“Professor Samba: A Tribute to Ismael Silva”Musical Returns on Wednesday, May 7, at 8:30 PM, at Teatro Fashion Mall
“Professor Samba: A Tribute to Ismael Silva”
Musical Returns on Wednesday, May 7, at 8:30 PM, at Teatro Fashion Mall
The production will run every Wednesday in May at the Rosamaria Murtinho Theater Room, transporting audiences to the bohemian world of Lapa to tell the fascinating story of samba legend Ismael Silva, with special guest appearances from samba school groups at each performance.
A show that celebrates one of the great names in Brazilian music — that is “Ismael Silva: Professor Samba”, a musical tribute to the iconic sambista Ismael Silva (September 14, 1905 – March 14, 1978). He was one of the founders of Deixa Falar, considered the first samba school in Brazil, which later became the acclaimed Estácio de Sá. The show will run every Wednesday in May, starting May 7 at 8:30 PM in the Sala Rosamaria Murtinho. Each performance will feature a special appearance by members of a traditional samba school, who will join the cast onstage for a festive finale. The production has been nominated for the APTR Awards (Best Movement Direction – Édio Nunes and Milton Filho) and the Shell Award (Best Actor – Édio Nunes).
Opening night will feature members of Estácio de Sá. In the following weeks, performances will include appearances by Império Serrano, Viradouro, and Imperatriz Leopoldinense. The role of Ismael Silva is shared by three actors: Édio Nunes — who also conceived and co-directs the production — Jorge Maya, and Milton Filho. The script and co-direction are by Ana Veloso, with musical direction by Wladimir Pinheiro.
The narrative unfolds with the main character hosting a roda de samba (samba circle) set in Lapa during the 1920s to 1950s, brimming with stories, music, and the artful charm of malandragem — the streetwise spirit of Rio’s bohemian scene. Through samba, Ismael shares his life story while revisiting key moments in Brazilian popular culture and the socio-political landscape of the time.
The trio of lead actors brings Ismael Silva to life with versatility, also portraying various characters and historic personalities. The show explores the evolution and resilience of samba — a genre that has fought prejudice, adapted through generations, and continues to thrive long after its early days in the home of Tia Ciata (January 13, 1854 – April 10, 1924), the matriarch who helped samba take its first steps toward national prominence.
Through this musical, Brazilian theater proves once again to be a vital space for honoring the great figures of samba and national culture.
“The transformation of samba, the emergence of carnival blocks, the creation of samba schools, the rhythm of the drums, the structure — not just musical, but organizational — all of this came from the involvement of Ismael and his contemporaries,” says Édio Nunes. “They shaped samba into more than a genre — they made it a way of life, a cultural and social force that represents the malandro, the cabrocha, the cadence that became symbolic not only of Rio de Janeiro but of Brazil itself. Just like football, Brazil is the land of samba thanks to him and the artists portrayed in this show.”
Nunes adds: “This is the culture of Black people — a culture embraced yet constantly sidelined. Lives and stories like his deserve to be told, sung, and celebrated.”
A Story of Resistance on Stage
For the cast and creative team, the show is also a call for Brazilian society not to forget the essential Black artists who shaped national culture, even while facing the weight of social and racial exclusion — a struggle that still resonates today.
“This show tells the story of a Black man, an artist from the favela, who proves his talent and earns his place through merit. And this is not so far removed from our current reality,” says Nunes. “We — Jorge, Milton, and I — are three Black artists with decades-long careers, and every day we have to prove ourselves. Nothing comes easy. We create, produce, bring shows to the stage, and take on other jobs to keep going as artists.”
Playwright and director Ana Veloso also emphasizes the show’s role in promoting reflection on the decolonization of Black bodies:
“Édio and I knew we had to go beyond just telling the story of the Estácio sambista. We wanted to draw connections between past, present, and future — to discuss human issues, and to emphasize that Black bodies are political bodies that cannot be disconnected from their historical, social, and cultural realities,” she explains. “To do that, I included personal elements from the lives of the actors in the script. Their own experiences help tell the story of so many ‘Ismaels’ — Black Brazilian artists who devoted their lives to building our cultural heritage.”
Who Was Ismael Silva?
Born in 1905 in Niterói, Ismael Silva was the youngest of five children raised by a cook and a washerwoman. After his father died young, the family moved to Rio de Janeiro. In the Rio Comprido neighborhood, next to Estácio, Ismael became the top student in his school. He discovered samba in the streets, composing his first piece, Já Desisti, at just 14 years old. As a teenager, he began frequenting the bars of Estácio, where he met Francisco Alves — one of Brazil’s most popular singers at the time — who later recorded Silva’s compositions.
Together with Nilton Bastos and Alves, Ismael formed the renowned trio Os Bambas do Estácio. In 1928, he co-founded Deixa Falar, Brazil’s first official samba school, which later became Estácio de Sá. Ismael also became a frequent collaborator with Noel Rosa. After Rosa’s death in 1937, Ismael faced hardship, including a stint in prison following a bar fight, financial struggles, and social isolation.
His triumphant return came in 1950 when Alcides Gerardi recorded his song Antonico, a major hit. Throughout the 1960s and 70s, he was honored by artists such as Chico Buarque, Vinícius de Moraes, and the musicians of Zicartola. Ismael died in March 1978 at the age of 73, leaving behind over 100 compositions that are now part of Brazil’s musical legacy.
Event Details:
“Professor Samba – A Tribute to Ismael Silva”
📅 May 7 to May 28, 2025
🕣 Wednesdays at 8:30 PM
🎟️ Tickets: R$100 (full) | R$50 (half-price)
📍 Sala Rosamaria Murtinho – Teatro Fashion Mall
Address: Estrada da Gávea, 899, Room 213, São Conrado, Rio de Janeiro – RJ
📞 (21) 99857-8677
👥 Recommended age: 14+
⏱️ Duration: 90 minutes
📸 Photo Credit: Cláudia Ribeiro
Angelica Zago
Communications Advisor
Image reproduction is prohibited without express authorization from the author, in accordance with Brazilian Copyright Law No. 9.610.