The Gratey Theater revives its historical legacy in the presentation of The Altered Scene
The iconic Teatro Gratey returns to take center stage in the Dominican cultural scene. More than four decades after its heyday, the members of this historic collective will gather this Tuesday, August 25th, at Casa de Teatro for the book launch of “La Escena Alterada: Historia del Teatro Gratey,” written by cultural manager Danilo Ginebra.
More than a conventional literary event, the presentation promises to be a journey through time. Ginebra, the author of the work, explained that the purpose was to break with the traditional schemes of book presentations to return to the public the living essence of the theater that defined the 1970s and 1980s in the country.
The first thing we asked ourselves was whether we should do a traditional launch like any other intellectual. We said: we cannot do it that way. We wanted to recover the essence of what we were on stage.
Danilo Ginebra, author and cultural manager.
An international reunion
To bring this tribute to life, former members of the group have returned from abroad. Among them are Claudio Mir, who traveled from the United States, and Anacaona Feliz, who arrived from Italy, both of whom will join other group veterans to recreate scenes that left a mark on an entire generation of viewers.
- Historical memory: The book compiles 16 years of history, including the social and political challenges of the era.
- Theatrical resilience: The group faced censorship and imprisonment, but always maintained its commitment to dramatic art.
- Repertoire: Fragments of memorable plays such as “Regina Express,” “Pedro y el Capitán,” “1946, mi primera manifestación,” and “La Chunga” will be presented.
Claudio Mir: The legacy of a school
For actor Claudio Mir, this event represents a return to his professional roots. Mir, who will once again embody the Devil in the play “Regina Express” after 44 years, highlights that Gratey was much more than a theater company; it was his true school.
Gratey was a school. It was a group that shaped me not only as an actor, but ethically, values that I have carried over into my career and my community work with immigrants in the United States.
Claudio Mir, actor.
Event details
The ceremony, which will begin at 7:30 p.m., will be hosted by Freddy Ginebra, founder of Casa de Teatro. The program includes the reading of the prologue by Rafael Morla, director of the School of Dramatic Art, the screening of a documentary featuring testimonies from collaborators, and an analysis of the group’s sociopolitical context by journalist Fausto Rosario.
Danilo Ginebra extended an open invitation to artists, theater practitioners, and the general public to be part of this rescue of Dominican cultural memory, celebrating a 16-year trajectory that left an indelible mark on the history of national art.
