BENEFIT PERFORMANCE
IN HONOR OF MARGARITA LÓPEZ
April 17, 2026 at 7pm
Welcome to Teatro Círculo’s Benefit Performance of TANGO 100%
sponsored by the Hispanic Federation.
Thank you for supporting Teatro Círculo! You are all key to the development and success of Teatro Círculo’s series and programs: Mainstage Series, CALLBACKseries, DANCEseries, Master Class Series, Abuelito, dime tú Program, Affordable Rental Program, First Call Reading Series, Touring Productions, Mi casa es tu casa Program.
We honor former Councilwoman Margarita López for the pivotal role she played in helping us realize the dream of owning our building.
MARGARITA LÓPEZ was born in Puerto Rico, she relocated to New York City in 1978. She was the president of the Lower East Side Joint Planning Council from 1978-1985. Margarita worked as a homeless outreach social worker from 1985-1997, for Project Outreach at Goddard Riverside.
She is a former member of the New York City Council who represented New York City’s 2nd City Council district from 1998 to 2005, having been elected in 1997. The 2nd district comprises the Lower East Side, Alphabet City, and the East Village.
During her years of community and political service, she has particularly emphasized increasing city services, renovating neighborhood libraries, and championing gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender rights.
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This evening, we will proudly unveil a commemorative plaque dedicating our rehearsal space as the Margarita López Rehearsal Room and Studio Theater — a space that has nurtured the creative process of thousands of New York City theater artists and continues to serve as a home for artistic creation, collaboration, and performance.
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“I have a global view of issues that affect human beings. And based on that understanding is how I have conducted my life. I think that has something to do with coming from an island were everything is so small and so isolated that you think that an island is the planet (chuckling). I think growing up on an island created that kind of impact in my mind, and my analyses always tend to be global. Understanding that whatever you do is interconnected and will have repercussions and consequences, positive and negative.“ – Margarita López (as interviewed for Out and Elected in the USA)
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Let us delight in a beautiful tango show and festive reception, as we toast Margarita’s advocacy and achievements, and enjoy hors d’oeuvres, drinks and a tango lesson taught by our award-winning artists.
Thank you and get ready to TANGO 100%!
Photo of Margarita López courtesy of La Guardia & Wagner Archives