When President Trump issued his Executive Order declaring transgender soldiers, “not in the best interest of the Service of the Militaries… and not consistent with the interests of national security,” José Cheo Oliveras, Teatro Círculo’s Founding Artistic Director knew which play he would choose to open the company’s 2025-2026 Season.

Teatro Círculo presents the Spanish Golden Age Classic La monja alférez (The Lieutenant Nun) by Juan Ruiz de Alarcón, an adaptation by Daniel Alonso de Santos & Germán Vega García-Luengos, under the direction of Daniel Alonso de Santos, and verse direction by Karmele Aranburu.

This extraordinary play challenged the idea of gender conformity 400 years ago. Teatro Círculo’s production reimagines La monja alférez as a play within a play set in a piano bar in present day New York City. The MC, a nonbinary pianist and opera singer, introduces the powerful true story of Guzmán (Catalina de Erauso). 

Cast: María Fontanals, Sandra Gumuzzio, Eva Cristina Vásquez, Gerardo Gudiño, Fernando Gazzaniga, José Cheo Oliveras, Mario Mattei, Jei Fabiano

Production design by Israel Franco-Müller, Caridad del Valle is the Assistant Director and Stage Manager, Eliana Michelle Yost is the Assistant Costume Designer, Kareliz Michelle De Jesús is the Hair & Makeup Designer, original music is composed by Jei Fabiano, Fight Choreography by Mario Mattei.