Extraordinary Dominican Actor Carlos Espinal Takes Manhattan!

Extraordinary Dominican Actor Carlos Espinal Takes Manhattan! Extraordinary Dominican Actor Carlos Espinal Takes Manhattan! From http://almaemprendedora.com/ Fom Alma Emprendedora Posted On abril 20, 2016 0 Comments By Meagan Nejaime mnejaime@azucarcommunications.com

The brilliant actor and director Carlos Espinal has returned to New York City for his influential play, “Peter el Rojo, The Gorilla”, taking place at IATI Theater Studios (64 E. 4th Street, New York, NY 10003) on three different occasions: Friday, April 22 and Saturday, April 23 at 8:00 pm as well as Sunday, April 24 at 3:00 pm. logo I had the pleasure of speaking with Carlos about his insights in regards to his experience as an immigrant in the United States through the identity of a gorilla in this theatrical movement. The depth of the duality will force you to dive deeper into your imagination with his portrayal of a prejudiced society and the hard truth that those who are different find it challenging to gain acceptance. “Confession to an Academy” by Franz Kafka is an incredible story about a man who was once a gorilla, and through this story, Carlos Espinal’s talent wakes the true gorilla that lives in each of us and unmasks the hypocrisy and double standards that are all too present in this “land of opportunity”. I was curious as to what influenced Carlos Espinal’s desire to portray this message of a prejudiced society in relation to those different from the mainstream. Carlos responded that he often wonders the reason why he identifies so much with Kafka’s work. He stated that he wasn’t aiming to pass along a message to society, nor does he think it’s his responsibility to attempt to teach moral values to an audience; however, he believes in the importance of making viewers feel emotions and forcing them to find their own messages as the protagonists of their life stories. From watching “Peter el Rojo, the Gorilla”, each person will find something different, which relates to him or her in a unique, individual light. “It’s like when you see a painting that impresses you for the first time, mesmerized by the strokes, colors, and the story created by the painter. Each person will find something different, each person will see a different light, and each person will relate in a different way…” “Peter el Rojo, The Gorilla” exemplifies a duality between man and the gorilla, and when I asked Carlos about his take on this duality, he explained that very few people dare to break the mold that’s already established by society. “…What I am sure of is that we all have a gorilla inside of us, because no one can escape from their true nature.” 2-2-682x1024 For the premiere of his work, Espinal was awarded Best Production, Best Director, and Best Actor of 2013 by the prestigious “Sovereign” of the Dominican Republic. Carlos Espinal showcases his brilliance through his concepts and visions in regards to the duality of a man and a gorilla, as well as the complexity of being an outsider in a place run by the “mainstream”. Above all, his main focus is for the audience to have fun, be themselves, find their neighbors within the story, and identify the unfairness of racism, sexism, homophobia, xenophobia, and cruelty that is all too relevant in our world. Tickets cost $25 for Seniors and Students and $30 for general public. To purchase your ticket for this must see show, visit the IATI Theater website.

Peter El Rojo THE GORILLA English PSA

IATI THEATER

PRESENTS

PETER EL ROJO, THE GORILLA

STARRING CARLOS ESPINAL

LIMITED ENGAGEMENT

8pm: Friday 22^nd, Saturday 23^rd April, 2016

3pm: Sunday April 24^th 

"An exuberant Carlos Espinal who became Gorilla."

~José Rafael Sosa | Critic | El Nacional Newspaper.

IATI Theater

64 E. 4^th Street

New York, N.Y. 10003

(212) 505-6757

International award-winner Carlos Espinal returns to the New York stages with his solo Peter El Rojo, The Gorilla.  The play is a stage adaptation of the Franz Kafta’s story of an ape who learns to behave like a human and becomes an immigrant among them.  After rave reviews and awards for its performances in New Jersey and the Dominican Republic, the New York premiere will take place in IATI Theater (East Village, NY), avant-garde Latin Company that for 48 years maintains a solid reputation of quality work.  All three performances, April 22-24, 2016, will be bilingual; for it is preferable the audience speaks English and Spanish.  General admission is $30.00 and $25.00 for students and seniors.

The famous story by Franz Kafka, “A Report to an Academy”, tells the story of an ape who learns to imitate humans and receives a recognition from the Royal Academy of Sciences. His acceptance speech unveils his origins and the reasons for his sound mind.

The stage version, written by Carlos Espinal, forwards the story.  The gorilla becomes a civilized man and represents the voice of the immigrants who abide to rules to feel accepted in a society that rejects them for looking different, or for being a “foreigner”. 

The gorilla in us is awakened by Gorilla Espinal.  This gorilla exposes the burden of a prejudiced and castrating society that doesn’t tolerate what’s “out-of-the-norm”.  Moreover, he holds us responsible for every act and consequences.  He takes us to a place that solely understands the mold established by the mainstream.

Post rigorous researches, Espinal writes this play as an acting laboratory, having as reference his experience as immigrant-emigrant in the United States, and passages from the life of British Writer Quintin Crisp, source of inspiration for the 80’s song “English Man in New York”.

It premiered in 2012 at the Dante Hall Theater in New Jersey.  A production by Amaury Esquea and Victor Alonzo followed in 2013 at the National Theatre inDominican Republic.  In addition to rave reviews from the audience and major press headlines, the play was nominated for Best Production, Best Direction and Best Actor of the Year by the prestigious “Soberano” Awards of the Dominican Republic.

“Returning to East Village is going back to my roots.  For many years, that is where I resided, studied and did the type of theater that molded who I am today.  In fact, this neighborhood inspired me to write this theatrical version of Kafka’s story.  It’s been long since I performed in New York, and it gives me great pleasure to work again with my IATI Theater friends, by bringing this story to an intimate setting,” said the playwright and actor.

IATI  Theater

IATI (International Theater Arts Institute) is a New York-based performing arts organization established in 1968.  Its mission is to address contemporary issues of broad human interest and framing them in a strong cultural context of social impact that motivates introspection and social awareness.  The quality of its work has received over 300 awards and commendations.