#Elisa Bocanegra

[thenerdsofcolor]

A Los Angeles Theatre Review: ‘Luzmi’

It’s odd to say when you look forward to a theatre project’s journey but that is exactly the case with the world premiere of Luzmi by Diana Burbano, performing at The Rosenthal Theater at Inner-City Arts in Los Angeles. Continue reading A Los Angeles Theatre Review: ‘Luzmi’

[zynvaites]

[writemarcus]

New York Stage and Film Announces Founders' Award and Pfaelzer Award Recipients

This year’s finalists for the Founders’ Award were Troy Anthony, Zeniba Now, Banna Desta, Gethsemane Herron-Coward, Katie Madison, and Marcus Scott.

by Chloe Rabinowitz Oct. 12, 2021  

New York Stage and Film announced today that jeremy o'brian is the recipient of the 2021 Founders' Award, a prestigious award that provides financial and administrative resources, as well as access to the NYSAF artist community. This year's finalists for the Founders' Award were Troy Anthony, Zeniba Now, Banna Desta, Gethsemane Herron-Coward, Katie Madison, and Marcus Scott.

The Founders' Award acknowledges an exceptional generative artist, in honor of the founders' enduring commitment to nurturing emerging voices. The Founders' Award is now selected by recent recipients of the award. This year's committee included Ngozi Anyanwu, Keelay Gipson, Kirya Traber, and Max Vernon. Recipients are offered $2500, an extended residency during the NYSAF Summer Season in the Hudson Valley, and financial and administrative support for a project for which they are the sole curatorial voice. jeremy o'brian will curate multiple events in proximity to World AIDS Day, including a conversation that bears witness to the multiplicity of stories available from Black, Queer, HIV-positive artists, which will be available as a live event and audio podcast for streaming. jeremy will also offer a reading of his play boys don't look at boys as a compliment to the preceding conversation.

New York Stage and Film has also announced that Elisa Bocanegra has been named the 2021 recipient of the Pfaelzer Award, created in honor of Producing Director Johanna Pfaelzer's 20-year commitment to nurturing artists and their developing stories at New York Stage and Film.

The Pfaelzer Award is selected in consultation with Johanna Pfaelzer and the recipient receives artistic and administrative support for projects of their choosing throughout the year, culminating in a residency during NYSAF's summer season. The residency is meant to include a reading, workshop, or other developmental activity that best supports the artist and their work. The recipient will be actively involved with the rich community of NYSAF artists and artistic staff and has the opportunity for project mentorship from Ms. Pfaelzer.

"I am excited to be working with New York Stage and Film," said Founders' Recipient jeremy o'brian. "boys don't look at boys is a play of great significance, underscoring my deepest hope for a world where we normalize black boys prioritizing vulnerability, gentleness, and a deep regard for self and the other. My time with NYSAF will be spent developing this play, and I am excited to be introducing myself to the New York theatre community at a time that feels both new, exciting, and burgeoning in its consciousness of what true inclusion and representation might look like."

"I know first-hand the power of a great mentor. Olympia Dukakis was mine, and she encouraged me to start HERO Theatre," said Pfaelzer Recipiant Elisa Bocanegra. "This new chapter in my career is about commissioning and developing new work. I'm so honored to receive mentorship from Johanna Pfaelzer. She's amazing at nurturing artists, manages to understand work-life balance, and is a great leader. I feel very fortunate."

FOUNDERS' AWARD RECIPIENT BIO:

jeremy o'brian is a first-generation Mississippi-born penman. He received his Bachelor of Arts in English from Tougaloo College before attending and graduating from the University of Texas at Austin with a Master of Arts in African and African Diaspora Studies. He is the writer and producer of the short film Blu & Sky (2021). He is the recipient of the Birmingham Black Repertory Theatre Company Black Queer Fellowship (2020), Liberation Theatre Playwriting Residency Fellowship (2019), Athena Theatre's Athena Writes Playwriting Fellowship (2018), and the Lambda Literary Emerging LGBTQ Voice in Playwriting Fellowship (2016). His plays include: egg; or anythin' dipped in egg gone soften (Development: Athena Theatre), a curious thing; or superheroes k'ain't fly (Workshop Production: JAGProductions), under one roof; or home to mississippi (Development: Liberation Theatre Co.), and boys don't look at boys (Semi-Finalist: Playwright's Realm Writing Fellowship).

PFAELZER AWARD RECIPIENT BIO:

Elisa Bocanegra is a producer and actor who has now added directing to her credits. She is the founder of HERO Theatre in Los Angeles. Elisa was a TCG Leadership U grant recipient, which allowed her to be part of the Leadership Team at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival for two seasons. Her directing credits include TROY, where she teamed up with homeless shelters around Los Angeles to raise awareness of the crisis. Other directing credits include The Floating Island Plays by Eduardo Machado and a new project called Nuestro Planeta. This ten-year-long multimedia, new works initiative focuses on educating Latinx audiences about environmental justice within the Americas. Elisa was part of the NEXUS initiative at New York Stage and Film. As a performer, she has worked at many theatres, including The Goodman Theatre, Roundabout Theatre Company, South Coast Rep, Center Theatre Group, Hartford Stage, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, and The Williamstown Theatre Festival. Her film debut was in the Sundance Film Festival winner, Girlfight.

FOUNDERS' AWARD FINALIST BIOS:

Troy Anthony is a Kentucky-born composer, director, and theater-maker based in NYC practicing Black queer joy. He has presented work at The Shed, Joe's Pub, Musical Theater Factory (MTF), Rattlestick Playwright's Theater, Prospect Theater Company, and 54 Below. Commissions include The Public Theater, The Shed, Atlantic Theater Company, and The Civilians. Troy has been seen in The Public Theater's Hercules, Twelfth Night and As You Like It. He is founding director of the Fire Ensemble where he focuses on the intersection between music theater, community practice, and social justice. He's also a 2019-2020 MTF Maker and current MTF board member.

Banna Desta is an Eritrean and Ethiopian-American playwright and screenwriter who crafts stories about and for the African diaspora. For the stage, her short play Pining, a tragicomedy that explores the thrills and shortcomings of attraction, premiered at Rattlestick Playwrights Theater and was published by Samuel French in 2019. For the screen, she is currently a staff writer for the BET+ series First Wives Club. Most recently, she wrote a short film for the 2021 Disney Discovers showcase, collaborating with the next wave of up and coming actors and directors in New York and Los Angeles. Prior to that, she wrote and co-produced the feminist, comedic short film Akinyi + Yvonne, which was the official selection for numerous festivals. She was awarded the John Golden Prize for excellence in playwriting at NYU, where she received her MFA in Dramatic Writing.

Gethsemane Herron (she/her) is a playwright from Washington, D.C. She has developed work with JAG Productions, The Hearth, Magic Time @ Judson, The Ice Factory Festival at the New Ohio Theatre, Playwright's Playground at Classical Theatre of Harlem, The Fire This Time Festival, Roundabout Theater Company, WP Theater, Ars Nova, and the Playwright's Center, where she is a 2021-2022 Jerome Fellow. 2020-2022 Ars Nova Play Group member and 2020-2022 WP Theater Lab member. Additional residencies from The Liberation Theater Company, Virginia Center of the Creative Arts, VONA, Tofte Lake and the Millay Colony, where she was the recipient of the Yasmin Scholarship. Winner of the Columbia@Roundabout 2020 Award. Winner of the Samuel French Off Off Broadway Short Play Festival. Finalist for the Van Lier Fellowship at the Lark. MFA: Columbia University. Proud member of the Dramatist's Guild.

Katie Madison is a composer, writer, director, producer, and musical theatre artist currently based in the Canarsie and Munsee Lenape land also known as Brooklyn. She's a 2021 New York City Artist Corps Grant Recipient, and was chosen by The Downtown Alliance in collaboration with En Garde Arts and The Tank to re-open New York City in their first live performance post pandemic. She was a Critical Breaks Resident with Hi-Arts in April 2021 and her work has been commissioned by the University of Michigan's Musical Theatre Department, Crossroads Theatre Company, The American Opera Project, The Civilians, Milwaukee Skylight Theatre, The Tank, and Judson Memorial Church. Her show [ taking ] space was 2019 Sundance Theatre Lab Finalist, and she was one of three finalists for the National Black Theatre's Soul Producing Residency that same year. Find her digital work online // instagram: @kvmad // soundcloud:kvmad // www.kvmadison.com

Zeniba Now (she/Z) is an award-winning creator whose writings, musicals, songs, and performances have been seen all over the world and all over the internet. She describes herself as a musical storyteller and artscientist working in various mediums with subject matters ranging from quantum liberatory sci-fi to gynecology slapstick. Connect with Z's work via www.zenibanow.com

Marcus Scott is a playwright, musical theatre writer & journalist. Selected works: Sibling Rivalries (Long-listed for the 2020 Theatre503 International Playwriting Award; finalist for the 2021 Seven Devils Playwrights Conference and the 2021 ATHE-KCACTF Judith Royer Excellence In Playwriting Award; semi-finalist for 2021 Blue Ink Playwriting Award and the 2021 New Dramatists Princess Grace Fellowship Award), Tumbleweed (finalist for the 2017 Bay Area Playwrights Festival; semi-finalist for the 2017 New Dramatists Princess Grace Fellowship Award), Cherry Bomb (recipient of the 2017 Drama League First Stage Artist-In-Residence) and Sundown Town (Abingdon Theatre Company's Virtual Fall Festival Of Short Plays). His articles appeared in Architectural Digest, Time Out New York, American Theatre Magazine, Playbill, Elle, Out, Essence, The Brooklyn Rail, among others. Follow him: New Play Exchange. Learn more about her at her blog: http://writemarcus.tumblr.com.

[lestatth]

Elisa Bocanegra, Donde el teatro se encuentra con la ciencia

#ElisaBocanegra #Dondeelteatroseencuentraconlaciencia

[whileiamdying]

In April of 2010, British Petroleum gave orders to speed up production on its colossal drilling rig, the Deepwater Horizon. Despite the objections of many on the rig, safety measures were ignored or overlooked. On April 20th, the Deepwater Horizon exploded. Eleven men paid the ultimate price and countless thousands who call the Gulf Coast home found their lives irrevocably altered. Based on actual testimony and conversations with families, playwright Leigh Fondakowski has created a harrowing and intimate look at the lives forever altered by the tragedy. Includes a conversation with Jim Morris, Managing Editor for Environment and Worker's Rights at the Center for Public Integrity, one of the country's oldest and largest non-profit investigative news organizations. Spill is part of L.A. Theatre Works’ Relativity Series featuring science-themed plays. The Relativity Series is generously supported by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, bridging science and the arts in the modern world. Directed by Martin Jarvis. An L.A. Theatre Works full-cast recording, starring Elisa Bocanegra, Gilbert Glenn Brown, Nicholas Hormann, Travis Johns, Jane Kaczmarek, James Morrison, Darren Richardson, Kate Steele, and Mark Jude Sullivan. Production Manager, Nikki Hyde. Music Supervisor, Ronn Lipkin. Associate Artistic Director, Anna Lyse Erikson. Editor, Julian Nicholson. Recording Engineer, Sound Designer and Mixer, Mark Holden for The Invisible Studios, West Hollywood.

[jessicajko]

