Luis Torres Nadal
Encyclopedia
Luis Torres Nadal was a Puerto Rican
playwright
, poet
, educator, actor
, choreographer, and theatrical director.
on July 4, 1943. He was the youngest son of Isaías Torres Santiago and Ana Inés Nadal Delegue. He studied at the Colegio Ponceño de Varones
, which at that time was a boys-only school, and graduated from Ponce High School
in 1961.
in 1965 with a B.A.
degree in History and Literature, he traveled to the United States to study at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, Wisconsin. There he earned a Masters degree in Hispanic Studies with a concentration in theatrical arts. His thesis
titled “The Theater of Francisco Arrivi” received an honorific mention.
. He founded the ‘’Ballet Teatro de Puerto Rico’’ theatrical ballet company. He taught dance and ballet at the Puerto Rico School of Dance and at the Julie Mayoral Academy of Dance.
Puerto Rican writers and the post-Luis Rafael Sánchez
writers. His interest centered on placing the Puerto Rican man and woman, from a humanistic perspective, into the global scene in the theatrical world. His theatrical works are the best witness of his sensibility and grave interest in the human destiny. Among his theatrical works are “El asesinato de la mariposa” (The Murder of the Butterfly), “La cena gentil” (The Gracious Dinner), “Responso para una reina difunta” (Prayer for a Dead Queen), “La víspera del día después” (The Eve of the Day After), “A las once en punto y sereno” (At Eleven O’Clock and Calm), “La santa noche del sábado” (Saturday’s Holy Night), y “El problema de papá” (Papa’s Problem). He also authored the monologues “La actriz” (The actress) and “Esa blanca rosa de papel” (That White Paper Rose).
Then, in the early hours of Thursday, May 15, 1986, Torres Nadal was murdered in his hometown of Ponce. His death was mourned by family and friends alike, as his lifeless body was presented for public viewing at the very theater that had seen the results of his brilliant work, Teatro La Perla.
In Ponce there is a street named in his honor. It is located in Urbanizacion Rio Canas, south of Avenida las Americas (PR-163), west of Avenida Baramaya (PR-9), north of Ponce By-pass (PR-2
) and east of Avenida Pampanos (PR-2R).
For his dedication and talent, there is a plaque
in his memory in a Ponce city park, Tricentennial Park.
Puerto Rican people
A Puerto Rican is a person who was born in Puerto Rico.Puerto Ricans born and raised in the continental United States are also sometimes referred to as Puerto Ricans, although they were not born in Puerto Rico...
playwright
Playwright
A playwright, also called a dramatist, is a person who writes plays.The term is not a variant spelling of "playwrite", but something quite distinct: the word wright is an archaic English term for a craftsman or builder...
, poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
, educator, actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
, choreographer, and theatrical director.
Early years
Torres Nadal was born at 67 Aurora Street, in the Ponce Historic ZonePonce Historic Zone
The Ponce Historic Zone is a historic district in downtown Ponce, Puerto Rico with construction that dates to the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The zone was originally designated in 1962, and then it only included the center core of the city, but it has since been expanded to...
on July 4, 1943. He was the youngest son of Isaías Torres Santiago and Ana Inés Nadal Delegue. He studied at the Colegio Ponceño de Varones
Colegio Ponceño
Colegio Ponceño is a Roman Catholic, Piarist, pre K-12 preparatory school located in Ponce, Puerto Rico. The institution "has been recognized by the College Board as the best among public and private schools in Puerto Rico during the last 14 years." It has been regarded as the "most prestigious...
, which at that time was a boys-only school, and graduated from Ponce High School
Ponce High School
The Ponce High School is public educational institution in Ponce, Puerto Rico, offering grades ten through twelve. The school's main building is a historic structure located on Cristina Street, in the Ponce Historic Zone. From its beginning the school has secured a unique place in Puerto Rico's...
in 1961.
Schooling and training
Upon graduation from the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto RicoPontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico
The Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico is a Roman Catholic university located in Ponce, Puerto Rico. It provides courses in the areas of education, business administration, arts and human studies and science, leading to Bachelor's, Master's and Doctorate Degrees. Its campus is also home...
in 1965 with a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree in History and Literature, he traveled to the United States to study at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, Wisconsin. There he earned a Masters degree in Hispanic Studies with a concentration in theatrical arts. His thesis
Thesis
A dissertation or thesis is a document submitted in support of candidature for an academic degree or professional qualification presenting the author's research and findings...
titled “The Theater of Francisco Arrivi” received an honorific mention.
Prominence and style
According to Lilliane Pérez-Marchand and Dr. Piri Fernández de Lewis, Torres Nadal was a unique case in Puerto Rico’s cultural history “not only for his precocious formulation of new forms of theater and poetry, but also for his foresight of the forms of drama of his time.”Poetry
As a poet, he was considered one of the best in Puerto Rico and Latin America. His poetry style which consisted of ripping wide open the intention of the poet through his voice and his movements raised him to first place in his genre. In so doing he not only inherited, but also cultivated the style of his masters Dr. Arturo Machuca Padín, Leopoldo Santiago Lavandero and Alberto Rodríguez. Some of his poems were “Ritual de una voz dolida” (Ritual of a Hurt Voice), “Poema del mar” (Poem of the Sea), “La espera infinita” (The Infinite Wait), and “La angustia vencida” (Overcome Anguish).Ballet
Luis Torres Nadal also stood out in the world of ballet. He was a student of William (Bill) Sarazen of the Puerto Rico School of Ballet. He also studied at the Ballet de San Juan Ballet Company. In New York he was a student at Joffrey Ballet and at the School of American BalletSchool of American Ballet
The School of American Ballet is one of the most famous classical ballet schools in the world and is the associate school of the New York City Ballet, a leading international ballet company based at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City. The school trains students from the...
