Repertorio Español was founded in 1968 by producer Gilberto Zaldívar and Artistic Director René Buch to introduce the best of Latin American, Spanish and Hispanic-American theatre in distinctive, quality productions, and to bring theatre to a broad audience in New York City and across the country, including seniors, students and Hispanics of all national backgrounds. Robert Weber Federico joined the company two years later as Resident Designer and Associate Artistic Producer and is currently the organization’s Executive Director.
In 1972, Repertorio Español moved to the Gramercy Arts Theatre where the company has since remained. The critical success of the company’s first production, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? set the stage for years of admiration by English and Spanish newspaper critics and the company’s audiences.
From its earliest days, Repertorio has maintained a dramatic ensemble, attracting many talented veterans and emerging Hispanic actors, including Ofelia González, the first actress to win an Obie Award without having performed in English. Another very special addition was Pilar Rioja in 1973, marking the beginning of a relationship which has established Ms. Rioja as a legend in Spanish Dance. In 1980, Pablo Zinger, Musical Director, initiated a musical ensemble that presented zarzuela, operas, and elegant musical anthologies.
In 1984, the company began to present and commission new plays by Hispanic-American playwrights and in 1991 inaugurated an infrared simultaneous translation system which provides an opportunity for non-Spanish speaking audiences to enjoy the company’s vast selection of plays.
Recently, Repertorio presented to critical acclaim, the world premiere in Spanish of Nilo Cruz’s Pulitzer Prize-winning drama Ana en el trópico (Anna in the Tropics). The play had a renowned cast that included celebrities such as Spanish TV soap opera star Francisco Gattorno and Denise Quiñones (Miss Universe 2001).
Repertorio Español received a 1996 Drama Desk Special Award for presenting quality theater, a 1996 OBIE Award for the play series VOCES NUEVAS (New Voices), and The New York State Governor’s Award, as well as many citations by ACE, Asociación de Cronistas de Espectáculos and HOLA, Hispanic Organization of Latin Actors.
The artistic achievement of Repertorio Español; the support of its audiences; the contributions from individual donors; the participation of America’s most respected corporations and foundations, building bridges to the Hispanic-American community; and the ongoing support of government agencies have enabled the company to become a national treasure, providing a rich cultural environment which is unmatched by any other Spanish language theatre company in the United States[1].