REPERTORIO ESPAÑOL ANNOUNCES THREE SPANISH GOLDEN AGE PRODUCTIONS BY FEMALE PLAYWRIGHTS FOR THE SUMMER OF 2023, PART OF THE VAN LIER YOUNG LATINX/E DIRECTOR’S FELLOWSHIP, SPONSORED BY THE NEW YORK COMMUNITY TRUST

Three young directors to stage three Spanish Golden Age (17th Century) plays – LA TRAICIÓN EN LA AMISTAD, LOS EMPEÑOS DE UNA CASA, and PRIMERO SUEÑO.

Repertorio Español is proud to announce the Van Lier Spanish Golden Age productions, which will take place from June 30th to August 6th. The three Van Lier Directing Fellows – Ana Luz Zambrana, Kathleen Capdesuñer, and James Bruenger-Arreguin will each direct a Golden Age (17th century Spanish) play as part of the requisite of the 2-year Fellowship in which they must direct one contemporary play year one, and a Golden Age play in the second and final year. This season, the fellows will present “La traición en la amistad” by María de Zayas y Sotomayor, “Los empeños de una casa” and “Primero sueño” by Sor Juana Inés De La Cruz.

Spanning the 17th century, the Spanish Golden Age marked an explosion of Baroque theatre and playwriting in Spain and Mexico with Sor Juana. Today is a vibrant reminder of the centuries-old roots of Spanish language theatre. Through the Van Lier fellows’ initiative, Ms. Zambrana, Ms. Capdesuñer, and Mr. Bruenger-Arreguin have combined their allocated resources to produce and market these productions to raise the consciousness of the significant impact that this all-too-often neglected yet integral period of literary and intellectual development.

All plays are presented in Spanish with English subtitles.

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

June 30th – July 9th
LA TRAICIÓN EN LA AMISTAD
By María de Zayas y Sotomayor
Directed by Ana Luz Zambrana

María de Zayas y Sotomayor’s La traición en la amistad is the rare Golden Age play that turns traditional gender roles on their head. Centering on the complexities of female friendship, the story kicks off with a tale as old as time: Two friends who love the same man. This triangle quickly evolves into a tangled web of betrayals and deceit, which let us see how women can seduce and betray just as mercilessly as the typical “galán.”

Friday, June 30th, 8 pm
Saturday, July 1st, 8 pm
Sunday, July 3rd, 3 pm
Saturday July 8th, 8 pm
Sunday, July 9th, 3 pm

July 14th – July 23rd
LOS EMPEÑOS DE UNA CASA
By Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz
Directed by Kathleen Capdesuñer

Los empeños de una casa follows a group of singles as they navigate a maze of desire, temptation, and betrayal in their quest for love. Los empeños de una casa takes a modern spin on the classic 17th-century romantic farce, exploring the misadventures of love through a reality TV dating show.

Friday, July 14th, 8 pm
Saturday, July 15th, 8 pm
Sunday, July 16th, 3 pm
Saturday, July 22nd, 8 pm
Sunday, July 23rd, 3 pm

July 28th – August 6th
PRIMERO SUEÑO
By Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz
Directed by James Bruenger-Arreguin

Sor Juana Ines De La Cruz’s Primero Sueño is a profound and intricate poem that is regarded as one of her most important works and a masterpiece of the Golden Age of Spanish literature. The poem delves into the depths of the human psyche and the enigmas of the cosmos through a sequence of dreamlike visions and philosophical contemplations. Primero Sueño explores themes such as knowledge, love, and the divine while reflecting on the universe’s mechanics and the human soul’s intricacies. Van Lier fellow, James Bruenger-Arreguin has adapted the poem for the stage, creating a theatrical dream that takes the audience on a journey through the universe to explore its mysteries and complexities through puppetry, dance, and language.

Friday, July 28th, 8 pm
Saturday, July 29th, 8 pm
Sunday, July 30th, 3 pm
Saturday, August 5th, 8 pm
Sunday, August 6th, 3 pm

MEET THE 2022-2023 FELLOWS

ANA LUZ ZAMBRANA
(Ella/She/Her) is a Puerto Rican actor, director, and critic. She received her BFA at UCF with a minor in Humanities, training as well at: Atlantic Co, BADA at Oxford University, and SBIFF. She is a SDC Directing Fellow, a Kennedy Center Directing Initiative alum, and a participant of Jose Solís’s BIPOC Critic Lab. She is currently a member of the “Did They Like It?” Cohort and a Latiné Musical Theatre Lab Associate. Growing up as a Boricua in South Dakota —with her media diet ranging from Rebelde to The Lizzie McGuire Movie— sparked her need to create stories that explore the diasporic experience of POC in our world.

KATHLEEN CAPDESUÑER
Kathleen Capdesuñer (Ella/She/Her) is a Florida grown, immigrant raised, Cuban-American director, producer and generative artist working in theatre and film. Kathleen is a fiercely generous collaborator who leads democratized modes of creation to decolonize the current artistic canon. Kathleen is an alum of: The Roundabout Directing Fellowship, The Civilians R&D Group, MTC John Alper Directing Fellowship, The 24 Hour Plays: Nationals and McCarter Theatre Center Directing Apprenticeship. She’s also developed and directed work with: Roundabout, Atlantic Theatre Company, Yale, EST, Noor Theatre, Columbia, Teatro LATEA, Moxie Arts New York, McCarter Theatre, NYU, and internationally in the Fringe Festival circuit. www.kcapdesuner.com

JAMES BRUENGER-ARREGUIN
James Bruenger-Arreguin: (Él/He/His) Born in Los Cabos, Mexico, raised in Denver, CO, James is an NYC-based Latino director and producer currently working at the Creative Development office at Disney Theatrical Group. He has worked and collaborated with the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, Theatre Aspen, The 24 Hour Plays, Southern Colorado Repertory Theatre (Associate Artistic Director). Recent Credits: Colorado Spring Fine Arts Center: Guadalupe in the Guest Room and To Slay The Dragon. SCRT: The Last Five Years (Director), Evita (Director/Choreographer) Fly By Night (Choreographer), University of the Arts: Pop The Musical Exhibition (Director), and Momentos (Director). BFA in Directing, Playwriting + Production from the University of the Arts. www.directordeteatro.com

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