After the massive success of They Call Me La Lupe, the one-woman show starring Dexter’s Lauren Velez, Off Broadway’s prominent LATEA Theater is proud to present a rare glimpse into the lives of a Dominican-York family. La Luz de un Cigarrillo, written and directed by award-winning playwright, Marco Antonio Rodriguez, is the first and only play written by a Dominican, starring Dominicans and using the native Dominican and Dominican-York vernacular. This extremely unique performance will go into previews beginning Thursday April 28th continuing through Sunday, May 1st. Opening night is Wednesday, May 4th and it will run Wednesdays to Saturdays at 8pm and on Sundays at 4pm with closing night on Sunday, June 5th. LATEA Theater is located at 107 Suffolk Street #200 in New York City 10002.
Ismael Cruz Cordova, who plays the leading role in the play, is also on the CBS-TV hit show, “The Good Wife” as Jimmy Patrick ,and Teresa Yenque, who plays “Lydia” starred on Broadway alongside Natasha Richardson in Roundabout Theater’s production of “A Streetcar Named Desired!”
La Luz de un Cigarrillo is performed in the authentic Dominican Spanish with English subtitles, something rarely seen on the New York stage. With powerful, sometimes comedic, sometimes dramatic but always thought provoking performances delivered by the play’s stars, Susanna Guzman, acclaimed actress Teresa Yenque, Arisleyda Lombert and Ismael Cruz Córdova, La Luz De Un Cigarrillo received a nomination for the prestigious “Asunción Playwrights Award.”
Over the course of two evenings, mother and son, two estranged generations of Dominicans living in mid-town Manhattan, attempt to rekindle the love and appreciation for each other and their roots; but unexpectedly revealed intimate secrets threaten to destroy an already thin bond. Taboo subjects tackled in this play are suitable for mature audiences only.
Born and raised in New York City, with roots from the Dominican Republic, Marco Antonio is the 2007 recipient of the DFW “Critics Forum Award for Outstanding New Play” for his work, Heaven Forbids! He has written, acted, produced and directed critically acclaimed hits such as Pico de Gallo and the Southwest premiere of Rick Najera’s Latinologues during its national tour. He has also done commissioned work for ANTHEM. His award-winning play, Heaven Forbids!, was invited to perform at the prestigious New York International Fringe Festival where it was received with much praise by Timeout New York and The Edge New York.
Tickets are $20 general, $15 senior citizens/students with I.D. and $50 closing night with reception. Reservations can be made by calling 212-529-1948 or www.smarttix.com.
