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James Bruenger-Arreguin, Kathleen Capdesuñer, and Ana Luz Zambrana have been chosen for The New York Community Trust Van Lier Fellowships.
Fellows will develop their craft by directing two productions in the summers of 2022 and 2023.
Three emerging, talented, and ambitious directors will have their artistic vision showcased at Repertorio Español’s Gramercy Arts Theatre, taking the opportunity of using Repertorio’s artistic and technical resources while working alongside Repertorio’s staff and Company. The first production premieres on Friday, July 15, 2022.
Through The New York Community Trust Van Lier Fellowships, funded Repertorio provides professional development opportunities, and cultivates and mentors emerging Latinx/Latine directors living in New York City (ages 18-30) and gives the directors the opportunity to mount a professional production at Repertorio.
WINNERS OF THE NEW YORK COMMUNITY TRUST VAN LIER FELLOWSHIPS
JAMES BRUENGER-ARREGUIN
James Bruenger-Arreguin: Born in Los Cabos, Mexico, raised in Denver, CO, James is an NYC-based Latinx/Latine 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
“The Van Lier Fellowship at Repertorio Español is a one-of-a-kind gift to the next generation of Latinx artists. The fellowship invites us to join an artistic home and community in which we are asked to investigate our creative voice and aesthetics over two summers. My belief is that directing theatre is all about participation and crafting an empowered space where artists can create freely. I am honored to be in this cohort and am thrilled by the opportunity to build at an institution whose mission is to celebrate Latinx culture and the Spanish language through live performance.”
KATHLEEN CAPDESUÑER
Kathleen Capdesuñer [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
“It is an honor to join Repertorio Español as a Van Lier Fellow. I am excited to delve into two distinct and vital plays in the Latinx canon and bring it to life through a modern feminist lens.”
ANA LUZ ZAMBRANA
(Ella/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.
“Being a Van Lier fellow gives me a platform to explore the diasporic life of latinidad in contemporary and classic Spanish works. Hoy día you can be latiné but grow up in South Dakota —just like I did— but that doesn’t mean that I didn’t grow up eating mofongo or listening to Olga Tañón. This fellowship is allowing not only room but support in exploring the growing intersections of our cultura. Me toca el alma que vieron mi mente “gringa” y dijeron que eso todavía es ser Latina.”
THE NEW YORK COMMUNITY TRUST
A public charity, The Trust is a grantmaking foundation dedicated to improving the lives of residents of New York City and its suburbs. We bring together individuals, families, foundations, and businesses to build a better community and support nonprofits that make a difference. We apply knowledge, creativity, and resources to the most challenging issues in an effort to ensure meaningful opportunities and a better quality of life for all New Yorkers, today and tomorrow.
GENERAL INFORMATION
By phone: 1-212.225.9999 | Online: repertorio.nyc
Repertorio Español announces the finalists of The 2022 Miranda Family Voces Latinx Playwriting Competition, an initiative to develop and promote Latinx/Latine plays that resonate with and accurately depict the Latinx/Latine experience by playwrights of all racial and national backgrounds. After receiving over 150 scripts written in either English or Spanish by emerging playwrights from across the United States and Puerto Rico, the company will present staged readings of the five finalists. All readings will be free to the public community and will be presented from June 14th to June 28th.
The winners will be announced in the Fall:
Grand Prize Winner: $3,000
2nd Place: $2,000
3rd Place: $1,000
2 Runners up $500
THE 2022 MIRANDA FAMILY VOCES LATINX PLAYWRITING COMPETITION FINALISTS:
THE CHRYSALIS
By Miguel Enrique Fiol-Elias
Tuesday, June 14th at 7:00 pm
Directed by Carlos Armesto
Presented in English
Playwright Bio: Miguel Enrique Fiol-Elias is a Puerto Rican Neurologist at the University of Minnesota, has lived in Twin Cities for 25 years, done research, published in journals and five books- three novels and, two poems; The Chrysalis is his first play. He is interested in Puerto Rican diaspora issues, is a grandfather of five, and has an active lifestyle with community work, writing and is the founder of a cultural organization’ Fidecomiso de la Familia Fiol- in his native hometown, Ponce.
About The Chrysalis: The Chrysalis brings to life the dreams of a Puerto Rican family struggling to survive identities pulling them apart. In 1980s Puerto Rico, the AIDS epidemic has struck fear throughout the southern city of Ponce and the island and Raul, as he comes out to his family, discovers the secret gay love affair of his deceased grandfather whose spirit then come to his help.
