A New York City borough such as Queens has the most ethnically varied population in the United States. It is home to almost a million immigrants from Spanish-speaking countries across the world, which inspired the creation of Thalia Spanish Theatre, one of the favorite establishments of residents among Sunnyside residents. Find out more information at queens-trend.
WHEN AND WHO FOUND IT?
Thalia Spanish Theatre was founded in 1977 in Queens by actress and director Silvia Brito to address the cultural needs of the borough’s Spanish-speaking community. Originally, the theater sought to preserve and popularize the Spanish lyrical and dramatic genre known as zarzuela, which blends musical and conversational scenes with elements of folk music, dance and opera. The genre is named after the royal hunting lodge Palacio de la Zarzuela, where this type of entertainment was initially introduced. This poetic genre gained such popularity that Thalia Spanish Theatre troupe started producing its own zarzuelas in 1985. This genre was featured in the program of each season.
In 1994, the theater received grants from the city, state and federal governments. When the state lowered its theatrical spending, the diversity of programs had to be adjusted. Thalia Spanish Theatre’s expansion was aided by its diverse repertoire of productions. Instead of producing plays, musicals, comedies and folk shows originating in Spain, the theater broadened its repertoire to include Latin American countries’ art.
In 2000, Angel Gil Orrios, a Spanish director, producer, screenwriter and designer, took over management of the theater. He is well-known for his notion of a “shared theatrical experience” that combines text, music, dance and visual arts. Orrios began presenting performances in both Spanish and English at Thalia Spanish Theatre. High-quality English translations helped to attract audiences from all backgrounds.
MISSION
Thalia Spanish Theatre’s mission is to promote the brightness and diversity of Spanish and Latin American culture through distinctive theater, music and dance productions. The art of theater has always reflected the expansion of Latinos in New York, particularly Queens.
The theater stage functions as a kind of laboratory for directors, playwrights and producers to improvise and experiment, present interesting stories and nurture the best talents. The theater finds practical ways to draw attention to the challenges facing the Latin American community.
ART AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
Thalia Spanish Theatre offers programs that create opportunities for Spanish-speaking artists while also bringing together a diverse audience. It features original bilingual international premieres of productions, plays by Spanish and Latin American authors, Spanish-language dance musicals and folk music and dance performances. Bilingual productions switch between English and Spanish. The majority of the audience at Thalia Spanish Theatre is made up of Spaniards and Latinos, for whom Spanish is a native language.
In June, it hosts the annual Free Thalia al Aire Libre, an open-air festival with concerts of Spanish and Latin American music and dance that reflect the diverse cultural traditions of the Latin American community in Queens. The festival brings people of all ages and backgrounds together, allows cultural exchange and assists Spanish-speaking immigrants in adjusting to their new surroundings in America. Flamenco, Mexican folk and Colombian music are commonly performed during festival days.
The Spanish theater also provides bilingual master classes for kids, during which children learn acting and dancing. They are taught by qualified instructors who have received numerous awards. After finishing their studies, children can participate in local festivals, in addition to presenting their talent to family and friends at Thalia Spanish Theatre.
Adults can also take master classes in acting and production. There are also bilingual Spanish/Latin American dancing workshops for children and elderly. Every year, different dance classes are taught here, including flamenco, tango, Mexican and other Latin American styles. No experience is required to participate.
Every year, Thalia Spanish Theatre hosts about ninety productions both on its home stage and on tour. The theater has garnered hundreds of honors for artistic excellence, including the Mayor’s Award for Arts & Culture, the New York State Governor’s Arts Award, ENCORE Awards of the Arts & Business Council, Latin Grammy, ACE Awards, LATA Awards, ATI Awards and many more.
The artistic director of the theater, Angel Gil Orrios, received a Gold Medal from the Spanish Vice-President in Madrid in 2022. On March 27, 2023, International Theater Day, the bilingual world premiere of “Life Lessons/Lecciones de Vida”, produced by Orrios, received an award from the Academy of Performing Arts of Spain in Madrid. This was the first time Thalia Spanish Theatre received an international award.
