

Gonzales thinks the performance will appeal to a wide range of audiences, including those interested in Latin American studies, women’s issues and also theater and music majors.

Gonzales decided to bring the play to NIU because he thought it would be a good learning opportunity for students, and it was appropriate for Latino Heritage Month.

“We try to do one big event every year, and this year we wanted to bring the month to an end with a bang,” he said.