Caridad Svich: The Inspiration behind the Winner of the 2013 National Playwriting Award

By: Cindy G. Castillo

Presented by the Arizona Theatre Company, songwriter and editor Caridad Svich was awarded the ATC’s 2013 National Latino Playwriting Award.  The second time winning this award, Svich also presented her play, “Spark” at the company’s Café Bohemia event, an annual play reading series on Saturday, October 13.

“Spark is a play that I wrote in October of last year and it’s really delightful that theatre companies selected it as winner,” Svich said.

Having worked with students at ASU in the past, Svich feels like she’s coming home back to Arizona.  Describing the community as vibrant, Svich is most excited to witness how plays are able to impact the way people think and make art.

“I feel like there’s energy, and in the end, I think that’s the best,” she expressed.

It’s energy what ultimately drives Svich’s faith in her work.  Among her career highlights include those moments when she is surrounded by the applause around her work.  She recalls a grand breakthrough in her career as a writer with her play, “Alchemy of Desire/Dead-Mans Blues”.  This was the first time she had received national validation for her work and a moment where she felt she was on the right path.

Svich was also awarded the Village Voice OBIE for lifetime achievement in 2012, which was of outmost importance for her both personally and professionally.  “It’s something that I’m proud of because I think that as an artist, like with any awards, it’s like ok, keep doing what you do.”

Being recognized is just the start of Svich’s motivation in her career.  She credits her devotion and knows that the success she has been able to achieve is all thanks to her parents.  Supporting her in everything she wanted to do, Svich’s parents also encouraged her to keep up the Spanish language.  This, she explains, “has impacted the way I make work or even think about it.”

Svich works to the sacrifice that meant for her parents to support her daughter, who is the first person in her family to grow an interest in pursuing a career in the arts.  Her father, who used to be a professional soccer player and then worked in a factory, and her mom, who used to be a teacher and further became a retail sales clerk both encouraged Svich to follow her career goals and offered any help.

“It feels even courageous to even try because you don’t have another model in your family to look at,” she recalled.

Gathering from her parent’s example, Svich encourages parents to support their children on their career choices, even if it is something that has never been followed in the family.  She advises parents to provide all of the support and love they can give their children, and to know that it is not easy, but it is important to at least offer children the opportunity to pursue that love and see if it works.

“The one thing about pursuing any career that you’re passionate about is: even if you don’t know if you’re going to be successful or not, is learning about yourself…and hopefully rise in the field in some way.”

In pursuing a dream career, Svich tells that college is ultimately someone trying to find out who they are in reality.  There is always a risk in everything that you do, you learn about yourself, and you do what you can even if it’s a challenge.  When it comes down to it she says “it’s always a gamble, and you just have to honor the gamble of it.”