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Photo by Anna Lamadrid

Bio

Carmen Rivera holds an MA in Playwriting and Latin American Theatre from New York University. Her OBIE-Award winning play La Gringa, just celebrated its’ 27th year anniversary in repertory at Repertorio Español. It is now the longest running Spanish language play in Off-Broadway history. Carmen co-wrote, with Cándido Tirado, Celia: The Life and Music of Celia Cruz, (HOLA Award 2008, Outstanding Achievement in Playwriting), which played Off-Broadway at New World Stages and toured Florida, Chicago, Tenerife, Canary Islands and the Centro de Bellas Artes (Center for the Fine Arts) in Puerto Rico.

Other Off-Broadway productions include: The Downfall of Rafael Trujillo (2015 - ATI Award - Best Production); La Lupe: My Life, My Destiny (2002 ACE Award – Best Production); Julia de Burgos: Child of Water; To Catch The Lightning (1997 Nomination ACE Award – Best Production); The Next Stop (INTAR / Repertorio  Español); Under The Mango Tree (INTAR). 

Other works include: The Magic of the Salsa Kingdom, with director/choreographer, Maria Torres; Riding The Bear; The Loves of our Lives; The Next Cycle; Betty’s Garage; Ghosts in Brooklyn; ameRICAN; Delia’s Race; Plastic Flowers; The Power of Words; and Caravan of Death which have appeared at Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM); Teatro Circulo; La Mama E.T.C; The Women’s Project and Productions; SOHO Rep; New Georges; New Perspectives Theatre; Martice Enterprises; Nuyorican Poet’s Café; Theatre for a New City; National Public Radio (NPR); City Lights Youth Theatre; Urban Theater Company in Chicago; Centro de Bellas Artes, El Ateneo and Teatro Tapia in San Juan, Puerto Rico and in theatre festivals in New York, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, England and Russia. She has also participated at the Lark Playwrights Center -- Mexico/US Exchange program, as a translator.

Carmen is a Founding Member and Co-Executive Director of E.P.P. (Educational Play Productions), which brings plays that deal with social issues into the public schools. She teaches Playwriting at The New School and is also a Teacher Artist with Manhattan Theatre Club.

Carmen on NPR's This American Life

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A road trip can be a profound test of any relationship. It can save a marriage or destroy it. We have this example of a road trip in Europe. Playwrights Candido Tirado and Carmen Rivera told the story at the Nuyorican Cafe in New York City

Click here to listen

Awards

  • 1996 – OBIE – “La Gringa” 
    New Voices Program at Repertorio Español
  • 2014 -- ATI (Independent Theatre Artists) AWARD - Best Production -- "La Caida de Rafael Trujillo" ("The Downfall of Rafael Trujillo")
  • 2008 – HOLA AWARD – Outstanding Achievement in Playwriting – “Celia: The Life and Music of Celia Cruz” New World Stages
  • 2001 – ACE (Association of Journalists and Writers) AWARD – Best Production – “La Lupe: My Life, My Destiny” – Off-Broadway
  • 2001 – Semi-Finalist - International Latino Film Festival/MTV Screenplay Competition screen adaptation of “La Gringa"
  • 1999 – LO MEJOR DE NUESTRA COMMUNIDAD (The Best of Our Community) - Comité Noviembre – Puerto Rican Cultural Organization – which recognizes individuals who practice their craft in their community
  • 1997 – Nomination – ACE AWARD
    Best Production – “To Catch The Lightning”
    Puerto Rican Traveling Theatre
  • 1997 – LEGACY AWARD – Achievement in Playwriting – Puerto Rican Traveling Theatre
  • 1997 – Finalist – Eugene O’Neill Playwrights Conference “To Catch The Lightning”
  • 1995 – 1997 – Van Lier Fellowship – New Dramatists;
  • 1995 – 1996 – Writing Fellowship 
    New York Theatre Workshop
  • 1994 – “ameRICAN” – Best Screenplay, College of Staten Island, Adapted into a 10-Minute video

Memberships

  • THE DRAMATISTS GUILD / THE AUTHOR'S LEAGUE OF AMERICA
  • PEN -- AMERICAN CENTER
  • TCG -- THEATRE COMMUNICATIONS GROUP
  • NALIP -- (National Association of Latino Independent Producers)
  • SIGMA DELTA PI
    – Spanish Literature Organization – Inducted June 1986