It’s a miracle— I’m in a thing! Esp for friends who were never able to travel to see me perform, you can now watch me from the comfort of your home! I’ll be playing Fefu in Maria Irene Fornes’ masterful FEFU & HER FRIENDS helmed by my brilliant sweet coz Nancy Rodriguez. What an absolute joy & privilege it’s been working (remotely) with this special group of the most talented, generous & loveliest humans. They’ve restored my soul & hope as an artist these past few weeks. See this beautiful post by my castmate @sabinazunigavarela for more info & gorgeous lineup of faces, but here’s the essentials: This Wednesday August 19 5pm PST 6pm MST 7pm CST 8pm EST RSVP for the FREE zoom link: see my bio for the link Posted @withregram • @sabinazunigavarela Hello IG & FB familia and friends. I’m breaking my social media posting fast with the announcement of this incredible project: @strangesuntheater has gathered an incredible cast to present a virtual reading of Fefu and Her Friends, the masterpiece by #mariairenefornes 📝 I am honored to be a part of this experiment, helmed by the one and only Nancy Rodríguez. We’ve been navigating the rocky technical waters of this new art form and while it may not resemble the theatre we know and love, it is a gathering, a ritual, a sacred “space” regardless. Please join us on Wednesday August 19th (5pm PST/6pm MST/7pm CST/8pm EST) Tickets are free and we ask that donations are made to @theactorsfund in lieu of a ticket price!✨🎭✨ Link in bio! #onenightonly #fefuandherfriends #womenintheatre #virtualtheatre #supportthearts #savethearts ✨🎭✨ Directed by: Nancy Rodríguez CAST: Fefu: Jessica Ko Cindy: Sabina Zuniga Varela Chistina: Jamie Ann Romero Paula: Elisa Bocanegra Sue: Jessica Bashline Julia: Flora Diaz Emma: Lauren Modica Cecilia: Erica Sullivan PRODUCTION DESIGNER: Sean Leo https://www.instagram.com/p/CD6wVxlja7w/?igshid=1t1yep39bpu2n

[gilwilson]

Spill By Leigh Fondakowski

Spill By Leigh Fondakowski

Spill By Leigh Fondakowski Narrated by: Elisa Bocanegra, Gilbert Glenn Brown, Nicholas Hormann, Travis Johns, Jane Kaczmarek, James Morrison, Darren Richardson, Kate Steele, Mark Jude Sullivan Length: 1 hr and 39 mins Performance Publisher: L.A. Theatre Works

Let’s get it out of the way:  This is another awesome performance/production from L.A. Theatre Works.   The audio performance puts you…

[unpensadoranonimo]

Opiniones sobre la sentencia del caso ERE (23/11/2019)

Andalucía no eran ellos - Gerardo Tecé

Caso ERE: ¿de verdad robaron los socialistas 680 millones a los parados? - Antonio Avendaño 

Caso ERE: el atajo que condujo al abismo - Antonio Avendaño

Chaves, el presidente eterno - Isabel Morillo

Chaves y Griñán - Juan Tortosa

Chaves y Griñán no son honorables. Para nada - José Apezarena

Cuando el pasado te viene a ver - Fernando Díaz Villanueva

Desolación en el cortijo - Juan Carlos Escudier

Disparates en torno a los ERE - Luis Arroyo

El caso ERE: una herida de 679,2 millones en el costado del PSOE de Andalucía - Raúl Bocanegra

El deterioro de la inteligencia - Gregorio Morán

El gran blanqueador - Graciano Palomo

El "martirio" de Griñán, el tecnócrata - Isabel Morillo

Entre los ERE y la investidura - Jesús Maraña

¿Escuchan eso? Es la Gürtel del PSOE - Javier Fumero

Griñán engrosa la lista de expresidentes autonómicos condenados a penas de cárcel por corrupción - Jorge Millán

Justicia ciega, política daltónica - Marta García Aller

La autopsia de un Estado clientelar en Andalucía - Iñigo Sáenz de Ugarte

La corrupción honrada del PSOE - Aníbal Malvar

La excusable corrupción de los Robin Hood - José Antonio Zarzalejos

La ruina de 'La Psoe' - Elisa Beni

La sentencia de los ERE: así (también) se roba a los ciudadanos - Isidoro Tapia

La sentencia de los ERE condena a una generación que lo fue todo en el PSOE - Gonzalo Cortizo

La sentencia de los ERE desvela cómo se perpetuó el PSOE-A en el poder - Guadalupe Sánchez

Los ERE y la justicia reparadora - David Bollero

Los ideólogos de la corrupción clientelar - Javier Caraballo

No es una sentencia, es una masacre - Rubén Amón

Palo flamenco al PSOE andaluz - José Ángel Hidalgo

Pedro Sánchez tiene a mano una oportunidad imponente: dimitir - José Apezarena

Por qué es necesario el Gobierno de coalición - Javier Gallego

Pudrición - Karina Sainz Borgo

¿Quién ha prevaricado? - Javier Pérez Royo

¿Sánchez corrupto? - Imma Lucas

Seis claves de la sentencia de los ERE: así se creó y mantuvo el sistema fraudulento para conceder ayudas en Andalucía - Javier Ramajo

