Nilo Cruz, Lisa Loomer, Octavio Solis & More Set for Hero Theatre's FESTIVAL IRENE

Pulitzer-winning writer of Anna in the Tropics, Nilo Cruz, will be one of the playwrights featured in Hero Theatre's Festival Irene: Celebrating the Legacy of María Irene Fornés. The festival will include some of Fornés' most celebrated plays and feature works from some of her former students. Other Award-winning playwrights and former Fornés students that are part of the festival include Jorge Ignacio Cortiñas (Bird In the Hand), Migdalia Cruz (Miriam's Flowers), Lisa Loomer (Distracted), Eduardo Machado (The Cook), Cherríe Moraga (Heroes and Saints), Octavio Solis (Lydia) and Caridad Svich (Antigone Project).

Hero Theatre announced last week that the company's 2016/2017 season will commence with Festival Irene: Celebrating the Legacy of María Irene Fornés. The festival of plays will be presented as staged readings. All box office proceeds for Festival Irene will be donated to the Alzheimer's Association and Ms. Fornés' medical fund. Esteemed dramaturg, literary agent and founder of This Distracted Globe Consultancy, Morgan Jenness, will serve as consultant on the project. The festival will take place in Los Angeles.

Festival Irene audience members will have a voice in selecting which one of Ms. Fornés' plays Hero Theatre will be presenting a full-production of next season. A full list of the plays and more details will be announced soon.

Academy Award-winner Olympia Dukakis is Chair of Hero Theatre's Advisory Board which includes Michael Ritchie (Artistic Director of the Center Theatre Group), Bill Rauch (Artistic Director of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival) and Tony Award-winner Darko Tresnjak to name a few.

For more information, visit www.herotheatre.org.