Carlos Solórzano
Encyclopedia
Carlos Solórzano is a Guatemala
n born Mexican playwright. He is considered one of the most important playwrights in Guatemalan history. His contribution to the theater in Latin America range from his plays to articles in theater journals and encyclopedias, and essays related to the history and anthology of Latin theater.
.
In 1939 Carlos Solórzano moved to Mexico
. In 1945 he graduated from the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México as an architect, as a master and doctor of letters 1946–1948. His first play, Espejo de Novelas, was penned in 1946. In 1948, a grant from the Rockefeller Foundation
permitted him to study drama at Sorbonne
, Paris, France. During his studies in France, he became acquainted with many prominent men of letters such as Camus
and Ghelderode and their influence and dramatic style would be a major influence in his later works as indeed in increasing his interest in theatrical subjects in general.
Solórzano returned to Mexico City
. He began writing a number of plays, some of which are important to Mexican theatre today. Doña Beatriz, la sin ventura (1954), El hechicero (1954), Las manos de Dios (1957), El crucificado (1957), Los fantoches de andalucia (1959), Tres actos (1959) are amongst his notable works in the 1950s. His play El crucificado, is a reenactment of Jesus Christ's crucifixion. A number of his works are allegorical
ranging from political allegories with hidden agendas to explorations of the reason for man's existence.
Solorzano represented Mexico in the first playwriting workshop in Puerto Rico
in 1960 and in 1963 was representative of Mexico's Festival of Theater of Nations in Paris with his work Los fantoches de andalucia . He attended the XI Congreso de Literatura Iberoamericana in Austin, Texas
.
Solórzano is a recipient of the Miguel Ángel Asturias
Award (Premio Nacional de Literatura 'Miguel Ángel Asturias') given to those who excel in literature in Guatemala. He was awarded this honor in 1989.
Solórzano is an active lecturer and director in the universities. He has served as the director of the Teatro Universitario as well as the director of the Museo Nacional de Teatro. He has lectured in several universities in the United States including Columbia University
, the University of Southern California
, and the University of Kansas
. He is currently a professor at the Autonomous University of Latin America, and an editor of the theatrical encyclopedia, Enciclopedia Mundial del Teatro Contemporaneo.
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
n born Mexican playwright. He is considered one of the most important playwrights in Guatemalan history. His contribution to the theater in Latin America range from his plays to articles in theater journals and encyclopedias, and essays related to the history and anthology of Latin theater.
Biography
Carlos Solórzano was born in 1922 to a wealthy family in San Marcos, GuatemalaSan Marcos, Guatemala
San Marcos San Marcos San Marcos (elevation: 7,868 feet (2,398 meters) is a city and municipality in Guatemala.It is the capital of the department of San Marcos.The municipality has a population of approximately 45,000.-Sports:...
.
In 1939 Carlos Solórzano moved to Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. In 1945 he graduated from the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México as an architect, as a master and doctor of letters 1946–1948. His first play, Espejo de Novelas, was penned in 1946. In 1948, a grant from the Rockefeller Foundation
Rockefeller Foundation
The Rockefeller Foundation is a prominent philanthropic organization and private foundation based at 420 Fifth Avenue, New York City. The preeminent institution established by the six-generation Rockefeller family, it was founded by John D. Rockefeller , along with his son John D. Rockefeller, Jr...
permitted him to study drama at Sorbonne
Sorbonne
The Sorbonne is an edifice of the Latin Quarter, in Paris, France, which has been the historical house of the former University of Paris...
, Paris, France. During his studies in France, he became acquainted with many prominent men of letters such as Camus
Camus
-People:* Albert Camus, French author, philosopher and journalist* Charles Étienne Louis Camus, French mathematician* Jean-Pierre Camus, French bishop and writer* Louis-Auguste Camus de Richemont, French military chief and baron d'Empire...
and Ghelderode and their influence and dramatic style would be a major influence in his later works as indeed in increasing his interest in theatrical subjects in general.
Solórzano returned to Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
. He began writing a number of plays, some of which are important to Mexican theatre today. Doña Beatriz, la sin ventura (1954), El hechicero (1954), Las manos de Dios (1957), El crucificado (1957), Los fantoches de andalucia (1959), Tres actos (1959) are amongst his notable works in the 1950s. His play El crucificado, is a reenactment of Jesus Christ's crucifixion. A number of his works are allegorical
Allegory
Allegory is a demonstrative form of representation explaining meaning other than the words that are spoken. Allegory communicates its message by means of symbolic figures, actions or symbolic representation...
ranging from political allegories with hidden agendas to explorations of the reason for man's existence.
Solorzano represented Mexico in the first playwriting workshop in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
in 1960 and in 1963 was representative of Mexico's Festival of Theater of Nations in Paris with his work Los fantoches de andalucia . He attended the XI Congreso de Literatura Iberoamericana in Austin, Texas
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
.
Solórzano is a recipient of the Miguel Ángel Asturias
Miguel Ángel Asturias
Miguel Ángel Asturias Rosales was a Nobel Prize–winning Guatemalan poet, novelist, playwright, journalist and diplomat...
Award (Premio Nacional de Literatura 'Miguel Ángel Asturias') given to those who excel in literature in Guatemala. He was awarded this honor in 1989.
Solórzano is an active lecturer and director in the universities. He has served as the director of the Teatro Universitario as well as the director of the Museo Nacional de Teatro. He has lectured in several universities in the United States including Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
, the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
, and the University of Kansas
University of Kansas
The University of Kansas is a public research university and the largest university in the state of Kansas. KU campuses are located in Lawrence, Wichita, Overland Park, and Kansas City, Kansas with the main campus being located in Lawrence on Mount Oread, the highest point in Lawrence. The...
. He is currently a professor at the Autonomous University of Latin America, and an editor of the theatrical encyclopedia, Enciclopedia Mundial del Teatro Contemporaneo.
Plays
- Espejo de Novelas (1946)
- Doña Beatriz, la sin ventura (1954)
- El hechicero (1954)
- Las manos de Dios (1957)
- El crucificado (1957)
- Mea culpa (1958)
- Los fantoches de andalucia (1959)
- Tres actos (1959)
- Los falsos demonios (1963)
- Cruce de vías (1969)
- El zapato (1971)
- El sueño del angel