presents
by Juan Ruiz de Alarcón
Directed by Daniel Alonso de Santos
October 17- November 2, 2025
At Teatro Círculo
64 East 4th Street, NYC
OUR STAFF
José Cheo Oliveras,
Founding Artistic Director
Virginia Louloudes,
Development Director
Edna Lee Figueroa,
Marketing Director / Social Media Manager
James Figueroa,
Financial Manager
Eva Vásquez,
Co-Founder & Educational Program Director
Verónica Caicedo,
Facilities Manager
Rubén Darío Cruz,
‘Abuelito, dime tú’ Program Coordinator
Camila Ceschin,
Box Office Manager
Cinzia Meneghello,
Web Designer / Web Master
Mariano de Paco Serrano,
Associate Artistic Director
Dean M. Zayas,
Associate Artistic Director, Emeritus
Pablo Zinger,
Musical Director
Israel Franco-Müller,
Resident Production Designer
Manuel Gómez Crespo,
Technical Production Director
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Eric Rivera, Chair
Special Assistant to the Commissioner/Chief Diversity Officer, NYC Department of Aging
Barbara Matos, Treasurer
Founder & CEO – Socorro Strategies
Paul Marín, Secretary
Founder and CEO, PM Public Relations
José Cheo Oliveras
Founding Artistic Director, Teatro Círculo
Eva Vásquez
York College
Diana Chery-Ramírez
Playwright, Director, Actress, Professor
Rocky Lizardi
Sony Music Entertainment
Laura Aguinaga
Actress, Producer, Writer
Rubie M. Alicea
Immigration Attorney – Kuba Law
MANY THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS…
National Endowment for the Arts
New York State Governor Kathy Hochul
New York State Council on the Arts, with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature
New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council
Mayor’s Office of Media & Entertainment
New York City Council Members Carlina Rivera – District 2, Shaun Abreu – District 7, Diana Ayala – District 8, Amanda Farías – District 18, Francisco Moya – District 21, Tiffany Caban – District 22, Sandy Nurse – District 37, Justin Brannan – District 47
U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
Daniel S. Goldman, U.S. House of Representatives
Small Business Administration
The Tow Foundation
Howard Gilman Foundation
New York Community Trust
The National Latinx Theater Initiative
The Shubert Foundation
The Emma A. Sheafer Charitable Trust
Miranda Family Fund
The Hispanic Federation
Jeffrey & Paula Gural
The Mid-Atlantic Arts, through USArtists International
Lily Auchincloss Foundation
The Kaplen Brothers Fund
The Cory & Bob Donnalley Charitable Foundation
The Michael Tuch Foundation
The Frederic Coudert Foundation
The Lucille Lortel Foundation
Blanche & Irving Laurie Foundation
Con Edison
Bank of America
NYC Women’s Fund for Media, Music and Theater
Mosaic Fund
The Tow Charitable Foundation
For more information on how to make a tax-deductible donation visit:
La monja alférez (The Lieutenant Nun) is made possible, in part, through funds from the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Kathy Houchul and the New York State Legislature, New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, Howard Gilman Foundation, National Latinx Theater Initiative, Shubert Foundation, Cory & Bob Donnalley Charitable Foundation, Lily Auchincloss Foundation, Coudert Foundation, Lucille Lortel Foundation, the Miranda Family Fund, and Mosaic Fund.
Lily Auchincloss Foundation
For more information about touring productions contact us at
(845) 662-7742 or at joliveras@teatrocirculo.org
Our rehearsal space and theaters are available for rent at very affordable rates.
Contact us at (347) 967-4765 / vcaicedo@teatrocirculo.org or visit:
PRESENTS
by Juan Ruiz de Alarcón
Directed by Daniel Alonso de Santos
October 17- November 2, 2025
At Teatro Círculo
The story of a 17th Century decorated trans soldier
Performed in Spanish Verse with Overtitles in English
Running time: Approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes. No intermission.
CAST
(In alphabetical order)
Jei Fabiano (MC, Friar) Colombia
Colombian singer and violinist based in New York City. Their entire career has been inspired by gender activism. Has been recognized by New York theater critics with various awards for best monologue with their play ‘The Bearded Woman’. Has worked with the National Children Chorus and ChaShaMa performing at the Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall and more.
Instagram: @chico_raro_
María Fontanals (Guzmán) Spain
María is honored and excited to join Teatro Círculo again. Born in Barcelona, she is an award-winning actress and faculty member at HB Studio as well as a member of their Artistic Council. She has worked with renowned Off-Broadway theater companies such as Teatro Círculo, IATI, Repertorio Español, Dixon Place, Theater for the New City, to name a few. She has won several HOLA, ACE and ATI awards for her work.