Tarde, pero la justicia siempre pasa la factura - Jesús Morales

Una sentencia dura pero necesaria - Joaquín Urías

[portaldiario]

#UnDíaComoHoy

8 de enero  de 1824. Nace Francisco González Bocanegra, poeta, autor de la letra del Himno Nacional Mexicano. Francisco González Bocanegra, poeta y literato, nace en 1824 en San Luis Potosí. Debido a la ley de expulsión de los españoles, su padre tiene que abandonar el país, por lo que regresa a España con toda su familia. En 1836 vuelve a México y se dedica al comercio y a la literatura. Es miembro de la Academia de las Letras y fundador de la Academia Liceo Hidalgo. En 1853, el presidente Antonio López de Santa Anna convoca a un concurso para la composición del Himno Nacional. Los ganadores fueron: música Jaime Nunó y letra Francisco González Bocanegra. El 15 de septiembre de 1854, se estrena el Himno Nacional en el Teatro Santa Anna. González Bocanegra también fue autor de un famoso poema, llamado A Elisa, y de otras poesías publicadas en "La Ilustración Mexicana"; discurso sobre la poesía nacional, así como de un drama en verso: Vasco Núñez de Balboa. Muere en 1861

[creativemorningsbogota]

MUERTE Y MEMORIA  

Hace 7 horas nació el día, uno en el que también nacerán infinidad de momentos y situaciones, como la charla que vamos a presenciar bajo el tema “muerte”. Hablar de nacimiento implica hablar también sobre esta última, dos extremos en los que, como dice la escritora Rosa Montero, “nos salimos del tiempo y la tierra detiene su rotación”.  

Hace frío y un firmamento gris sólo pronostica lluvia, hoy el sol parece haber muerto.  Camino de afán para lograr llegar al Museo El Chicó, espacio anfitrión que por segunda vez acoge a la comunidad CreativeMornings/Bogotá, antes de que se quiebre el cielo.

Quizás escribir sobre la muerte sea pretencioso, ¿qué es?, ¿qué significa? ¿Cómo hablar sobre esa gran incógnita que permea cualquier asunto de nuestras vidas? Miro el reloj; justo en este instante quedan 17 horas para que muera el día y, más o menos, dentro de dos y media va a morir la charla que nos va a dar Catalina Ceballos.

Catalina llega al auditorio, saluda y pregunta: “Hola ¿aquí es la charla?”.  Le devuelvo el saludo, respondo que está en el lugar indicado y le pido que conversemos un rato antes de que se ocupe. Quiero saber su definición sobre la muerte: “es un paso a otro lugar”, responde

Catalina Estudió antropología debido a su interés de entender la estética de varias culturas. No concibe la vida sin la compañía de su hija Elisa, de 7 años; su familia, los amigos, la finca La Oculta, ubicada en Antioquia, y la pasta en la preparación “al burro”.  Actualmente trabaja como gerente de Canal 13.  

Apenas da inicio a la charla, hace énfasis en que la antropología es un universo muy amplio y que uno de los temas sobre los que más se habla es la muerte.  Luego nos explica que cada comunidad, cada grupo de personas, tiene una experiencia distinta con la muerte, y que la hay de diferentes tipos: digital, repentina, de amistades, entre otras.

Nos habla sobre los Masái, una tribu africana que la intriga, y para quienes lo único que queda después de la muerte de una persona, es el ganado que ésta tenía. Parece ser que la muerte, como muchas otras cosas, esta determinada por el punto de vista. “La perspectiva de la muerte es mirar como rompemos paradigmas”, nos dice Catalina. 

Según ella, los símbolos: la cruz, la sangre, en el caso de los Masái; la cruz del diablo, etc.  juegan un papel trascendental y representativo para cada comunidad y son importantes para hablar sobre la muerte, pues se convierten en un sub-mensaje, y también son los encargados de darle vida o muerte a algo.

