The Karloff-Lugosi Brothers &
A Long Night Into Day | Puerto Rico
ENGLISH LANGUAGE PREMIERE
Playwright - Carlos Canales
Translator -Dr. Liza Ann Acosta
Director - Antonio Bruno
Partner: - Urban Theater Company
Join us for two short plays:
A Long Night Into Day: Jamie, a lonely drunk, argues with the ghostly figure of his brother Edmund in this reflection on Eugene O’Neill’s autobiographical play.
The Karloff – Lugosi Brothers: A visitor and a homebody argue over who does what for whom and, most importantly, who they are each other.
All staged readings begin at 6 PM followed by a talkback and complimentary reception.
Performances are FREE to the public and reservations are not required. DONATIONS help keep the festival free!
Watch:Interview with Carlos Canales and Liza Acosta
Playwright Carlos Canales
Born in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico, in 1955, Carlos Canales’s contributions to Puerto Rican theatre history and current development are many. He studied Political Sciences, Drama, and Education at the University of Puerto Rico and then obtained a Master in Spanish at the University of Connecticut. He taught acting and dramaturgy at the School of Fine Arts in Arecibo, and he taught film, language, and Hispanic cultures at several Connecticut Universities.
Thirty of his plays have been produced not only in Puerto Rico and in the United States but also in Mexico, Argentina, Canada, Venezuela, England, Spain, Costa Rica, República Dominicana, and Perú. He has published the following plays: María del Rosario (1986), Vamos a seguir bailando (1993), Margie (1994), Vórtice (1994), Teatro (2002), Salsa, tango y locura (2003), Bony and Kin(2004), El cine del pueblo (2004), Luz Celeste (2004), ¡Qué bueno está este país! (2004), La casa de los inmortales (2004), Trilogía de los dictadores (2006), Ecuajey (2006), Los intocables (2006), El Generalísimo Brujillo (2008, 2012), ¡Maldita sea el Capitán América! (2013, 2017), A la Luz de la Luna (2015), y Teatro del lado de allá(2016). He has also published two short story collections and a novel. The Institute of Puerto Rican Culture and the Ateneo Puertorriqueo have recognized him for his distinguished career in drama.
Antonio Bruno
Antonio Bruno (He/Him) is a Chicago native, growing up in the West Humboldt Park and Belmont Craigin Neighborhoods. He currently serves as Managing Director for UrbanTheater Company and sits on the Steering Committee for The Latinx Theater Commons. Antonio has been a freelance Sound Designer, Production Manager, Composer, Teaching Artist and Producer. Antonio has worked with Teatro Tariakuri, After School Matters, Windy City Theater, Street Level Youth Media, Digital Youth Media, En Las Tablas, Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center, Chicago Dramatist, Adventure Stage Chicago, Theater Wit, Colectivo El Pozo, The Massive, Chicago Latino Theater Alliance, Aguijon Theater, Teatro Luna West, Latino Theater Company, University of Illinois at Chicago, The Dawn Project, La Vuelta and Dreamworks Films. As a Composer Antonio explores music in many different ways, in his “you sent the message” series of work, Antonio entered the creative process as an exploration of instinct and familiarity, finding challenges with Time as a limited resource yet a freedom to engage with sound without hesitation or the hindrance of practicing perfection. Tonio is super excited to have the opportunity to tell these stories for our community.
Liza Ann Acosta
Born in Brooklyn, raised in Ponce, Puerto Rico, this Boricua migrated to study Literature, History and Chemistry in South Carolina. They loved the South so much they stayed and went to North Carolina to pursue an MA in English Literature. They worked as a translator for Hemingway biographer Michael Reynolds translating letters from a Cuban fisherman and pamphlets on bullfighting from the 1930s. Their edited translation of the play Carnaval afuera, carnaval adentro by Rene Marques was the subject of their MA thesis. After completing their Master's, they read a thousand and one plays to earn a PhD in Comparative Literature at The Pennsylvania State University in 2001 focusing on the work of women playwrights. Nowadays, you can see them either teaching a course on World Literature or herding cats in academia as an administrator. As a theater artist and dramaturg, they played with Teatro Luna and Urban Theater Company. As far as translation, Liza Ann has enjoyed freelancing with a few articles, books, newsletters, and other mysterious pieces here and there. They have taught for Story Jam, read at different Live Lit events around the city, and performed a couple of solo shows. One of her stories is on Audible. They love writing about nuns, family, and the peculiar. Current academic writing is on indigenous identities and intersectionality. Their creative work outside of translation will be coming out as soon as their lawyer deems it safe. Cat owned and dog approved.
Urban Theater Company (UTC) is founded by, led by, and for people of color in order to preserve the Puerto Rican and Humboldt Park community voice. We celebrate cultural experiences through interdisciplinary art forms. Through fellowship and community, we aim to elevate a diverse and culturally specific collective of Chicago creatives. We create innovative and accessible theater through a decolonized praxis.