Fernando Gazzaniga (Machín) Argentina
Actor who has developed his career in many countries of Latin America beyond his own. He has participated in several theater productions, and more than 10 well-known TV series in Argentina, Colombia, and Peru, where he has also performed as a TV Host. Fernando studied Dramatic Arts in Argentina and continued his training at HB Studio in New York City. He has performed in more than 30 television advertisements and as a model has been the face of several important commercial and fashion brands. His most recent theater performances in the US, include ‘Fuente Ovejuna’, ‘La dama boba’, ‘Life is a Dream’, ‘Entremeses de Cervantes’, ‘The Playboy of Seville’ and ‘Don´t Leave Me Behind’ for which he received two ATI Awards. He has also starred in the movies ‘Las tetas caídas’ and his recent film ‘Lo entenderá’.
www.fergazzaniga.com
Instagram: @fergazzaniga
Gerardo Gudiño (Don Diego) Argentina
Graduate in Theater from the National University of Córdoba, Argentina. Actor and director. He is a company member of Repertorio Español and has also worked with Teatro Círculo, IATI, Boundless Theatre Company, among others. He has performed in ‘Mercado libre’, ‘Crónica de una muerte anunciada, ‘Bodas de sangre’, ‘La vida es sueño’, ‘Yerma’, ‘Doña Flor y sus dos maridos’, ‘Don Quijote’, ‘La zapatera prodigiosa’, ‘El laurel de Apolo’, ‘El caballero del milagro’, ‘La tía Julia y el escribidor’, ‘Blind Spot’, y ‘La dama boba’, among others. He has been awarded several ACE, HOLA, ATI and Talía Awards.
Sandra Gumuzzio (Doña Ana) Spain
Sandra is excited to make her debut with Teatro Círculo. Originally from Madrid, and after a theater career in Spain, Sandra arrived in New York in 2015 and since then she has worked in film, theater and TV. Her latest theater credits include: ‘La valentía’, (Gala Hispanic Theatre), “La dama boba”, “Filomena Marturano” (Repertorio Español), ‘Los niños perdidos’ (ID Studio). She has won ATI and LATA Awards. Training: Réplika Teatro (Madrid), Susan Batson (NYC) and possesses a BA in Audiovisual Communication (UCM).
Mario Mattei (Nuevo Cid, el Conde) Puerto Rico
Stage, television, and radio actor. He studied at the Ponce School of Fine Arts, the Drama Department of the University of Puerto Rico, Ponce and Río Piedras campus, where he learned from his mentor, great director and Maestro Dean Zayas. In NYC he has been part of the Puerto Rican Traveling Theater under the direction of Míriam Colón, Repertorio Español, Teatro SEA, Pregones and Teatro Círculo. Some credits in NYC: ‘Seis’, ‘El caballero del milagro’, ‘Cartas de amor’, ‘¡Guaracha!, a Musical’, ‘El Quijote’, ‘La canción’, ‘La Gloria, a Latin Cabaret’ and ‘Los títeres de cachiporra’, among others. He has been recognized on several occasions by the HOLA, ACE and ATI awards.
José Cheo Oliveras (Miguel de Erauso, el Virrey) Puerto Rico
Holds a BA in Theatre and Public Communications from the University of Puerto Rico and ABD at CUNY Graduate Center where he studied Spanish and Luso‐Brazilian Literatures. He has worked as an actor and director at most of the established Latino theatre companies in New York City including Repertorio Español, Puerto Rican Traveling Theatre and Thalia Spanish Theatre, among others. Cheo has received multiple ACE, HOLA, LATA, and ATI awards for his work as an actor and director and several awards from BORIMIX and “Comité Noviembre” for his contribution to the Latino Arts in NYC.
Eva Cristina Vásquez (Inés) Puerto Rico
She is a Spanish professor at York College, CUNY. She is the author of: ‘Pregones Theatre: A Theater for Social Change in The South Bronx’ (2003) and the plays ‘Amor perdido’ (2003), ‘Lágrimas negras’ (2007), ‘Carmen Loisaida’ (2011), ‘Torniquete’ (2018) and ‘Intermedio en el fin del mundo’ (2021). Eva edited ‘Círculo de plata: Antología de estrenos mundiales de Teatro Círculo’ (2021) and is part of the editorial board of EntreTmas magazine (2023). She’s a Co-Founding member of Teatro Círculo.
CREATIVE TEAM AND CREW
Juan Ruiz de Alarcón y Mendoza (Playwright) Mexico
Was born in Taxco (Mexico) in 1580. There is barely any information about his early years. He studied at the Real y Pontificia University in Mexico. In 1600 he was in Salamanca, studying canon and civil law. He returned to Mexico and in 1611 moved to Madrid, accompanying the Viceroy. The most fruitful period in his literary production started here. He was soon famous in the Madrid literary world although he never established deep links with any of its members. Though a friend and collaborator of Tirso de Molina, he was, however, not on good terms with Lope de Vega, Vélez de Guevara, Luis de Góngora or Francisco de Quevedo among others. His drama enjoyed the favor of the Court under Phillip IV. He died in Madrid in 1639.
