“LA CELESTINA” begins previews on Friday, February 8^th and premieres on Tuesday, February 12^th, 2019 at Repertorio Español’s historic Gramercy Arts Theater located at 138 East 27th Street in Manhattan, New York.

The play is adapted and directed by Leyma López. The cast includes Zulema Clares as La Celestina, Gonzalo Trigueros as Calisto, Carmen Borla as Melibea, Gerardo Gudiño, Maria Cotto, Gilberto Gabriel Díaz as well as Imanol Fuentes, Sandra Gumuzzio and Mario Peguero making their company debuts.

Repertorio Español is proud to announce the premiere of Fernando de Rojas’ “LA CELESTINA” the historic first novel/play (a novel which is written in dialogue form) in Spanish literature adapted and directed by the Company’s Resident Director, Leyma López. The tragicomedy of Calisto and Melibea originally published in 16 acts in 1499 during a period of conflict, change, and ultimately, disharmony in Spain—one that the great scholar Américo Castro dubbed “the conflictive age.”

ABOUT THE PLAY
La Celestina is the tale based on same source material as “Romeo and Juliet” of a passionate love affair that ends in tragedy. Calisto, a young nobleman enters the garden of Pleberio in pursuit of his falcon. There he sees Pleberio’s daughter, Melibea, and falls madly in love with her, and enlists “La Celestina” to help seduce her.

Performed in Spanish with English Supertitles.

OPENING NIGHT: Tuesday, February 12, 2019 7:00 PM

FERNANDO DE ROJAS – PLAYWRIGHT
Fernando de Rojas (d. 1541), the author of “La Celestina”, was born in the fifteenth century in Puebla de Montalban near Toledo, Spain. “La Celestina” is the only book that Rojas ever wrote, and few details of his life have ever come to light. What is known is that he was a lawyer by trade, educated at the prestigious University of Salamanca and that he belonged to a noble family of Conversos, or Jews who adopted Christianity. The genesis of “La Celestina” also carries with it an air of mystery. According to Rojas, he came across the first act, entitled The Comedy of Calisto and Melibea, while in Salamanca. This first act had supposedly been penned by an anonymous author. Rojas found himself so enchanted with the work that he decided to expand and complete it during a two-week vacation from practicing law. From the nucleus first act was born a novel in dialogue from about two young lovers from different backgrounds who take a popular ideal of love in Rojas’s era to an extreme that bears tragic consequences for themselves and those around them.

LEYMA LÓPEZ – DIRECTOR
Born in San José de las Lajas in La Habana, Cuba. From 2001 to 2005 she went to school for direction and acting in the School of the Arts in San Antonio de los Baños, Cuba and in 2009 received her degree in Acting and The Arts from The Superior Institute of La Habana. López was the founder and director of Rompecalles in 2007, a theatrical project focused on investigating classic text. In this project, she created adaptation of “Fedra” and “Asamblea de mujeres” (The Assembly of Women), two big stories in Greek mythology, which won the award of Festival Olga Alonso and the Municipal of San José de las Lajas award for Best Play.

López is presently Resident Director of Repertorio Español. She was the recipient of the Van Lier Award for Young Directors in 2012. At Repertorio Español she directed: “Por Gusto” (For Pleasure), “El Loco por Fuerza” (Insane by Force), “Hierba mala nunca muere” (Weeds Won’t Die), “Aire Frío” (Cool Air), “La Fiaca”, “Valor, agravio y mujer” (Courage, Betrayal, and a Woman Scorned) and a series of readings highlighting the works of 17th Century women playwrights. She has received various nominations and awards for ATI, ACE and HOLA.

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GENERAL INFORMATION
Phone: 1-212.225.9999 | Website: repertorio.nyc

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.