Plays
The Chrysalis brings to life the dreams of a Puerto Rican family struggling to survive identities that are pulling them apart. In 1980s Puerto Rico, the AIDS epidemic struck fear throughout the southern city of Ponce and the island. Young Raul is determined to prove hereditary links to homosexuality in spite of his father and his brother Francisco’s protests that his pursuit threatens the family’s safety.
Finalist, The Miranda Family Voces LatinX National Playwriting Competition 2022.
Successes
Dramaturgical debut
Miguel Fiol's play, The Chrysalis, has been selected as a finalist in the 2022 Miranda Family Foundation Voces LatinX National Playwriting Competition in NYC. A staged reading series of the 5 finalists' plays took place at Repertorio Español in Manhattan June 15-June 23. I served as dramaturg during the play's development.
We started by adapting his novel for the stage, crafting scenes and dialogue, and having dozens of conversations about Puerto Rican independence, the Spanish-American war, and American imperialism. We conducted several table readings, worked with another dramaturg, Richard Hellesen, and finally submitted the work to Voces LatinX, where the staged reading has provided additional direction.
Thanks to Voces LatinX director Carlos Armesto for honoring the play with the staged reading he directed on June 14.