The U.S. premiere of Manuel Rodríguez Ramos‘s El rey de las aves, a play with a seemingly simple, yet profound, poetic text. Based on an ancient Mayan legend (rescued by Herminio Almendros in his collection Oros Viejos), the plot revolves around the dilemma of choosing a new king. With the impending resignation of their monarch, the birds must decide who among them is best qualified to be their new ruler. After a world premiere by the Guiñol Theater Group at Havana’s Casa de la Cultura de Plaza del Vedado in 1989, the play was censored by the government after its opening night and categorically banned.
El rey de las aves gains particular resonance in today’s turbulent political environment, for
it delves into and questions the legitimacy of governing and who is better equipped to be a rightful leader.
In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, the play will feature traditional music from different corners of Latin America, as well as a multi-national cast, hailing from Venezuela, Puerto Rico, Colombia, España and Cuba.
The mise-en-scène will be followed by a Q&A with the playwright, the director, Leyma López, and the cast of eight performers, including Daniel Diaza, Sandra Gumuzzio, Sandor Juan, Caridad Del Valle, Gilberto Gabriel, Belange Rodríguez, César Augusto Cova, and Zulema Clares; and will be moderated by Mayra McCarthy, chair of our Theater Program.
The evening will be capped by a reception of complimentary Cuban hors d’oeuvres and
cash bar.
LA NACIONAL
239 West 14th St. (bet. 6th & 7th Aves.), NYC
General Admission: $20
CCCNY Members: $10
SPACE IS LIMITED: Early reservation is recommended.
To reserve your tickets, write to: info@cubanculturalcenter.org
This theatrical production is part of our CreateNYC Language Access Series on Cuban History, Art, and Literature. It will be shown in its original Spanish version.
Playwright Manuel Rodríguez Ramos has also excelled as novelist, filmmaker, and teacher. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Arizona and has taught Latin American literature, screenwriting, film directing, and film history in various academic institutions. In Cuba he worked as a screenwriter and director for CINED and Cuban television, followed by several years of research in Madrid, where he wrote and developed several documentary projects. He has more than 30 films to his credit, including Tula, a biography of Gertrudis Gómez de Avellaneda (1987), Lezama, inalcanzable vuelve (1998), Retrato de Gastón Baquero (2014) and Las vivencias poéticas de Francisco Brines (2016). Las estaciones del viajero (Editorial Verbum, 2017) is his first novel. His upcoming projects include Las peregrinaciones del forastero, a sequel to his first novel, and a biographical documentary on Spanish poet Luis Cernuda.
A native of Cuba, Leyma López received a degree in directing and artistic education from the Instituto Superior Pedagógico of La Habana and has participated in several courses taught by legendary theater directors. Ms. López serves as Spanish Repertory Theater Company Resident Director, first forging her relationship with the Company as a recipient of the 2012 Van Lier Young Directors Fellowship. Since then, she has directed a series of successful productions for Repertorio including In vain, Insane by Force, Cold Air, Weeds Won’t Die, La fiaca, La Celestina, Courage, Betrayal and a Woman Scorned, Filomena Marturano (Marriage Caribbean Style), The Lady Simpleton, Radojka… She was also collaborated with PRTT/Pregones Theater as co-Director, assistant director and Stage Manager. Ms. López has been awarded several ACE, ATI and HOLA Awards for Best Director.
This event is presented in collaboration with La Nacional Spanish Benevolent Society and El Barrio’s Art Space PS 109
And supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, and made possible by the New YorkState Council on the Arts and the New YorkState Legislature.
With the promotional cooperation of Rialta, 14yMedio and Diario de Cuba
