MAGDALENA GÓMEZ - PLAYWRIGHT

"You're one of the most delicious writers to read because you're a glutton for language.  
 You lick it, chew it, bite down hard on it and relish every flavor you come across...
CHOPPING is a piece of virtuoso experiment."
-Al Bermel, Theater Critic, Playwright, Translator

Magdalena Gómez returned to playwriting in 1995, after a long hiatus. Since then she has had numerous readings and productions and has won several awards including the Massachusetts Cultural Council’s Playwriting Grant, a National Endowment for the Arts development grant (in collaboration with Enchanted Circle Theater), a First Place award from Stages Repertory Theater in Texas for a full length play, You Don’t Look It and First Place in the West Coast 10-Minute Play contest, for The Andalusian Dream. Two of her plays for children, Remembering and Another Way to See (featuring the Orisha, Yemaya) toured nationally with Enchanted Circle theater for six years.

The plays of Magdalena Gómez have been brewing since the late 70’s when she wrote and performed in Passion Plays that were staged in prisons, hospitals, conferences and churches. “I was fascinated with delivering the message that someone would love you enough to die for you, regardless of your human limitations and foibles. I have always seen the Christ figure as a revolutionary political prisoner who redeemed the circumstances of a gruesome death into an act of unconditional love. To me it was not about religion, but about valuing non-conformity and defying the oppressor, whether it be government, society, illness, or circumstance."

All of her plays feature strong, positive roles for people of color and elders, with a special focus on Puerto Rican characters. “In all of my work I weave latinidad into the textures of universal subjects. My plays are not specifically Puerto Rican, but do honor the place of Puerto Ricans and other Latinos within the story. I do not create plays for diversity month I create plays for the entire year that welcome audiences of varied life experiences. If I am guilty of one thing, it is that I find my heroes and sheroes among working class and economically oppressed. It has never occurred to me to create a wealthy hero, but perhaps a revolutionary benefactor can change my mind.”

A list of plays, synopsis and character breakdowns are available upon request.

For bookings, workshops and more information: atabex49@yahoo.com

(Extended list available upon request)

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Recent Awards: