Repertorio Español Announces Nuestras Voces Playwriting Winner

REPERTORIO ESPAÑOL is pleased to announce the 2011 winner of the MetLife 'Nuestras Voces' National Playwriting Initiative: Vincent Toro's play 21. The awards ceremony will take place on July 13, 2012 at Repertorio's Gramercy Arts Theater located at 138 East 27th Street in Manhattan, NY in conjunction with the premiere of Probation (2010 Winner of Nuestras Voces). All three 2011 recipients will be present for the ceremony.

"Repertorio Español is one of the most important centers of Latino art and culture in New York," remarks Mr. Toro. "Winning the Metlife Nuestras Voces Playwriting award means that I will be given the opportunity to contribute to the theater's legacy of bringing the highest quality of Latino theater to our city. To be able to have my play presented at a theater with such a rich history and reputation is an honor and a privilege that will greatly benefit my progress as an artist. Currently there are, unfortunately, far too few spaces in the American theater landscape for Latino theater artists to develop their work and get it out to the public. Repertorio Español providing such a space is vital to the future of Latino theater."

Now in its 12th year and sponsored by the MetLife Foundation, the MetLife 'Nuestras Voces' National Playwriting Competition aims to promote and nourish the works of playwrights that write about the Hispanic experience in the United States. The scripts are evaluated by an independent group of theater professionals. Finalists receive a stage reading at the theatre and the 5 winning plays receive a monetary prize. The winning play is further developed with the assistance of a director and dramaturg before nd later receives a full production at Repertorio Español.

Repertorio's search for Nuestras Voces 2012 begins now; the deadline for submissions is June 1, 2012. For guidelines and more information, please visit www.repertorio.org/metlife.