Yale Bulletin and Calendar

April 25, 2008|Volume 36, Number 27

Playwright José Rivera wrote the Obie-winning plays "Marisol" and "References to Salvador Dali Make Me Hot."

Yale Rep stages world premiere
of ‘Boleros for the Disenchanted’

“Boleros for the Disenchanted” by two-time Obie Award winner and Academy Award nominee José Rivera, will make its world premiere on Friday, April 25, at the Yale Repertory Theatre.

The play, directed by Henry Godinez, will continue through May 17.

The story opens in Puerto Rico, where Flora is engaged to Manuelo, a young man who tries to sway her from her vow of virginity with the argument that “A man must sin. It’s in our blood.” But she will have none of it. Nor is she interested in her mother’s idea that a witch’s spell can make him faithful, or her father’s proposal to have Manuelo killed. Instead, handsome Eusebio sweeps her off her feet and takes her from Puerto Rico to America on a journey of sacrifice and enduring love.

Playwright Rivera is a native of Puerto Rico. In addition to the Obie Award-winning works “Marisol” and “References to Salvador Dali Make Me Hot,” he is the author of “Brainpeople,” “Massacre (Sing to Your Children),” “School of the Americas,” “The House of Ramon Iglesias,” “Giants Have Us in Their Books,” “Sonnets for an Old Century,” “Sueño” and “Cloud Tectonics.” These works have been staged at theaters throughout the country. His television credits include the critically acclaimed series “Eerie, Indiana,” which he co-created and produced. He was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for “The Motorcycle Diaries” and has written the screenplay for the upcoming film based on Jack Kerouac’s “On the Road.”

Godinez is the resident artistic associate at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago, where his directing credits have included numerous world premieres. He is also director of Goodman’s Latino Theatre Festival and co-founder of Teatro Vista, where he served as artistic director for its first five years. As an actor, Godinez appeared most recently in the Goodman/Teatro Vista world premiere of Rivera’s “Massacre (Sing to Your Children).” Born in Havana, Cuba, Godinez is an associate professor at Northwestern University, where he is artistic director of the Theatre and Interpretation Center.

The cast of “Boleros for the Disenchanted” includes Lucia Brawley (Petra/Monica), a Yale School of Drama graduate who recently appeared in the world premiere of Rivera’s “Brainpeople”; Joe Minoso (Eusebio/Oskar), a Teatro Vista ensemble member, who is making his Yale Rep debut; Gary Perez (Don Fermin/Eusebio), a co-founder of LAByrinth Theater Company who is now in preparation to direct “Apples,” his own work for the screen; Adriana Sevan (Dona Milla/

Flora), whose one-woman show “Taking Flight” at the Kirk Douglas Theatre, San Diego Repertory has won numerous awards; Felix Solis (Manuelo/Priest), a member of LAByrinth Theater Company, where he has appeared in Rivera’s “School of the Americas”; and Sona Tatoyan (Flora/Eve), who most recently appeared in the world premiere of Rivera’s “Brainpeople” at the American Conservatory Theater and will star in the title role in the upcoming independent feature film “Celestina,” directed by Rivera.

“Boleros for the Disenchanted” features original music composed by Gustavo Leone, scenic design by Linda Buchanan, costume design by Yuri Cataldo, lighting design by Joe Appelt, and sound design

by Veronika Vorel. Kristina Corcoran Williams is the dramaturg; Walton Wilson is the vocal coach; and Danielle Federico is the stage manager.

Performances will be 8 p.m. nightly Tuesday-Saturday in the Yale Repertory Theatre, 1120 Chapel St. (corner of York). There will be 2 p.m. matinee performances on Saturdays, May 3, 10 and 17, and on Wednesday, May 7. A Monday performance will take place on April 28 at 8 p.m.

Special events being offered during the play’s run include: Grad Night Reception prior to the 8 p.m. show on April 26; Opening Night following the 8 p.m. performance on May 1; “Talk Back” discussions with the cast and crew following the 2 p.m. matinees on May 3 and 10 and the 8 p.m. performances on May 6 and 8; an Open Caption performance for the hearing impaired during the 2 p.m. matinee on May 10; and an Audio Description performance for the visually impaired for the 2 p.m. matinee on May 17.

Tickets for “Boleros for the Disenchanted” are $35-$58; student, senior and group discounts are also available. Tickets can be purchased online at www.yalerep.org; by phone at (203) 432-1234; and in person at the Yale Rep box office.

T H I SW E E K ' SS T O R I E S

U.S. governors call for federal action on climate change . . .

Law School boosts support for careers in public service

City youths to flex their mathematical muscles in contest

Fertility expert finds genetic markers that are linked with . . .

Divinity student’s books pay homage to architectural marvels

United Way honors the University and staff member . . .

Ways to curb ovarian cancer’s resistance to chemotherapy . . .

Yale Rep stages world premiere of ‘Boleros for the Disenchanted’

Program seeks to build bridges of religious environmentalism

Conference aims to spark ‘new American conversation’ . . .

Reading will feature recent winners of Yale Series of . . .

Photography exhibit highlights culture of Uyghur people of China

Dr. Gerald Shulman lauded for his pioneering work on insulin resistance

Amy Arnsten wins national grant for research on . . .

Yale hosts delegation from China’s Food and Drug Administration

New director of development for School of Music is appointed

IN MEMORIAM

Dr. Steven Hebert: Discoveries illuminated kidney processes

G.K. Hunter: Was a scholar of Renaissance literature