I AM THEATRE: NILO CRUZ

Every since Anna In The Tropics in 2003, when UrbanTheater Company (UTC) founders, myself (Ivan Vega) and Madrid St. Angelo met understudying at Victory Gardens, we have always had a love affair with Nilo Cruz and his writing. Cruz is a not only one the nicest guys you will meet, but also an inspiration to Latino writers and actors alike. Truly gifted. It is like we have made a full circle since we were introduced to this work. Now, in the midst of our closing weekend of the Midwest Premiere of Nilo Cruz’s Beauty of the Father directed by Cecilie Keenan, TCG (Theatre Communications Group) highlights Cruz in their initiative called I AM THEATRE:  

Theatre-makers tell stories, but too often, their own stories — the victories, heartbreaks, spectacular hilarity and transformational moments — go untold. To celebrate TCG’s 50th anniversary, and continue our mission to strengthen, nurture and promote not-for-profit theatre, we’re launching a global initiative to spotlight the stories of theatre practitioners in their own words: I AM THEATRE.

ABOUT NILO CRUZ

Born in Cuba and raised in Miami, Florida, Nilo Cruz is best known for his play ANNA IN THE TROPICS, which won the Steinberg award, the 2003 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and received a Tony nomination. His other plays include DANCING ON HER KNEES, NIGHT TRAIN TO BOLINA, A PARK IN OUR HOUSE, TWO SISTERS AND A PIANO, BEAUTY OF THE FATHER, LORCA IN A GREEN DRESS among others. Nilo has translated Federico Garcia Lorca’s THE HOUSE OF BERNARDA ALBA, DOÑA ROSITA THE SPINSTER; and Jose Sanchez Sinisterra’s AY CARMELA. He also adapted Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s A VERY OLD MAN WITH ENORMOUS WINGS for the stage. Nilo has been the recipient of other awards and fellowships, including two NEA/TCG National Theatre Artist Residency grants, a Rockefeller Foundation grant and the San Francisco’s W. Alton Jones award. In 2009 he won The Laura Pels Mid-career Playwrighting award and a Helen Merrill award for Excellence in playwriting. He also received the USA Ella Fontanals-Cisneros award. Nilo is part of the Playwrights Ensemble at Victory Gardens in Chicago, and has taught playwriting at Brown, NYU Gallatin School, Yale School of Drama, and the University of Iowa. He recently co-wrote the screenplay “Castro’s Daughter” with Oscar winner Bobby Moresco. His new screenplay is “Anna in the Tropics”.

CLOSING WEEKEND! 

Beauty of Father is being performed at the Wicker Park Arts Center, located at 2215 W. North Ave/Levitt. Our closing performance is on Saturday, November 19th. For tickets go to:

www.UrbanTheaterChicago.org or call 312-239-8783

Post by @ivanvega

UTC Executive Director and actor in Beauty of the Father