Un tipo de muerte que le interesa y sobre el que tiene amplio conocimiento es la muerte digital. Catalina cree que, hoy en día, cuando no se habla de algo en los medios de comunicación, lo estamos matando, ya que estos tienen la capacidad de minimizar o matar una noticia.

Catalina cree que cada persona, debido a la cercanía con la tecnología y la facilidad que tenemos para compartir información, se convierte en un medio de comunicación.  Nos narra como hace poco, a causa de unos trinos que la señalaban, murió varias veces, pero afirma que, luego del sacudón, volvió a nacer.

Apoya la evolución y transformación digital de los últimos tiempos liderada por gigantes como Google y Facebook, pero siente que los algoritmos que rigen la información al mismo tiempo la matan, pues nos dictan la manera de cómo vivir y eliminan el resto de información que, se supone, no nos interesa; algo que resulta inquietante pues, según ella, el mundo digital nos domina de forma física y emocional, y nos dejamos matar por una información dominada por algoritmos.  De ahí la importancia de la memoria, lo que queda escrito y sustenta de dónde venimos.

“Mientras exista memoria nunca va a haber muerte”

─ Catalina Ceballos ─

Para cerrar la charla nos cuenta que una de sus experiencias más bellas con la muerte, la tuvo en México en un viaje que hizo con su hija y que coincidió con el día de los muertos.  En él,  le agradó ver como todas las personas estaban disfrazados de Catrinas, símbolo mexicano que más se asocia con la muerte, y darse cuenta cómo  el único momento en el que se eliminan barreras y  todos se unen como comunidad es cuando homogeneizan la muerte. Elisa en medio de la experiencia, le comentó: “Mami yo quiero que sea así, que cuando tu o yo me muera, poder encontrarnos al otro lado”.

CreativeMornings/Bogotá le agradece a todas las personas e instituciones que hicieron posible esta charla: al Museo El Chicó por volvernos a acoger en sus agradables instalaciones y ayudar a promover la creatividad en la ciudad; a Andrés Barriga por el registro fotográfico del evento,  a Brot y Café La Divisa, dos grandes aliados de las mañanas creativas, por brindarnos un delicioso desayuno; a Ícaro Films y Paleta Digital, por la producción audiovisual del evento y todo el material impreso que utilizamos; a todos ellos muchísimas gracias por ser entusiastas y amigos de la creatividad y, cómo siempre, también le queremos dar las gracias a toda la comunidad: asistentes, voluntarios e invitados a la charla, pues son la pieza fundamental para poner en movimiento toda nuestra maquinaria. 

Los esperamos el próximo viernes 15 de diciembre, para cerrar otro gran año de charlas creativas.  Esperen pronto la más información acerca del evento en todas nuestras redes sociales.

Escrito por: Juan Manuel Rodríguez Bocanegra: jma.rodriguez@gmail.com

[brucealemonjr]

The Highest Heaven @ The Rosenthal Theater

The Rosenthal Theater at Inner-City Arts Presents the Youth Performance Ensemble in THE HIGHEST HEAVEN by Jose Cruz Gonzalez Saturday, July 29 at 2pm and 6pm Directed by John Miyasaki Musical Director -Elisa Bocanegra Lighting Design - Tom Grond Costume Design - Ingrid Ferrin Puppet Design - Beth Peterson Costume Associate - Moises Garcia Youth Performance Ensemble 2017 Diana Ambrosio, Irvin Arellano, Valentina Argueta, Dilma Camposano, Jose Flores,Victor Hernandez, Maribel Jimenez, Delilah La Pietra, Bruce A. Lemon, Maylee Martinez, Werner Quintanilla, Vanessa Valencia The Rosenthal Theater at Inner-City Arts 720 Kohler St Los Angeles, CA 90021

[yayatriangleofsadness]

Physical (s2, 2022)

[writemarcus]

New York Stage and Film Honors Jeremy O’Brian, Elisa Bocanegra

O’brian will receive the Founders’ Award and Bocanegra will receive the Pfaelzer Award.

BY AMERICAN THEATRE EDITORS

NEW YORK CITY: New York Stage and Film announced jeremy o’brian and Elisa Bocanegra as the 2021 recipients of the Founders’ Award and Pfaelzer Award on Oct. 12.