THE CHRYSALIS – FREE ADMISSION >
LAS VIDAS ROTAS
By Yessi Hernández
Thursday, June 16th at 7:00 pm
Directed by Pablo Andrade
Presented in Spanish
Playwright Bio: Venezuelan actress, writer, producer, and journalist of Cuban and Spanish descent. TV host of the prime-time show Soy Un Boom and voice of the radio stations Hot94.1FM and 88.1FM. Co-founder and Executive Director of Corezon and editor-in-chief of La Guía Cultural in New York. She is recipient of HOLA, Latin ACE, ATI, Arte, Talía and Latin Alternative Theater Awards as an actress and playwright.
About Las vidas rotas: A Venezuelan immigrant makes her way in the United States in search of a better future and a dream: to bring her mother in the midst of one of the most controversial governments in history.
LAS VIDAS ROTAS – FREE ADMISSION >
BLACK MEXICAN
By Rachel Lynett
Tuesday, June 21st at 7:00 pm
Directed by Kimberly Ramírez
Presented in English
Playwright Bio: Rachel Lynett (she/they) is a queer Afro-Latine playwright, producer, and teaching artist. Their play, White People by the Lake was a 2022 Blue Ink Award finalist. Lynett is also the 2021 recipient of the Yale Drama Prize for their play, Apologies to Lorraine Hansberry (You Too August Wilson), and the 2021 recipient of the National Latinx Playwriting award for their play, Black Mexican.
About Black Mexican: Who gets to be a part of Latinidad? While Valery fights to prove Ximena isn’t Cuban, Alia has given up fighting that she is Latine. As the women in this play discover the truth about themselves and each other, they also have to face the internal bias that allowed a white woman to be Cuban but didn’t allow a Belizean to call herself Latine.
BLACK MEXICAN – FREE ADMISSION >
AGUA POR TODAS PARTES
By Karina Curet
Wednesday, June 22nd at 7:00 pm
Directed by Gerardo Gudiño
Presented in Spanish
Playwright Bio: Born and raised in Caguas, Puerto Rico. Holds a BFA in Acting from SUNY Purchase and is a graduate student at the NYU Grad Acting Program. Has worked as an actor, Shakespeare and audition coach for teenagers and college students, casting assistant and playwright. NYU credits include: Three Sisters, The Tempest, and Learned Ladies of Park Avenue. SUNY Purchase credits include: Juliet in Romeo and Juliet, Tales from the Vienna Woods, Museum, Inspector General, and Blood Wedding.
About Agua por todas partes: Three siblings meet at their late mother’s house to pack up and clean before handing it over to the new owners. In doing so, they discuss a big part of their inheritance. Everyone has different ambitions: Mario wants to develop restaurants, Marcos wants to grow his own food, and Marina doesn’t even know if she’s staying in Puerto Rico anymore. While unboxing a childhood that unites them, they also unearth their resentments towards each other and end up with a truth that’s making them drown: they are grieving their mother’s death and don’t know how to deal with it.
AGUA POR TODAS PARTES – FREE ADMISSION >
VISTIENDO SANTOS
By Andrés Correa Guatarasma
Tuesday, June 28th at 7:00 pm
Directed by Yolanny Rodríguez Torres
Presented in Spanish
Playwright Bio: Venezuelan-born journalist and playwright, has covered news from more than 25 countries. Graduated Cum Laude in Social Communications, with a MA in Foreign Affairs. Has written for El Universal, AP/Associated Press, Agencia EFE, and El Diario NY. He belongs to the NY Foreign Press Center, HFPA, International Federation of Journalists, Dramatists Guild of America, and the North American Academy of the Spanish Language, branch of “Real Academia Española” (RAE). Bilingual writer, five times finalist in Repertorio Español’s contests. Collaborator of Sundance Institute (Theater Lab Selection Reader) and NY State Council on the Arts (NYSCA).
About Vistiendo santos: After an incident with her husband, Lulú flees from Texas to Santo Domingo, facing a long to-do-list with her family. Nothing has changed in her country, or has it? The reunion with her cousin Noelia contrasts the myths of “the American dream,” while Lulú yearns for a new life that would allow her to comfortably combine the best of both cultures: the Caribbean and USA.
