Since 1977, Thalia Spanish Theater has been a cultural jewel in Queens, New York: the only Hispanic/Bilingual Theater of County, founded by the visionary Silvia Brito (QEPD). Today, under the executive artistic direction of Ángel Gil Orrios, Thalia not only continues to present high quality productions – as a train passed, women do better than men, flamenco force and Christmas musical Christmas in Colombia – but also leads a crucial campaign to ensure their future: save the legendary bliss theater of Sunnyside.
This historical theater, which will soon turn 100, represents a unique opportunity to make it the permanent headquarters of Thalia and finally establish a large -scale Hispanic cultural center in New York: Thalia Hispanic Arts Center. With the support of the community, more than 1,500 firms gathered and the impulse of a rich program that does not stop growing – including next tango, flamenco shows and new works by authors such as Roberto Ramos Perea -, Thalia is ready to take the next big step.
In this interview, Ángel Gil Orrios tells us about the evolution of Thalia, his commitment to Ibero -American cultural diversity and the dream of turning the Bliss Theater into an artistic lighthouse for the entire Hispanic community of the city.
The Thalia Spanish Theater has a long career as the only Spanish/bilingual queens theater. How has its mission evolved since its foundation in 1977?
The big difference is that only works in Spanish, mainly from Spain and zarzuelas. However, I, who are precisely Spanish, I said: No, how will it be? You have to represent every Latin America. We begin to make our productions in both languages, bilingually, alternating representations: a few days in English and others in Spanish. We make six productions a year, of which four are musical and two, comedies or dramas.
How was the initiative to rescue the Bliss Theater as a possible permanent headquarters for Thalia?
My idea has always been that the Thalia theater is not only a theater, but an artistic cultural center. My project began with the intention of transforming our organization into what I call the Thalia Hispanic Arts Center. Initially, the idea was to build on the ground where we have been for 48 years, but a few months ago the possibility arose that the Bliss Theater – the original theater of our neighborhood, which will turn 100 years old – became our headquarters.
It would be the perfect theater for us, ideal to transform it into the Hispanic Cultural Center in New York. Even today there is no Hispanic cultural center of that size in the city.
How do you think the presence and impact of Thalia would change if they manage to settle in the Bliss Theater?
The main difference would be the size, which would allow us to combine the performing arts, audiovisual arts, plastic arts and arts in education. We must not forget that the Spanish -speaking community – all the Latin American – covers 22 countries. A larger space would allow us, for example, to organize in summer a great International Theater, Music and Cinema Festival of our countries. To achieve that, we need adequate space.
What message would you like to send to the community, the authorities and the general public that has not yet joined this campaign?
The emphasis is now to achieve government support and take this opportunity to declare the Bliss Theater as Landmark (historic building), to prevent it from being demolished. At the same time, we seek the support of the media and the community, as our people of Sunnyside, Queens, with an online request that already have more than 1,500 signatures, available on our website Thaliatheatre.org. We are not asking for money, just support to make this dream come true for the Hispanic community in New York.
You have been in charge of Thalia for many years. What motivates him to continue fighting for this space and for Hispanic art in New York?
Generally, all artists, all creators, are a bit Quijotes, and being Spanish, I consider myself even more Quixote. The ideal is to ensure that the wealth and great diversity of our Hispanic culture, which comes from 22 countries, is present so that other communities and other audiences know it, and can see more things that unite us than those that separate us – especially in political moments as hard as these. That we can do a common front to recognize the importance of immigration, and in this case, Hispanic immigration, which has always been part of this country.
