Teatro Bravo gets new leader, home

By Ruben Hernandez

Teatro Bravo, the company that for years has produced bilingual plays that promote a complex portrait of Latinos, has a new artistic director: Ricky Araiza.

The Teatro Bravo Board appointed Araiza and his tenure started in January 2013. Guillermo Reyes, founding member and former artistic directors, says, “Ricky Araiza will lead Teatro Bravo in a new generation of leadership, but the mission of Teatro Bravo will continue: Producing a combination of classic plays and developing contemporary new plays that deal with the U.S. Latino life.”

Ricky is an Arizona-based theater artist and movement specialist. He works throughout the Valley as an actor, director, and teaching artist. In 2004, he graduated from Arizona State University with a B.A. in Theater. He became a member of Childsplay Inc. in Tempe, and last year starred in the company’s excellent production, The Sun Serpent. In 2009, he took on the challenge of a year-long study of physical ensemble-based theater at Dell’Arte International in Blue Lake, Calif.

Bravo’s new home

It’s a year of transitions for Teatro Bravo. Araiza takes the leadership reins as the ensemble Latino troupe moves to a theater venue it can call home. It will be the resident company at the Black Theatre Troupe Performing Arts Center in downtown Phoenix.  The new complex is at 1333 E. Washington St., along the light rail route.

 “This is a great opportunity for Teatro Bravo,” Araiza says. “This is not only an opportunity for us to have a home, but it is also a wonderful opportunity for two strong theater companies of color to work side by side….We are both eager to get to work.”

The new artistic director also believes that Teatro Bravo fans will start to attend Black Theatre Troupe productions, too. BTT’s first show, The Whipping Man, opens Friday, Feb. 8 in its new home.

Teatro Bravo has had ups and downs in the Valley’s competitive theater environment. Not having a specific location for its productions hindered its long-term audience development. However, last year under interim director Fernando Teson, the company won the AriZoni for best performance by an actress, Erica Mathlin, for her role in Frida by Ruben Amavizca. New Times weekly named it the Best Ethnic Theater. And a highlight was the production of Lorca in a Green Dress by Cuban playwright Nilo Cruz in 2012.

In early 2013, Teatro Bravo will focus on fundraising; the company will announce a special fund-raising event at a later date. Check out their new page on Facebook for further developments. However, in fall of this year TB will debut a new season of performances. For more information about Teatro Bravo, email Ricky Araiza at teatrobravophx@aol.com.