To mark the centennial of Federico Garcia Lorca (1898-1936), Boston's TheatreZone is performing the Spanish poet-playwright's Blood Wedding through April 5.

Lorca wrote this tragic story of love, lust and betrayal several years after reading a newspaper account of a young bride in Andalusia who, on her wedding day, abandoned her husband-to-be to run away with her childhood sweetheart.

Lorca's public image as a revolutionary artist and his homosexuality made him a political symbol, and his plays -- with their explicit overtones of forbidden love -- were shocking for their time. On Aug. 9, 1936 -- shortly after the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War -- Franco's Fascists dragged Lorca into a field, where they shot him and tossed his body into an unmarked grave.

Since that time he has become the most translated Spanish playwright in history and one of the foremost poetic dramatists of the 20th century.

The production is directed by TheatreZone's artistic director, Danielle Fauteux Jacques, and features Nakia Sylvestre, Jason Lambert and Paul Caroul. TheatreZone was founded in 1995 with a mission to produce challenging and provocative works -- and to break down barriers through nontraditional casting.

Performances of Blood Wedding are Fri. and Sat. at 8 PM at Actors Workshop, 40 Boylston St. For tickets, $10 ($12 at the door), call (617) 887-2336.

-- By Rebecca Paller