REPERTORIO ESPAÑOL PRESENTS THE WINNING PLAY OF THE 2015 METLIFE ‘NUESTRAS VOCES’ NATIONAL PLAYWRITING COMPETITION “BLIND SPOT”
Repertorio Español presents the premiere of “Blind Spot” (Punto ciego) by Gerardo Cárdenas and directed by José Zayas on Saturday, July 8th at 8PM.
In recent years, the military has tried to draw in immigrants with programs that allow enlistees to become citizens after basic training, attracting about 5,000 takers each year, according to the Defense Department. One out of every 13 sailors is foreign born, the highest proportion in any military branch, according to the Navy. The service regularly holds citizenship ceremonies aboard ships. At the same time, the proportion of racial and ethnic minorities in the military, mirroring the nation as a whole, has surged to 40 percent — nearly twice what it was 20 years ago.
The winning play of the 2015 MetLife “Nuestras Voces” National Playwriting Competition, “Blind Spot” tells the story of Ramón García, an undocumented immigrant seeking his own version of the American Dream: the hope for a new life given by citizenship papers after serving his country, and the happiness of being able to build a better future. He never saw an unexpected turn coming from a blind spot that would transform his life, and that of his family, into a bitter awakening and the realization of being a small piece in a huge political board.
“Blind Spot” will be presented in Spanish with captions in English and Spanish at Repertorio Español’s Gramercy Arts Theatre on 138 East 27th Street in Manhattan, New York.
Starring Pedro de León (Repertorio Español debut), Zulema Clares, Alfonso Rey, Gerardo Gudiño, Sandor Juan, Hannia Guillen and Gonzalo Trigueros (Repertorio Español debut).
Photos by Michael Palma