VISTIENDO SANTOS – FREE ADMISSION >
ABOUT THE MIRANDA FAMILY
For over 40 years, Luis A. Miranda, Jr. and Dr. Luz Towns-Miranda have championed community activism, viewing philanthropy as a three-pronged approach through giving, fundraising, and advocacy efforts. Along with Luz Miranda-Crespo, Lin-Manuel, Miguel Towns, and their respective spouses, Luis Crespo and Vanessa Nadal, they have created and supported institutions focused on underserved populations in Upper Manhattan, communities throughout NYC, across the country, and in Puerto Rico.
GENERAL INFORMATION
By phone: 1-212.225.9999 | Online: repertorio.nyc
Now that it is possible, Repertorio Español is honored to host a memorial service at its resident theatre, the Gramercy Arts at 138 East 27th Street, for its Founding Artistic Director René Buch on the eve of his birthdate, December 18th, 2021. René, who passed during the beginning of the Covid crisis on April 19th, 2020, was the Artistic Director of Repertorio from its founding in 1968 until his passing. The Company thanks Isabel Segovia, Luis Carlos De La Lombana, Zulema Clares, Leyma López, Rafa Sánchez and Pablo Zinger for their participation. Repertorio welcomes all friends of René, but it will be necessary that people show their vaccination status and wear masks. Contributions can be made to Repertorio Español’s Founders’ Endowment Fund.
Repertorio Español
138 East 27th Street, New York, NY 10016
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 18TH, 2021 – 3 PM.
Born on December 19, 1925, in the city of Santiago, Cuba, Buch went on to receive a doctorate in law from Universidad de La Habana in 1948. The forties were an important period for theater in Cuba when world-class artists took refuge in La Habana during World War II. Buch was inspired to write his own theater work after being in the audience for every production by French playwright and director Louis Jouvet (1887-1951). Jouvet could not return to his native France at the time because of the war and he continued to work in Cuba, indirectly motivating a young Buch. At the age of twenty, Buch won the National Prize from Patronato del Teatro after entering his first playwriting competition with Del agua de la vida [From the Waters of Life.] This play marked a new era for Buch; he earned support from the organization Pro Arte de Oriente, and under its auspices, founded Acción Teatral de Actores to produce new Cuban theater.
In 1949, he enrolled in the Yale Drama School and taught Spanish language and literature while pursuing his MFA. After graduating, he was Associate Editor for the Arts at Visión magazine and, simultaneously, Editor of the cultural section at El Diario La Prensa. He was then editor for the Spanish edition of the Journal of the United Nations. Buch later became head of Spanish creative copy for J. Walter Thompson as well as book editor for Reader’s Digest.
By 1968, Buch was back in the theater with La dama duende, which earned him awards for Best Director and Best Work in Spanish by the Association of Latin Entertainment Critics of New York (ACE). The company began in its mission to produce canonical theater in Spanish as well as works translated into Spanish. Under Buch’s direction, Repertorio established a collaborative acting ensemble, where actors would rotate between different plays. His vision led Repertorio to great success, including national and international tours of the company’s multiple productions.
Buch worked his way through an impressive array of theater works, ranging from 17th-century classics to new Latinx theater. Notably, Buch directed canonical works from Golden Age masters as well as the New York premieres of a remarkable display of contemporary theater in Spanish. Buch’s prolific work as a director includes productions for CSC and the Pearl Theater in Manhattan, The Milwaukee Rep, Albany’s Capital Rep, La Compañía de Albuquerque, Washington’s Folger Theatre, the Oregon’s Ashland Shakespeare Festival, and The Old Globe in San Diego. For the musical stage, he directed zarzuelas and some of Repertorio’s greatest musical anthologies, making music part of his vision for the company’s artistic legacy.
His impressive talents made him a visionary, and numerous awards serve as a tribute to his craft. These include an OBIE for Artistic Trajectory (1989), a Drama Desk Award for Artistic Achievement (1996), an ENCORE Award for forty years of Sustained Excellence in Management by the Arts & Business Council of New York (2007), and Theatre Communications Group’s Theatre Practitioner Award (2008) among others. Buch was awarded a Lifetime Achievement OBIE Award (2011) and was bestowed with The Order of Isabella the Catholic (2012) by King Juan Carlos I of Spain for his contributions to Spain-U.S. cultural relations.