Daniel Alonso de Santos (Director) Spain
Theater director with a degree in Psychology from the Autonomous University of Madrid. He has worked in television, film, and multiple theater projects as a playwright, director, and actor. His language and stage style are formed from his work in the Compañía Nacional de Teatro Clásico de España (National Classical Theater Company of Spain), as well as from the hand of his teachers J.L Alonso de Santos and Mariano de Paco. He is currently a professor at different artistic university institutions in Spain.
Theater director with a degree in Psychology from the Autonomous University of Madrid. He has worked in television, film, and multiple theater projects as a playwright, director, and actor. His language and stage style are formed from his work in the Compañía Nacional de Teatro Clásico de España (National Classical Theater Company of Spain), as well as from the hand of his teachers J.L Alonso de Santos and Mariano de Paco. He is currently a professor at different artistic university institutions in Spain.
Daniel wants to thank Teatro Círculo, and congratulate it on its 30th anniversary.
Instagram: @soydanialonso
Karmele Aranburu (Verse Director) Spain
Actress specialized in classical verse. She combines her acting work with directing verse in shows and teaching. She has directed La Academia del Verso de Alcalá and currently directs Aula de Verso K in Madrid. She has been Verse Director in more than thirty shows.
Since 2020, she has been working with Teatro Círculo in its productions of classical texts as well as teaching in workshops on the interpretation of the Spanish verse. She is a professor at the Academia de las Artes Escénicas de España (Academy of Performing Arts of Spain).
www.marcogadei.com/karmelearanburu/
Instagram: @karmelearanburu @auladeverso
Israel Franco Müller (Production Designer) Puerto Rico
Production Manager and Set, Lighting & Costume Designer. International theatre designer whose works have been seen in: Alcalá and Almagro’s Classical Theater Festival in Spain 2022, Edinburgh’s Fringe Festival in Scotland, Cuba, Mexico, among other countries. Awards: Outstanding Costume Design- ‘Fuente Ovejuna’ (Teatro Círculo, ATI 2023), Outstanding Production Designer- ‘El caballero de Olmedo’ (Teatro Círculo, HOLA 2018), Best Set and Costume Design- ‘El burlador de Sevilla’ (Teatro Círculo, ATI 2019). Franco-Müller holds a Ph.D. in Theater Design and Technical Production from the Complutense University of Madrid.
Caridad del Valle (Assistant Director/Stage Manager) Puerto Rico
Has a B.A. in Dramatic Arts from the University of Puerto Rico. Her work as an artist includes acting, writing, production and stage management with theater companies like Teatro Círculo, Repertorio Español and Boundless Theatre Company. Among the numerous plays in which she has participated are La casa de Bernarda Alba, Virtuous Burglar, Yo no soy Lupita and Primavera ya no hay más (of her authorship-recently staged at Teatro Círculo). She has participated in important international festivals in countries such as Spain, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic and the US. She has also received various recognitions and prestigious awards for her work as an actor and stage manager, from institutions like HOLA, ACE, ATI, LATA & ARTE. Between 2005 and 2006 she worked on Puerto Rican television on the programs Un día antes and De mujeres. In the cinema, she has worked as an actor and producer; among her film projects are: It is, Silent Dinner, Ping and Who Cares About What? In 2018, she founded her company Few Pennies Theatrical. With the intention of exploring new artistic horizons.
Instagram: @carodelvalle
Kareliz Michelle De Jesús Pietri (Makeup Designer)
Born in Old San Juan, PR. She has dedicated herself to the performing arts since they was a child. Studied at the José Julián Acosta Specialized Theater School. She started at WAPA Televisión in 2007 as a comedian, makeup artist and costume designer. In 2012 moved to Florida to work at Telemundo and moved to New York in 2019 where they pursue the same luck of being able to work both on stage and behind the scenes.
Instagram: @kareliz.michelle
Adaptation: Daniel Alonso de Santos & Germán Vega García-Luengos
Original Music Composition: Jei Fabiano
Fights Choreography: Mario Mattei
Technicians: Caridad del Valle, Kousheki Katha
Overtitles Operator: Kareliz Michelle
English Translation: Paola Ramírez
Original Promotional Photos: Israel Franco-Müller
Graphic Design: Edna Lee Figueroa
Social Media Assistant: Ryan Stawski
Teatro Círculo thanks everyone who has helped to make this production possible: people sharing our promos, sponsors, volunteers, friends and family, and YOU, our audience, for your continuous support through these 30 years!
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