OLA of Eastern Long Island (Organización Latino Americana) and Guild Hall in East Hampton present the launch of a historic Spanish-language collaboration bringing a contemporary, community-generated version of “Fuenteovejuna,” a 17th-century play by Spain’s celebrated playwright Félix Lope de Vega, to Long Island. The co-production, reimagined as “Fuenteovejuna: East End,” is the brainchild of co-directors Margarita Espada, founder and director of Teatro Yerbabruja, and Minerva Perez, executive director of OLA, who are Guild Hall’s 2025 Community Artists-in-Residence (CAiR).
“Fuenteovejuna,” an essential work of the Spanish literary canon, is based on a dramatic historical event that took place in 1476 in a Spanish village. It tells the story of the villagers’ revolt against the tyrannical and violent rule of their local commander, who is not only cruel and abusive but a rapist. The play examines the abuse of power, the dangers of unchecked authority, and power dynamics in relation to social class and gender. It also celebrates courage, justice, community solidarity, and the power of collective action. “Fuenteovejuna: East End” updates Lope de Vega’s language to be more accessible to a contemporary audience.
“This is a dream come true for me,” said Perez, who holds a degree in Theater Arts from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts and ran her own theater company in New York City for eight years. “I’m thrilled to stage this play at Guild Hall as it will mark the first-ever Spanish-language theatre production on the East End. Given the rise of authoritarian regimes around the world and in our own country, now is the perfect time to rely on the arts to build community and to convey the importance of mutual respect and individual dignity. The demonstration of bravery and strength of women in this 17th-century play is another reason this work resonates so profoundly. ‘Fuenteovejuna’ is ultimately about solidarity and unity—and about how a community has the power to hold political leaders accountable.”
Guild Hall’s CAiR program supports the creative economy, imagination, and civic life on the East End by commissioning regionally based artists to develop socially engaged or participatory work. It provides artists with creative mentorships, administrative support, a commissioning fee, and a shared studio/workspace on the Guild Hall campus. OLA, the East End’s foremost Latino immigrant advocacy organization, includes an arts focus as part of its mission in order to celebrate Latino, Latin American, and Spanish-language arts and culture as well as to build bridges among different sectors of the community.
“We are incredibly excited to welcome Minerva Perez and Margarita Espada as 2025 Guild Hall Community Artists-in-Residence,” said Anthony Madonna, Guild Hall’s Theater Director and Curator of Performing Arts. “Through both their creative and community work, Perez and Espada have built trust, comradery, and change within and for their communities. Over the past few weeks, we have seen their work in action here at Guild Hall, as they’ve welcomed people of all ages for auditions and rehearsals. We are thankful to be part of their process and ready to support them as they bring to life ‘Fuenteovejuna: East End.’”
The play will be performed in Spanish at Guild Hall on May 16 and 17, at 8 PM. Visit GuildHall.org/fuenteovejuna for details.