Angelo Parra

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Angelo Parra (born June 2, 1948 in New York ) is an American playwright.

Life

Parra was born in Manhattan and grew up in the Bronx. After completing his bachelor's degree in Communication Arts at Fordham University , he worked as a reporter / photographer, in public relations, as a freelance writer and as a lecturer in journalism and public relations at New York University . Parra also holds a Masters degree in Political Science from New School in New York and an MFA in Theater Poetry from Brooklyn College .

In 1986 he turned to the theater. For his first play, which was also performed, "Casino," he received a 1989 New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA) grant and a National Endowment for the Arts grant, among other awards.

His best-known work, "The Devil's Music: The Life and Blues of Bessie Smith", received critical acclaim and was named one of the 2001 "Top 10 Off-Broadway Experiences" by the New York Daily News . It was also named “Best Solo Show” by the “Broward / Palm Beach New Times” and Parra received a second grant from the NYFA (2000). In addition to New York, the piece was performed in Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington (DC), Palm Beach, Hartford (Connecticut), Memphis, Cape Cod and the Edinburgh International Festival .

Another award-winning play is the hospital drama "Journey of the Heart" (originally "A Heart of Flesh"). It received the 1998 Jewel Box Theater Prize, the Mixed Blood Theater Prize and the David James Ellis National Play Award. For his drama “Song of the Coquí” he received the Chicano / Latino Literary Award from the University of California (Irvine) and the “American Dream” award from Repertorio Español in New York.

Parra is a member of the BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theater Workshop and Dramatists Guild of America , the stage poets' union. He attended the Sewanee Writers Conference in 2000 and taught drama at SUNY Rockland Community College . He is also currently President of the Board of Trustees of the Penguin Repertory Company .

His other pieces are:

  • "Percy T. Penguin Comes to America," a children's musical
  • "Anansi the Spider Learns his Lesson", also a piece for children
  • "Canvases"
  • "The Price of Honor"
  • "Prickasaurus"
  • "The Slope"
  • "Warmflesch"
  • "A Waltz Without Turns"
  • "Midnight Kiss"
  • "What is it With Me?"

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Parra, Angelo
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American playwright
DATE OF BIRTH June 2, 1948
PLACE OF BIRTH New York City