Throughout his life, Buch’s creativity not only shone brightly in the world of Theatre, but also as a lawyer, journalist, editor, and painter; his recipe for Cuban black beans was featured in the New York Times (1969). René’s artistic legacy will go on, inspiring theatre-makers, -goers, and actors alike.
“René was a wonderful director to work with. He was welcoming and eager to collaborate. He was known for being demanding, and yes, he was quite demanding. But it was all to serve the art. His artistry was all about exploration and discovery – it was about the possibilities. I was so blessed beyond blessings that he directed ‘La gringa’”. – Carmen Rivera, Playwright of ‘La gringa’ with 25 years in Repertory.
“I would never forget seeing the Spanish version of ‘Anna in the Tropics’ at Repertorio, and being in awe of his direction, the economy, and simplicity of his production, which made the language soar to greater heights”. – Nilo Cruz, Pulitzer Prize Winning Playwright.
“René liberated me from naturalism into the world of the theatrical imagination. I would have never been the playwright I became without Rene’s love, knowledge, talent, and mentorship”. – Eduardo Machado, Playwright.
GENERAL INFORMATION
By phone: 1-212.225.9999 | info@repertorio.org
Meet the Playwright and cast of Junot Díaz’s “La breve y maravillosa vida de Oscar Wao”, the protagonists of Repertorio’s first production of the 2019-2020 Season. The play follows the story of Oscar a naive “nerd” from New Jersey who has finally left the grips of his imposing Dominican mother and is attending his first semester of college at Rutgers with his rebellious sister. He dreams of becoming the Dominican J.R.R. Tolkien and, most of all, finding love. But Oscar may never get what he wants. Blame the “fukú”—a curse that has haunted Oscar’s family for generations, following them on their epic journey from Santo Domingo to the USA. The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao explores the endless human capacity to persevere—and risk it all—in the name of love.
“The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao” will begin performances October 12 ahead of an October 15 opening. The show will be performed in Spanish with English supertitles.
For tickets and more information, visit www.repertorio.nyc/wao or call (212) 225-9999
Junot Díaz – Author
Marco Antonio Rodríguez – Playwright & Director
Edgar Sebastian – Oscar Wao
Altagracia ‘ANOVA’ Nova – Lola
Mario Peguero – Junior
Maite Bonilla – Beli
Arisleyda Lombert – La Inca
Belange Rodríguez – Jenni / Ybón Pimentel
Alfonso Rey – Dionisio / Capitán
Last Saturday, May 4th, Repertorio Español had a special performance of “El coronel no tiene quien le escriba” based on Gabriel García Márquez’s novel with audio description service for audience members with visual impairments.
This initiative was possible thanks to the Associate Artistic Producer of Repertorio Español Rafael Sánchez, and Montclair University, especially the Professor María José García and her students for providing braille hand programs, a pre-show experience to touch the scenery, props, scale model of the set, and description of what happens in the scenes through headphones.
“SMILEY” will debut on Friday, June 14th, 2019 at Repertorio Español, located at 138 East 27th St. in Manhattan, New York.
The comedy is written by Guillem Clua and directed by Ismanuel Rodríguez. The cast includes Rafa Sánchez, Omar Nieves, and Edmi de Jesús.
Repertorio Español is proud to announce the premiere of “SMILEY”. After a very successful run in Spain, South America, Europe, Puerto Rico, and most recently at the renowned LGBTQ festival in New York City, “Fuerza Fest,” presented by the Hispanic Federation, this comedy will now grace the stage of the emblematic theater on 27th street to celebrate LOVE and the 2019 WorldPride in NYC.
In Puerto Rico, the production of SMILEY was honored with awards for best production, direction, lighting design, costume, and scenery at the “Festival del Tercer Amor”. The comedy was also granted Best Direction and Production on Tour by ATI for the performance in New York at FuerzaFest.
The comedy, which brilliantly presents how two opposite people can fall in love in the most natural way despite all the odds, will have a run of 7 performances in the month of June. With this debut, Repertorio Español reaffirms its commitment to the varied and ever-changing audience that has supported it for over 50 years.
ABOUT THE PLAY
A Japanese legend says that when two people are destined to be together, an invisible red thread tied to the little finger of the hand binds them from the day they are born. Alex and Bruno, make a strange couple, whose only commonality is that they are men, and that they have fallen in love. Their differences seem insurmountable, and their antagonistic personalities, whether they like it or not, are united by that red thread, however often they are bound to break it.
