Carmen Rivera
Email
riverac1@newschool.edu
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“A play is an ever-changing dynamic theatrical experience. Every director, cast, design team, audience and reader bring new life to a piece of dramatic literature. A play is not a fixed expression, but a revelation in a particular moment in time.”
Carmen Rivera’s OBIE-Award winning play La Gringa, just celebrated its 21st year anniversary in repertory at Repertorio Español. It is now the longest running Spanish-language play in Off-Broadway history. She co-wrote, with Cándido Tirado, Celia: The Life and Music of Celia Cruz, which played Off-Broadway at New World Stages and toured Florida, Chicago, Tenerife, Canary Islands and the Centro de Bellas Artes (Center for the Fine Arts) in Puerto Rico.
Other Off-Broadway productions include: La Lupe: My Life, My Destiny; Julia de Burgos: Child of Water; To Catch The Lightning -- Puerto Rican Traveling Theatre ; The Downfall Of Rafael Trujillo -- Teatro Circulo; The Next Stop -- INTAR / Repertorio Español; Under The Mango Tree -- INTAR. Carmen’s work has also appeared in theatre festivals in New York, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, England, Puerto Rico, and Russia. She has also participated at the Lark Playwrights Center -- Mexico/ US Exchange program, as a translator and is also a translator and dialect coach for the television show POWER, produced by the Starz Network.
Carmen is a Founding Member and Co-Executive Director of E.P.P. (Educational Play Productions), which brings plays, that deal with social issues into the public schools. For more information on Carmen, check out www.carmenrivera-writer.com. For more information on EPP, check out www.educationalplayproductions.com.
Degrees Held
NEW YORK UNIVERSITY –
MA – Playwriting/Latin American Theatre, 1993
BA – Economics/Latin American Literature, 1986
Professional Affiliation
* PEN -- American Center
* The Dramatists Guild / The Authors League of America
* NALIP (National Association of Latino Independent Producers)
* Theatre Communications Group
* El Taller Latinoamericano -- Board of Directors
* Mujer Positiva (Positive Women – AIDS Org.) – Board of Directors
* Usual Suspect – New York Theatre Workshop
* SIGMA DELTA PI – Spanish Literature Organization – Inducted June 1986
Recent Publications
“Carmen Rivera: THEATRE OF LATINIDAD” -- Doctoral Thesis written byDr. Jason Ramirez, 2008
“Under the Mango Tree” -- Steele Spring Stage Rights -- Fall 2016
“To Catch The Lightning” and “The Downfall of Rafael Trujillo -- NoPassport Press --Spring 2015
“Julia de Burgos: Child of Water” -- Red Sugar Cane Press (in English) -- Spring 2014
“La Dualidad de Julia de Burgos” -- CRUCE, San Juan, Puerto Rico -- Spring 2014
“La Gringa” – Samuel French Inc. (both English and Spanish editions) – January 2009
“In Conversation with Carmen Rivera” -- THE DRAMATIST GUILD JOURNAL, March / April 2004
“Betty’s Garage” – THE WOMEN’S PROJECT AND PRODUCTIONS: Rowing to America And 16 Other Short Plays, Edited by Julia Miles – Smith and Kraus Publishers – Spring 2002
WOMEN WHO WRITE THEATRE – Edited by Alexis Greene – Published Interview –Smith and Kraus Publishers – Fall 2001
“Julia” – NUESTRO NEW YORK - Anthology of Puerto Rican Theatre – Penguin USA Books, May 1994
“On Becoming a Playwright” – Playwrights Speak Series – OLLANTAY THEATRE MAGAZINE – Volume III, Number 1, Spring 1995
Alexander Street Press -- Online Archive
Research Interests
Social Justice, Women's History, Patriarchy/Dictatorships, Spiritual Integration, Music
Awards And Honors
1996 – OBIE – “La Gringa” / New Voices Program at Repertorio Español
2017 -- LATINO THEATRE COMMONS -- Celebrating the 20th Anniversary of Performances of “La Gringa” at Repertorio Español
2016 -- THE KILROYS LIST -- Honorable Mention -- “Riding the Bear”
2015 -- ATI AWARD (Independent Theatre Artists) -- Best Production -- “The Downfall of Rafael Trujillo” - Teatro Círculo
2015 -- INTERNATIONAL WOMAN’S DAY -- Proyecto Cultura y Sociedad -- In recognition of her contribution to the Theatre and the representation of the Latin Woman
2008 – HOLA AWARDS – Outstanding Achievement in Playwriting & Best Production– “Celia: The Life and Music of Celia Cruz” – New World Stages
2001 – ACE AWARD (Association of Journalists and Writers) – Best Production – “La Lupe: My Life, My Destiny” – Puerto Rican Traveling Theatre - Off-Broadway
1997-1999 -- National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), ATT On-Stage and New York State Council of the Arts (NYSCA).
1997 -- ACE AWARD -- Nomination for Best Production -- "To Catch The Lightning" -- Puerto Rico Traveling Theatre -- Off-Broadway
Current Courses
Dramatic Structure and Style 1
Dramatic Structure and Style 2
Dramatic Structure and Style 2 (Spring 2019)
Foundations in Playwriting
Foundations in Playwriting (Spring 2019)