Dolores Prida's Casa Propia was named winner of Repertorio Espanol's "American Dream"-themed playwriting contest funded by the Fannie Mae Foundation.
Writers were asked to submit plays -- in English or Spanish -- on the subject of home ownership as it relates to the Hispanic-American experience. Prida's work, which will be fully staged later this season by the Spanish-language Repertorio in New York City, concerns a family's decision to stay within their urban community rather than buy a home in the suburbs.
Susana Tubert will direct a reading of the play 7 PM Nov. 16 at Repertorio Espanol's Gramercy Arts Theatre, 138 E. 27th St. The free reading was previously scheduled as part of a series sponsored by the NYC 100 Centennial Celebration, and the Nov. 16 award announcement was a happy coincidence, said Repertorio publicist Susan L. Schulman.
For the top honor, Prida won $3,000. Rob Santana's Americaville took second place ($2,000), Angelo Parra's Song of the Coqui took third place ($1,000) and $500 runner-up prizes went to Louis Delgado's Before It's Too Late and Franco Ambriz's Esperanza and Fidencio Archuleta. All winners receive readings by Repertorio.
The Fannie Mae Foundation is a private nonprofit organization based in Washington DC. -- By Kenneth Jones