Visa Clearances Hamper Costa Mesa Show

The Eclectic Orange Festival is sweating out visa clearance for two Moroccan horse riders, crucial performers in Theatre Zingaro, an international equestrian troupe whose 20 performances in Costa Mesa, starting Oct. 12, would likely have to be canceled without them.

Eclectic Orange director Dean Corey said Wednesday that the Zingaro engagement is “critical” to the success of the festival, which runs Oct. 11 to Nov. 9. A 1,500-capacity tent is being built near the Orange County Performing Arts Center to house Theatre Zingaro, which accounts for about $2.2 million of the $3.5-million budget for the annual, multi-venue festival.

Corey said he began worrying about three weeks ago when it became clear that four Zingaro performers--three Moroccan riders and a Cuban dancer--were caught up in the post-Sept. 11 security checks that have bogged down the visa-granting process and led to a number of missed U.S. engagements for foreign performers.

Two of the Moroccans have been scheduled for interviews tomorrow and next week at the U.S. consulate in Paris, Corey said--an indication that they are likely to receive their visas. Prospects remain murkier for the third Moroccan and the Cuban, but the show can go on without them.

“We think we’re OK, but it’s not over until it’s over,” said Corey.

All of the visa-less artists have performed in the United States before as part of the French-based Zingaro troupe. Festival administrators and Zingaro’s U.S. agents have tried to enlist help from U.S. government officials in securing the visas, Corey said; French President Jacques Chirac wrote to the U.S. Embassy on the troupe’s behalf.

“I think that helped,” Corey said.