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La Gringa at Repertorio
06/15/2007
PRIMER MEMBERS ENJOY THE PLAY "LA GRINGA" AT REPERTORIO ESPAÑOL
by Dan Guadalupe
It was a wonderful night for PRIMER. Thanks to fellow PRIMER member Jose Fernandez, Managing Director, Goldman Sachs, with the collaboration of PRIMER Member and Co-Founder Jesús Maldonado Reyes, and PRIMER Member Ruben Muñiz, our members and their guests enjoyed a special showing of Repertorio Español´s play "La Gringa".
The play touched our hearts because it addresses a theme that is present in the hearts and minds of all Latinos in the US: the dual universes and realities we find ourselves in and the search of our true identify. Are we Americans or are we _______________ {fill in the blank: Puerto Rican, Cuban, Dominican, Colombian, Panamanian...}? "La Gringa" is about the struggle of a young woman to find and embrace her Puerto Rican roots. She faces the challenge of rejection and non-acceptance in an environment which was supposed to nurture her. This resonates with everyone of us. Although the New York Times limited its review to the "misperceptions" between the characters causing "comical" situations, the play is much deeper and meaningful. Maria´s uncle shows her and us that we don´t need anyone to tell us who we are. We know it, and no validation is needed. He tells us that it is better to be confident of one´s own identity and enjoy life to the fullest without having to search for this validation, which can be all-consuming, draining and in the end, perhaps not as important as we think it is.
Perhaps that is the greatest message of this play. The themes exposed in "La Gringa" are universal. The immigration story (and its children) is not unique to Latinos. It applies to all Americans, white, brown or black; whether the immigration was voluntary or forced. The quest for validation by others is meaningless once you realize that life is short, and it has to be lived with one´s own convictions and self-confidence. That could be the reason for the success of some ethnic minorities in America, and we should follow their example: where the search for validation is tossed aside and the focus becomes the identity that you create for yourself.
The theater was full, and it was a beautiful Summer evening. Thank you PRIMER members and their guests for attending and making this event a success.
Goldman Sachs´ generosity, made possible through the efforts of José and Jesús, was incredible. Dozens of University of Puerto Rico students who had never been to New York City were flown in by Goldman to see this play. What a great experience and what a smart way to create synergy between Puerto Ricans in the mainland and in the island!
Our thanks and kudos also go to Robert Federico, Repertorio´s Executive and Artistic Director, as well as the entire cast of "La Gringa" and Repertorio´s staff. The wine and the wonderful and plentiful empanadas will also be remembered with gusto.
After the play, PRIMER members were treated to a choreographed dance demonstration hosted and organized by Ruben Muñiz´ lovely wife, Victoria Muñiz, a professional dance instructor. We thank both Victoria and Ruben for their continued and enthusiastic support of PRIMER.
We also encourage you to consider Repertorio in your charitable giving, as it is the premier Spanish theater in New York City, displaying for the world our rich cultural and artistic history. Remember we have two PRIMER members on its board (José and Ruben), and Repertorio deserves our support. To learn more about Repertorio, go to: www.repertorio.org.
As always, below are some excellent pictures of the event taken by our professional photographer, David Negrón:
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