Miami Dade College’s Theater Company Announces New Season, New Director, New Fervor
Miami, Aug 14, 2018 – Miami Dade College (MDC)’s acclaimed Teatro Prometeo, under new artistic direction, announces its profound 2018-19 season, which launches with Casa Ajena, running Sept. 21-30 at MDC’s Koubek Center Theater.
Casa Ajena marks the national premier of a bilingual version of the iconic Lisa Loomer play, Living Out. It tells the story of the complicated relationship between a Salvadorian nanny and the American lawyer who employs her. The play explores the shared humanity between them…and the differences wrought by race, class and legal status. A stellar lineup has been cast to convey the range of experiences and emotions. The cast of renowned actors includes Alina Robert, Guelmarí Oppenheimer, Khotan Fernandez, Gabriela Vergara, Rosalinda Rodriguez, Christopher Millán, Debora Von Habsburg y Aniria Turney.
One does not have to stretch very far to find reflections within today’s headlines. But while thought-provoking and moving, the play is not preachy or melodramatic. As with the other works being presented this season, which touch upon issues from family rights to gentrification to diversity—subject matter is handled with subtlety, grace and even humor.
Teatro Prometeo hopes to transform perspectives via rich characters, intimate explorations of pressing topics and creative storytelling. Throughout the season, it will present an original work about community displacement titled Gentefrikation (Hente-Freak-A-Shun) by rising star playwright Emilio Rodriguez; a revival of the renowned Latin American musical, La Verdadera Historia de Pedro Navaja, with the legendary Ruben Blades character as the Latin “Mack the Knife”; and a side-splitting bilingual comedy, The Spanish Vampire, by Miami’s Luis Santeiro, one of Que Pasa USA? creators.
“I’m honored to build upon Teatro Prometeo’s rich forty five-year history and thrilled to advance the legacy forward in thoughtful ways,” said new artistic director Edgar Garcia. I hope to maintain loyal patrons and reach new audiences that feel represented by us, as well as be inclusive of those who seek to share our visions of the Hispanic American experience.”
WHAT: Teatro Prometeo presents Casa Ajena
WHEN: Friday, Sept. 21, at 8 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 22, at 8 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 23, at 5 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 28, at 8 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 29, at 8 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 30, at 5 p.m.
WHERE: MDC’s Koubek Theater | 2705 SW Third St.
TICKETS: $30 General/ $20 Seniors & Students/ $10 MDC Students / Valet parking $5
https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/3569896 or 1-800-838-3006.
Teatro Prometeo’s 2018-19 season includes:
Teatro Prometeo presents Gentefrikation/Hente-Freak-A-Shun
Dec. 14 – 16
MDC’s Koubek Theater, 2705 SW Third St.
An original play about gentrification and community displacement in Miami developed by playwright Emilio Rodriguez and the Prometeo team during time spent here this past year. When a group of tenants suddenly learn their landlord has increased the rent exponentially, they are forced to wait out an eviction or take matters into their own hand. But what happens when you fight “the man” only to find out he’s a lot like you?
Teatro Prometeo presents La Verdadera Historia de Pedro Navaja (Book by Pablo Cabrera, music by Pedro Rivera Toledo)
April 4-14, 2019
MDC’s Koubek Theater, 2705 SW Third St.
In this revival of the renowned Latin American musical inspired by The Begger’s Opera, “Mack the Knife” becomes our favorite infamous musical villain—Ruben Blades’ Pedro Navaja. Set in a soap opera narrated to the audience by a street hustler, this play takes us back to the 1950’s with a fantastic score that ranges from salsa to tango and Nova Trova. La vida te da sorpresas, sorpresas te da la vida…
Teatro Prometeo presents The Spanish Vampire
June 6- 16, 2019
MDC’s Koubek Theater, 2705 SW Third St.
World premiere from Miami’s own Luis Santeiro (Que Pasa USA?, Our Lady of the Tortilla, Dancing with Dictators). Taking place between 1930s Hollywood and the Gothic set of Dracula, this is a laugh-out-loud bilingual comedy with real bite. It calls to mind the current #HollywoodSoWhite movement, among other Tinseltown scandals.
About Edgar Garcia
An alumnus of the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television graduate program, Edgar Garcia boasts a 30-year career in the arts, spanning acting (LATEA in NY, the Tony Award-winning The Denver Center Theater Company), production (PBS’s Great Performances), writing, direction and administration.
As the Executive Director of the historic University of Puerto Rico Theater, Garcia co-produced nearly three hundred events, working hand in hand with international festivals and world-renowned artists. He premiered several Spanish-language versions of well-known theater pieces like Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods (Dentro del Bosque) and Once on this Island (Érase una Isla), and also directed and developed new plays like Terror y Miserias del Tercer Milenio (José Luis Ramos Escobar) and other stage pieces that resonated with audiences in Puerto Rico and Spain.
Garcia was the founding Artistic Director for the University of Puerto Rico Repertory Company, and previously, served as Artistic Director of Kaiser Permanente’s Educational Theatre, which received The California Endowment and other awards for social impact. He received the IBEREX Spanish Education and Culture Ministry Grant to become part of the historic Residencia de Estudiantes (Luis Buñuel, Federico García-Lorca, Salvador Dalí were alumni) and to work with IBERMEDIA to develop the screenplay “Lovelie”.
About Teatro Prometeo
MDC’s Teatro Prometeo celebrates Hispanic culture through offering high quality Spanish/Bilingual theater productions and instruction with a social purpose, while supporting new, cutting-edge work. With over 45 years as a cultural treasure in Miami, Teatro Prometeo enters an exciting new phase with a fresh focus on producing relevant, thought-provoking theater experiences that reflect its dynamic community.
The programs of Teatro Prometeo are made possible with the generous support of: Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs; the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.
For more information on Teatro Prometeo, please call 305-237-3262.
Teatro Prometeo Publicity: Annie Gonzalez, Anniegee Marketing & Communications, 305-213-0291, anniegee06@gmail.com ; Alexa Burneikis, 305-237-7733, aburneik@mdc.edu;