On Monday, October 23, 2023, a group of theatre creators gathered in a rehearsal hall at Centro de Bellas Artes to meet with Emmanuel Wilson, Co-Executive Director of the Dramatists Guild. Organized by DG Co-Ambassadors to Puerto Rico, Tere Martínez and Brigitte Viellieu-Davis, the gathering was aimed at uniting creators of theatre in Puerto Rico, so that they can increase their visibility, understand their value, and join their networks for greater reach on the island, in the States, and in Latin America.
“The vibrant Puerto Rican theatrical writing community is an important part of the international theatre landscape,” said DG Co-Executive Director Emmanuel Wilson. “These writers represent an expansive vision of what dramatic storytelling could and should be – including Spanish language theatre. At this new collective, writers will be coming together to build community, make change, and advocate for their rights as creative professionals. These writers uphold the values of the Dramatists Guild and embody the essential truth that all playwrights, composers, lyricists, and librettists must know: As a writer, you have more agency than you have been led to believe.”
The group plans to meet quarterly to discuss and plan how they can best support each other and the craft in Puerto Rico.
“The DG provides contract templates, advice from attorneys who specialize in copyright law and theater contracts, and a database of opportunities,” Martínez shared. “They also have a sister organization, Dramatists Guild Foundation, which has already impacted playwrights on the island with financial support both after María and during the pandemic”.
“This meeting proved that unifying Puerto Rican dramaturgical voices is not an impossible task,” added Gil René Rodriguez, actor, playwright, lyricist, director, and DG member. “We have much in common, and joining together to advocate is our most valuable tool. With the commitment of our artists and the sword of DG, we will prevail."
For more information about this collective, email Tere and Brigitte at puertorico@dramatistsguild.com.