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About Us
Launched in May 2016, The Sol Project is a new theater initiative dedicated to producing the work by Latinx playwrights in New York City and beyond.
Founded by Artistic Director Jacob G. Padrón and driven by an artistic collective of actors, directors and producers (Claudia Acosta, Elena Acosta, Adriana Gaviria, David Mendizábal, Kyoung Park and Laurie Woolery), The Sol Project elevates the visibility of Latinx writers by activating a network of partner theaters committed to artistic excellence and racial equity. Twelve playwrights, at all stages in their careers, are each partnered with leading off-Broadway companies to execute main-stage productions. Regional partners then commit to the continued life of each play with subsequent productions. By placing Latinx voices alongside some of the most celebrated dramatists working today, The Sol Project aims to promote a more inclusive theater ecosystem. |
In addition to the productions, each partner company will commission a Latinx playwright for future production. Thus, building a robust new play pipeline and seeding the field with new work that will hopefully have life in theaters and communities across the country.
Guided by the ideal that the stage is a place to hold all our stories, The Sol Project aspires to build a bold, timeless and kaleidoscopic body of work for the new American theater.
Guided by the ideal that the stage is a place to hold all our stories, The Sol Project aspires to build a bold, timeless and kaleidoscopic body of work for the new American theater.
Who We Are
Photo Credit: Tammy Shell
The Sol Project’s core artistic collective is composed of its founding members: Claudia Acosta, Elena Araoz, Adriana Gaviria, David Mendizábal, Jacob Padrón, Kyoung Park and Laurie Woolery.
Our Honorary Board includes Junot Díaz, Raúl Castillo, Priscilla Lopez, Sandra Marquez, Edward James Olmos, John Ortiz, Tony Plana, Chita Rivera, Diane Rodriguez, Rosalba Rolón and Daphne Rubin-Vega.
Our current partner theaters include: Atlantic Theater Company, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Cara Mía Theater Company, LAByrinth Theater Company, New Georges, MCC Theater, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Playwrights Horizons, Rattlestick Playwrights Theater, The Playwrights Realm, The Public Theater, and WP Theater.
Our Honorary Board includes Junot Díaz, Raúl Castillo, Priscilla Lopez, Sandra Marquez, Edward James Olmos, John Ortiz, Tony Plana, Chita Rivera, Diane Rodriguez, Rosalba Rolón and Daphne Rubin-Vega.
Our current partner theaters include: Atlantic Theater Company, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Cara Mía Theater Company, LAByrinth Theater Company, New Georges, MCC Theater, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Playwrights Horizons, Rattlestick Playwrights Theater, The Playwrights Realm, The Public Theater, and WP Theater.
Our History
Padrón conceived The Sol Project after attending the convening of the 2013 Latinx Theater Commons (LTC) National Convening in Boston. He realized that if there was to be true representation of Latin stories on America’s stages, something needed to change on a local level. In considering the credence many regional theaters give the vibrant ecology of New York’s theater scene, Padrón was driven to build this initiative to activate and unite the historically bifurcated Latino theater community in New York, with the ultimate goal of affecting change nationwide. Inspired by the playwrights’ collective 13P, Padrón devised a model for a highly visible platform for Latinx playwrights, first in New York City and then nationwide.
A group of Latinx theater artists and scholars gather for a day-long meeting to discuss The Sol Project in August 2014 in New York. (LTC)
In August 2014, the LTC incubated this idea through hosting a day-long meeting of leading New York City Latinx theater artists and scholars. The insights gained from this gathering nurtured the ongoing development of The Sol Project. The goal was to work towards gathering the collective wisdom of the community to answer the question: What does the Latinx theater community in New York City need for its continued growth and expansion?
The conversation and planning for The Sol Project continued past the August 2014 meeting, and in December 2014, a New York City-based artistic collective was assembled to begin building and bringing the initiative to fruition.
The conversation and planning for The Sol Project continued past the August 2014 meeting, and in December 2014, a New York City-based artistic collective was assembled to begin building and bringing the initiative to fruition.
The Sol Project officially launched its initiative in May 2016 with the announcement of the Project's first production and inaugural theater partnership, the world premiere of Hilary Bettis’ "Alligator," directed by Elena Araoz, at New Georges Theater in November 2016. The production of "Alligator" at New Georges coincided with the 2016 Latinx Theatre Commons NYC Convening on December 1-4, hosted by The Public Theater, Sol's third producing partner.