. He founded the ‘’Ballet Teatro de Puerto Rico’’ theatrical ballet company. He taught dance and ballet at the Puerto Rico School of Dance and at the Julie Mayoral Academy of Dance.
Playwright
As a playwright he is considered a bridge between the generation of realistsRealism (arts)
Realism in the visual arts and literature refers to the general attempt to depict subjects "in accordance with secular, empirical rules", as they are considered to exist in third person objective reality, without embellishment or interpretation...
Puerto Rican writers and the post-Luis Rafael Sánchez
Luis Rafael Sanchez
Dr. Luis Rafael Sánchez a.k.a. "Wico" is a Puerto Rican playwright. Possibly his best known play is La Pasión según Antigona Pérez , a tragedy based on the life of Olga Viscal Garriga-Early years:...
writers. His interest centered on placing the Puerto Rican man and woman, from a humanistic perspective, into the global scene in the theatrical world. His theatrical works are the best witness of his sensibility and grave interest in the human destiny. Among his theatrical works are “El asesinato de la mariposa” (The Murder of the Butterfly), “La cena gentil” (The Gracious Dinner), “Responso para una reina difunta” (Prayer for a Dead Queen), “La víspera del día después” (The Eve of the Day After), “A las once en punto y sereno” (At Eleven O’Clock and Calm), “La santa noche del sábado” (Saturday’s Holy Night), y “El problema de papá” (Papa’s Problem). He also authored the monologues “La actriz” (The actress) and “Esa blanca rosa de papel” (That White Paper Rose).
Theatrical Director
It is said that from a young age Torres Vidal had wanted to leave a real and recognized theatrical movement in his hometown of Ponce. He started directing theatrical works when he was 16 years old. Since then he directed the following performances: “Cuatro y Ernesto” (1972), “El asesinato de la mariposa” (The Murder of the Butterfly) [1973], “Collage para un teatro total” [1973], “Tiempo muerto” (Dead Time) [1974], “Muerte y transfiguración” (1974), “La víspera del día después” [1974], “Encrucijada” [1974], “María Soledad” [1975], “La fortuna y los ojos del hombre”, “Bert (Los entendidos)”, “Esta noche juega el joker” [1976], “Aventuras de Pinocho” [1976], “Mujeres” [1977], “Los cuentos de Juan Bobo” [1983], “El hombre elefante” [1984], “La vendedora de cerillas” [1984], “El árbol de las siete hojas de oro” [1985], “El hombre de las cien manos” y “Los pasteleros”.Rising fame
He was a cornerstone for the founding of the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico’s theater workshop. There, he directed his version of “Marianela”, “Todos los ruiseñores cantan” (All the Nightingales Sing), and his biggest dream, “West Side Story” [1986]. His theatrical arts productions in the city of Ponce converted Ponce into an important center of the theatrical arts as he made the world debut of his versions of “La charca” [1985], and “Doña Bárbara” [1986] there: “Torres Nadal was a faithful defender of the Ponce theater.” From 1985 to 1988, he was a member of the Governing Board of the Ponce Municipal Teatro La Perla, where he is said to have “always been respected by his colleagues, and where he was a motive of inspiration and admiration by the Governing Board members.Last years and death
Torres Vidal made a short incursion into theatrical productions,directing as well as producing in “El Lazarillo de Tormes” (The Guide of Tormes The Blind), and “El problema de papá” (Dad’s Problem). His last endeavors in the theatrical arts were widely accepted and were received with great anticipation, a testimony of his rising fame. His last work as theatrical director was with Compañía Ponceña Guarionex, Inc., in the work and production of “Sirena”, as part of the Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña’s 13th Festival of the Theater in Ponce, The Festival took place from April 25–27, 1986, just two weeks before his death. Two days prior to his death he had also submitted to the trustees of the Pontifical University of Puerto Rico his master plan for the creation of the Department of Dramatic Arts at that institution of higher learning.Then, in the early hours of Thursday, May 15, 1986, Torres Nadal was murdered in his hometown of Ponce. His death was mourned by family and friends alike, as his lifeless body was presented for public viewing at the very theater that had seen the results of his brilliant work, Teatro La Perla.
Legacy
Teatro La Perla holds a yearly theater festival during the month of February in honor of Torres Nadal. "Luis Torres Nadal left as his legacy a festival that after 22 years still marches on."In Ponce there is a street named in his honor. It is located in Urbanizacion Rio Canas, south of Avenida las Americas (PR-163), west of Avenida Baramaya (PR-9), north of Ponce By-pass (PR-2
Puerto Rico Highway 2
Puerto Rico Highway 2, the longest highway in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico at about 156 miles long, connects San Juan to Ponce....
) and east of Avenida Pampanos (PR-2R).
For his dedication and talent, there is a plaque
Commemorative plaque
A commemorative plaque, or simply plaque, is a plate of metal, ceramic, stone, wood, or other material, typically attached to a wall, stone, or other vertical surface, and bearing text in memory of an important figure or event...
in his memory in a Ponce city park, Tricentennial Park.
See also
- List of famous Puerto Ricans