Performed in Spanish with English supertitles.
OPENING NIGHT: Friday, June 14, 2019 8:00 PM
PERFORMANCES:
Saturday, June 15, 2019 8:00 PM
Sunday, June 16, 2019 3:00 PM
Saturday, June 22, 2019 8:00 PM
Sunday, June 23, 2019 3:00 PM
Friday, June 28, 2019 8:00 PM
Saturday, June 29, 2019 8:00 PM
GUILLEN CLUA – PLAYWRIGHT
Guillem Clua is a playwright from Barcelona, Spain. He is considered one of the most innovative voices in the Spanish theater scene and part of a new generation of playwrights born in the seventies who are transforming the Catalan stage with their plays. Critics have described his work as multidisciplinary, eclectic, and very much concerned with narrative structure and plot. Storytelling is at the heart of his style, which combines elements of comedy, thriller and melodrama, a vibrant rhythm, and the unabashed influence of other media, such as television and cinema.
ISMANUEL RODRÍGUEZ – DIRECTOR
Born and raised in Puerto Rico, he studied a Bachelor of Arts in Drama (Theater Direction) from University of Kent at Canterbury. He also studied a Masters in Performing Arts from the University Rey Juan Carlos in Madrid. At the age of 7, he works at Sunshine s Café (WAPA TV). He was part of several movies since he was a child, such as Los Cuentos de Abelardo by Luis Molina. His first play was On Golden Pond, directed by Gilberto Valenzuela for Tablado Puertorriqueño. In Spain, he worked as Assistant Director in Divinas Palabras, directed by José Piris. He also assisted in the direction of Chekhov in the Garden, by the official company M. Chekhov for the Círculo de Bellas Artes de Madrid. He is a founding member of Tantai Teatro PR, company with more than 11 years of trajectory, with which he directs some of his biggest hits: Agua a Cucharadas by Quiara Alegría Hudes (Puerto Rico and Festival ENCUENTRO in Los Angeles), Ingenio (Wit) by Margaret Edson, the immersive experience Construyendo a Verónica, 8 mujeres sospechosas, Pegados: un musical diferente, Elvira and Jouvet, Paris años 40, among others. He also directs La Cueva de Salamanca, winner of the Young New Creators contest in Madrid, and several shows and concerts in Puerto Rico for artists like Lissette, Yolandita and Silverio Pérez.
TICKETS AND GENERAL INFORMATION
By phone: 1-212.225.9999 | Online: repertorio.nyc
In person: 138 East 27th Street, New York, NY 10016
(Between Lexington and Third Avenues. Subway: # 6 to 23rd Street, W or R to 28th Street)
Monday 8:00am-6pm | Tuesday – Friday 8am-8pm|Saturday 10am-8pm | Sunday 10am-7:00pm
Discounts available for seniors, military and students with valid identification.
ABOUT REPERTORIO ESPAÑOL
Founded in 1968 by stage director René Buch and the late producer Gilberto Zaldívar, and joined by Robert Weber Federico in 1971, who now serves as Executive Producer, REPERTORIO has presented an unparalleled body of theater that promotes and divulges the rich heritage of Hispanic theater. Spanish masters like Calderón, Lope de Vega and García Lorca, renowned playwrights from Latin America and the growing body of American writers who capture the Latino experience in the U.S.—from Portland, LA, NYC, Washington DC, Texas, Washington Heights, Denver and Chicago– are all at home in REPERTORIO’s programming. As well, the company has presented acclaimed translations of plays by Edward Albee, Shakespeare, Tennessee Williams, Gian Carlo Menotti and Noel Coward.
The Company presents a rotating repertory of 13 different plays, musicals and dance concerts in over 300 performances every year. Its productions are seen by over 50,000 people annually at its home, the historic Gramercy Arts Theatre and on tour. Every year, approximately 20,000 students are introduced to the heritage of Spanish language theatre through its education program, ¡DIGNIDAD!
Photos by Michael Palma Mir.
Since 1968, Repertorio has introduced the best of Latin American, Spanish and Hispanic-American theatre to New York with distinctive, quality productions. Featuring a repertory as diverse as the Hispanic community in New York, the theatre has almost 50 years of experience not only as a theatre but as one of the most important cultural institutions in New York’s cultural landscape.
