World-Premiere Adaptation Of Garcia Marquez Novel Set For Off-Broadway At Repertorio Espanol

EL COLONEL NO TIENE QUIEN LE ESCRIBA ("No One Writes to the Colonel"), a world premiere play based on the fiction of the Nobel Prize winning Colombian novelist Gabriel García Márquez, will debut this winter at Repertorio Español (138 E. 27 St. in Manhattan) with previews beginning February 23 prior to an official press opening on February 27, it has been announced by Robert Federico, Executive Producer of Repertorio Español, which is now celebrating its 50th season as one of Off-Broadway's longest-running, continuous theatres, and the ONLY company that presents Spanish-language/English translated (simultext) plays in NYC.

Adapted for the stage by Verónica Triana and Jorge Ali Triana, EL COLONEL is directed by Mr. Triana, and marks the 4th time that Repertorio Español has commissioned an adaptation of the late Garcia Marquez's work. Previous productions include: Innocent Eréndira, Chronicle of a Death Foretold, Love in the Time of Cholera.

Written in 1956-57 while García Márquez was living in Paris, EL COLONEL is the story of an impoverished retired colonel, a veteran of Colombia's Thousand Days' War, who still hopes to receive the pension he was promised 15 years earlier. The action is set during the years of martial law, rampant corruption and censorship known as "La Violencia" in Colombia.

Featured in the 10-member ensemble of EL COLONEL are German Jaramillo as the Colonel, and Zulema Clares as his wife. A native of Colombia, Mr. Jaramillo has appeared in the films OUR LADY OF THE ASSASSINS, PARAISO TRAVEL and NARCOS. Ms. Clares is a long-time member of the Repertorio acting ensemble, appearing this season in the leading role in the company's acclaimed U.S. debut of the 17th century Spanish play VALOR, AGRAVIO Y MUJER.

Scenic design for EL COLONEL is by Raul Abrego; lighting design is by Manuel Da Silva, with costume design by Fernando Then.

Jorge Ali Triana is a Colombian director and adaptor who came to Repertorio Español in 1993 to produce La cándida Eréndira, which he adapted from one of García Márquez's most famous short stories, "The Incredible and Sad Tale of Innocent Erendira and Her Heartless Grandmother." Two years later, Triana returned for Y se armó la mojiganga. In the following extracts from interviews, he speaks of his history with the novelist and his process of adaptation "One great difficulty is that readers always have the possibility of creating an imaginary production, and the imagination can go far beyond the concrete images that one creates in theatrical or cinematic language. In every reader is a director. The first challenge, I think, is to create a vision that doesn't disillusion the spectator."

Gabriel García Márquez is considered one of the most important novelists of the 20th century, having received the Nobel Prize in 1982. His numerous works of fiction include the best-selling novels, ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF SOLITUDE and LOVE IN THE TIME OF CHOLERA.

Repertorio Español is one of New York's only true repertory companies, presenting 15 productions in repertory each season, including 4 new works each year. Repertorio's resident acting company of 20 - joined by guest actors throughout the season - performs 5-6 shows each week throughout the year.

Now in its 50th season, Repertorio Español was founded in 1968 by stage director René Buch and the late producer Gilberto Zaldívar, and joined by Robert Weber Federico in 1971, who now serves as Executive Producer. REPERTORIO has presented an unparalleled body of theater that promotes and divulges the rich heritage of Hispanic theater. Spanish masters like Calderón, Lope De Vega and García Lorca, renowned playwrights from Latin America and the growing body of American writers who capture the Latino experience in the U.S.-from Portland, LA, NYC, Washington DC, Texas, Washington Heights, Denver and Chicago-- are all at home in REPERTORIO's programming. As well, the company has presented acclaimed translations of plays by Edward Albee, Shakespeare, Tennessee Williams, Giancarlo Menotti and Noël Coward.

Mr. Federico notes that many of the company's most popular plays have been written by women: Gloria González (CAFÉ CON LECHE), Dolores Prida's BOTÁNICA, Carmen Rivera's LA GRINGA (now in repertory for 22 years), along with plays by Caridad Svich, He also notes that the first staged reading of Lin-Manuel Miranda's first Tony-winning musical IN THE HEIGHTS was held at REPERTORIO ESPAÑOL.

With more than 250 original productions since the company's inception 50 years ago (averaging 4 new shows per season), the company has toured extensively in the U.S. and overseas, earning a host of awards including the Obie, Drama Desk, ACE, HOLA and ENCORE Awards.

Education is instrumental in REPERTORIO's mission, embodied in its education arm, ¡DIGNIDAD! (dignity and self-esteem) that presents 100 school day performances each year, along with in-school residencies, family workshops and teacher training. Dedicated to the next generation of Latino artists, the company's annual MetLife Nuestras Voces National Playwriting Competition has helped generate new Latino theater since 2000.

The Rockefeller Brothers Fund is REPERTORIO ESPAÑOL's lead sponsor. Additional anniversary season sponsors include The Gilman Foundation, Lawrence M. Small and Lin-Manuel Miranda.

TICKET PRICES range from $17 to $70 premium; Discounts for Groups, students, seniors, armed forces, first responders.

AND PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE:

Friday, February 23, 2018 11:00 AM,

Friday, February 23, 2018 8:00 PM,

Saturday, February 24, 2018 3:00 PM,

Saturday, February 24, 2018 8:00 PM,

Sunday, February 25, 2018 3:00 PM,

Tuesday, February 27, 2018 7:00 PM,

Friday, March 2, 2018 11:00 AM,

Friday, March 2, 2018 8:00 PM,

Saturday, March 3, 2018 8:00 PM,

Sunday, March 4, 2018 3:00 PM,

Thursday, March 8, 2018 7:00 PM

Saturday, March 10, 2018 3:00 PM,

Friday, March 16, 2018 11:00 AM,

Friday, March 16, 2018 8:00 PM,

Saturday, May 12, 2018 3:00 PM,

Saturday, March 17, 2018 8:00 PM,

Thursday, March 22, 2018 7:00 PM,

Sunday, April 1, 2018 7:00 PM

Friday, April 6, 2018 8:00 PM,

Saturday, April 14, 2018, 3:00 PM

Friday, April 20, 2018 11:00 AM,

Sunday, April 22, 2018 3:00 PM,

Friday, May 4, 2018 8:00 PM,

Saturday, May 12, 2018 3:00 PM

Friday, May 18, 2018, 11:00 AM

Friday, May 18, 2018, 8:00 PM

Thursday, May 24, 2018, 7:00 PM

More performances to be announced through 2018 & 2019

www.repertorio.nyc