La Lucha Arts upcoming works for 2018 and continuing social justice into the new year. 

While this year was filled with loss, I gained new perspectives, incredible collaborators and support in the resistance. Politicised spaces with youth, immigrants, peers, artist, activist and the incarcerated, knowing that we are transforming systems of oppression.  

This year: Collaborations with Pen America, Bushwick Starr, The Dramatist Guild, Pangea World Theatre,  #metoo National Action Network Convention, LA MAMA -Days of Remembrance, Art Change US- RE MAP, Harlem 9- Pregones Theatre, Vangeline Theatre, Poetic Theatre Company and Ctiy Lore. Sharing work and facilitating at  Womens Playwriting International Conference -Chile. 
                                            ABOUT RAQUEL
Raquel Almazan's eclectic career as artist-activist spans original multi-media solo performances, playwriting, new work development and dramaturgy. She is a practitioner of Butoh Dance and the creator/teacher of arts programs for youth/adults, several of which focus on social justice. Her work has been featured in New York City- including Off-Broadway, the United Nations, throughout the United States and internationally in Greece, Italy, Slovenia, Colombia, Chile, Guatemala and Sweden; including several of her plays within her lifelong project on writing bi-lingual plays in dedication to each Latin American country (Latin is America play cycle).
 
Dec. 10th @ The Bushwick Starr, reading of Does That Feel Good to you my Lark? A Doll's House Adaptation. 


 
Part of the 2018-19 Bushwick Starr Reading Series. This new play explores the newly examined connections between Laura Kieler's work and life and the possible appropriation Henrik Ibsen engaged in during the making of A Doll's House.
 
Dec. 10th @ 8pm. Free admission
Written by Raquel Almazan
Directed by Miranda Haymon
 
DOES THAT FEEL GOOD TO YOU, MY LARK?: A Doll's House Adaptation  
We travel through the inner workings of Laura Keiler (the "skylark")'s mind during her forced institutionalization in an asylum as she reshapes the narrative of that infamous play that contributed towards the "woman's revolution". The worlds between parallel fact vs fiction diverge, as multiple endings collide in search of who really built A Doll's House.

MORE :  HERE


 
 
 HIGHLIGHTS 2018
 

-  Alternate Visions:   With Pangea World Theatre,  Funded by the Jermone Foundation, new play commission for the development of 
"EL ODIO DE UN PAIS - The Hate of a Country  (Costa Rica)". Works in progress staged reading. Part of Almazan's Latin is America play cycle. Directed by  Vanessa Mercado-Taylor.   More about LIA  HERE

- Love, Redefined: Reclaim:   With Poetic Theatre Productions, commissioned to write a new poem, "This is for Sacred Pussy", an adaption of Angela Davis piece For Every Woman. 
  
- Semi-finalist:   P73 and Playwrights Realm Playwriting Fellowships. 

-  New York Madness:  "Between You, Me and Us" with Lone Star Theatre Company for New York Madness. Playwrights responded to the theme of Borders, the current immigration crisis.

-  Harlem 9 - Pregones Theatre:  New play "When I came Home", Harlem9 for the 48hours in the Bronx Festival @ Pregones & off Broadway at PRTT Theatres. Volume publishing of short plays to follow.

 - National Action Network Convention:  #MeToo Theatre Women,  Almazan performs an updated version of her piece "The Virgin Stripper" #METOO: FROM TESTIMONY TO PREVENTION.  
 
- LA MAMA- Days of Remembrance:  Almazan performs excerpts from her play "Dar a Luz" in part of a series of events addressing the immigration crisis. NYC DOR Committee organizes events and activities with the purpose of promoting educational and healing efforts related to the U.S. incarceration of Japanese Americans and others and protecting civil liberties.

-  PEN AMERICA:   Almazan performs the writing of incarcerated writers, @DixonPlace for "Breakout: Voices From the Inside," a reading of award-winning writing from the PEN Prison Writing program archives.

-  Key note spearker:    Pan American High School Graduation, addressing the future lives of immigrant Latinx youth, Bronx, NYC. 

 -  ArtChangeUS REMAP:  Twin Cities, Invited Participant- Contributor. Organizers, educators, change makers, led by stellar artists who are innovating methodologies at the nexus of art making and social change.  
 
 -   WPI CHILE:  Women's Playwrights International Conference - Chile, Santiago. Conducted a workshop on the integration of Butoh Dance and playwriting within the themes of territory and migration.

- New York Butoh Institute Festival:  Almazan presents excerpts from "
Porning the Planet ",
 text and Butoh Dance. Featured in Broadway World. 


READ MORE   

WPI: Chile, Santiago
Selection to facilitate at the 11th annual Womens Playwrights International Conference, over 30 countries represented. Dramaturgy, Society and Territory. More


NY Butoh Institute Festival
Almazan performs the integration of text and Butoh Dance. International female artist represented. Brodway World article featuring the unique festival. Read the review:


Huffington Post article
Raquel has been featured in the Huffington Post for her Latin is America play cycle and activism work with La Paloma Prisoner Project:  More about the project below.  Read the article:  HERE

Social Justice Arts Facilitation 

The 2018- 2019 season includes facilitation with Columbia University, Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM), Dream Yard, Manhattan Theatre Club, Repertorio Espanol, Rising Circle Theatre Collective and City Lore. "Thrilled to be sharing in the politicized space with youth and adults through art making".  MORE

 
CONNECT WITH RAQUEL AND HER WORK www.raquelalmazan.com
    Artistic Director
La Lucha Arts
   [email protected]