THIS WEEK ON LATINOPIA: EVELINA FERNANDEZ REMEMBERS DIANE RODRIGUEZ, RICARDO ROMO ON DAY OF THE DEAD, BURUNDANGA BORICUA YA SE ME ESTA ACABANDO LA PACIENCIA AND DIANE RODRIGUEZ ON LATINO THEATER.
This week we continue to celebrate Day of the Dead. Ricardo Romo’s Tejano Report reviews the history of Day of the Dead with a look at its origins in Mexico and how it was advanced in the United States over the years by the Self Help Graphics art gallery and other groups, giving it the national presence it enjoys today. Cool article and cool photos.
On November 2, 2021, a group of friends and colleagues of acclaimed actress, playwright and director Diane Rodriguez honored her memory with a memorial service at the Mark Taper Forum. Although Diane passed away on April 10, 2020 because of Covid there was no memorial service at that time. At the Taper remembrance this year, Diane’s many friends, including Culture Clash, Latins Anonymous, Team Diane, Rose Portillo, Dolores Chavez, Jorge Huerta, Luis Alfaro and many more paid tribute to her many accomplishments. Diane’s husband and lifelong creative collaborator, Jose Delgado (J.D.) gave moving closing remarks. Evelina Fernandez, a fellow playwright, actress and director, penned a heartfelt remembrance which we post here. To Diane Rodriguez from Evelinna Fernandez. You gotta read this!
We also post a video interview with Diane Rodriguez speaking about Latino theater, its past present and future. The interview was recorded in 2015.
Also this week, José Umpierre, el Zocotroco, returns with his Burundanga Boricua blog. This week, Laura Taylor Swain, the Chief United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District, made an important ruling pertaining to the restructuring of Puerto Rico’s debt and in particular proposed cuts to salaries and pensions of University employees. Check out el Zocotroco’s take on all of this. Burundanga Boricua is in Spanish, of course.
Enjoy your week on Latinopia!
Tia Tenopia