Jeremy o’brian will receive the 2021 Founders’ Award, a prestigious honor that acknowledges an exceptional generative artist, in honor of the founders�� enduring commitment to nurturing emerging voices. It provides $2,500, an extended residency during the NYSAF Summer Season in the Hudson Valley, and financial and administrative support for a project for which they are the sole curatorial voice, as well as access to the NYSAF artist community. This year’s finalists for the Founders’ Award were Troy Anthony, Zeniba Now, Banna Desta, Gethsemane Herron-Coward, Katie Madison, and Marcus Scott.

During o’brian’s residency, he will curate multiple events in proximity to World AIDS Day, including a conversation that bears witness to the multiplicity of stories available from Black, queer, and HIV-positive artists, which will be available as a live event and audio podcast for streaming. O’brian will also offer a reading of his play boys don’t look at boys to complement the conversation.

“Boys don’t look at boys is a play of great significance, underscoring my deepest hope for a world where we normalize Black boys prioritizing vulnerability, gentleness, and a deep regard for self and the other,” o’brian said in a statement. “My time with NYSAF will be spent developing this play, and I am excited to be introducing myself to the New York theatre community at a time that feels both new, exciting, and burgeoning in its consciousness of what true inclusion and representation might look like.”

Bocanegra will receive the 2021 Pfaelzer Award, created in honor of former producing director Johanna Pfaelzer’s 20-year commitment to nurturing artists and their developing stories at New York Stage and Film. The Pfaelzer Award is selected in consultation with Pfaelzer, and includes the opportunity to have her mentorship on a project.

“I know firsthand the power of a great mentor. Olympia Dukakis was mine, and she encouraged me to start HERO Theatre,” Bocanegra said in a statement. “This new chapter in my career is about commissioning and developing new work. I’m so honored to receive mentorship from Johanna Pfaelzer. She’s amazing at nurturing artists, manages to understand work-life balance, and is a great leader. I feel very fortunate.”

Bocanegra receives artistic and administrative support for projects of her choosing throughout the year, culminating in a residency during NYSAF’s summer season. The residency is meant to include a reading, workshop, or other developmental activity that best supports the artist and their work.

New York Stage and Film is a nonprofit company dedicated to both emerging and established artists in the development of new works for theatre, film, and television.

Support American Theatre: a just and thriving theatre ecology begins with information for all. Please join us in this mission by making a donation to our publisher, Theatre Communications Group. When you support American Theatre magazine and TCG, you support a long legacy of quality nonprofit arts journalism. Click here to make your fully tax-deductible donation today!

[whileiamdying]

In April of 2010, British Petroleum gave orders to speed up production on its colossal drilling rig, the Deepwater Horizon. Despite the objections of many on the rig, safety measures were ignored or overlooked. On April 20th, the Deepwater Horizon exploded. Eleven men paid the ultimate price and countless thousands who call the Gulf Coast home found their lives irrevocably altered. Based on actual testimony and conversations with families, playwright Leigh Fondakowski has created a harrowing and intimate look at the lives forever altered by the tragedy. Includes a conversation with Jim Morris, Managing Editor for Environment and Worker's Rights at the Center for Public Integrity, one of the country's oldest and largest non-profit investigative news organizations. Spill is part of L.A. Theatre Works’ Relativity Series featuring science-themed plays. The Relativity Series is generously supported by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, bridging science and the arts in the modern world. Directed by Martin Jarvis. An L.A. Theatre Works full-cast recording, starring Elisa Bocanegra, Gilbert Glenn Brown, Nicholas Hormann, Travis Johns, Jane Kaczmarek, James Morrison, Darren Richardson, Kate Steele, and Mark Jude Sullivan. Production Manager, Nikki Hyde. Music Supervisor, Ronn Lipkin. Associate Artistic Director, Anna Lyse Erikson. Editor, Julian Nicholson. Recording Engineer, Sound Designer and Mixer, Mark Holden for The Invisible Studios, West Hollywood.

[autumn-is-my-boyfriend]

Spun - Jonas Åkerlund (2002)