|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Theater is undergoing a vibrant transformation, with more creators of color infusing stages with the rich complexity and diversity of their cultural experiences. Hispanic actors, directors, and playwrights are pushing the boundaries of storytelling with performances that challenge societal norms and redefine audience’s perceptions of the Latino identity.
Here are eight exceptional playwrights you should know that are taking to the stage and shaping the Latino theater renaissance.
Lin-Manuel Miranda: Actor, Filmmaker & Playwright
Lin-Manuel Miranda, son of author Luis A. Miranda Jr., is an accomplished performer who has redefined storytelling in theater and film. Known for creating the groundbreaking musical Hamilton, he has celebrated diverse voices and experiences, weaving them into narratives that resonate globally. His contributions have elevated Latino representation in the arts, earning him acclaim as a transformative figure in modern entertainment.
Tanya Saracho: Actor, Playwright & TV Writer
Tanya Saracho is creator of acclaimed TV series Vida, focusing on queer and Latino narratives. She’s also cofounder of Teatro Luna, an all-Latina theater ensemble in Chicago; the Alliance of Latinx Theater Artists (ALTA) of Chicago; and Ojalá, a media company producing TV, film, and audio projects by Latino voices.
Michael John Garcés: Playwright & Director
Michael John Garcés is the former artistic director of Cornerstone Theater Company in Los Angeles. He focused on community-based theater and creates works that address social issues and Latino experiences, such as Los Illegals, which delves into immigration narratives.
Migdalia Cruz: Playwright
Migdalia Cruz’s works are characterized by bold poetic language and explore themes of identity, love, loss, and the complexities of the human experience. Known for plays like Roosters, Fur, and El Grito Del Bronx, she specializes in portraying marginalized voices, amplifying Latino narratives on stages worldwide.
Monet Hurst-Mendoza: Playwright & TV Writer
Monet Hurst-Mendoza is a rising talent in American theater, celebrated for her compelling plays that feature people of color and tackle subjects like morality and corruption. With works like Veil’d and Tamar of the River, she crafts narratives that challenge perceptions of race and culture.
Juliette Carrillo: Director, Playwright & Filmmaker
Juliette Carrillo has directed acclaimed productions at prestigious venues including the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and Denver Theater Center. Her work blends artistry with cultural resonance and centers on Latino communities. She’s also a founding member of Latinx Theater Commons and ran the Hispanic Playwright’s Project through the South Coast Repertory.
Laurie Woolery: Director & Playwright
Laurie Woolery is the director of Public Works at the Public Theater and a founding member of the Sol Project, dedicated to amplifying Latino voices in theater. She seeks to showcase the power of inclusion by bringing diverse communities into her storytelling process, which she calls “participatory theater.” Her Public Works program, ACTivate, grants artistic control to an ensemble of collaborative community members.
Matthew López: Director, Playwright & Screenwriter
Matthew López is best known for his play The Inheritance, which premiered in London in 2018 and later moved to Broadway. The play, inspired by E.M. Forster’s Howards End, explores the lives of gay men in New York a generation after the AIDS epidemic. It won numerous awards, including the Tony Award for Best Play in 2021, making López the first Latino writer to receive this honor.
—
This article was written with the assistance of AI.
