PLAYS PRODUCED AT NEW THEATRE” 1986-2006

ALL ABOUT THE ARTS

1986-1987

WOYZECK – GEORG BUECHNER

CHOPIN IN SPACE – PHILIP BOSAKOVSKI

THREE ONE-ACT PLAYS BY CUBAN-AMERICAN PLAYWRIGHTS:

WE WERE ALWAYS AFRAID – LEOPOLD HERNANDEZ

THE GUILLOTINE – MATIAS MONTES-HUIDOBRO

UNDERTONES – JULIO MATAS

KING UBU – ALFRED JARRY

1987-1988             

TO SIR NOEL, WITH LOVE – NOEL COWARD (REVUE)

FEIFFER’S PEOPLE – JULES FEIFFER (REVUE)

BRECHT ON BRECHT – TABORI, BRECHT, WEILL (REVUE)

ON THE VERGE – ERIC OVERMYER

ELIAS – MARC CAMERON

MISS MARGARIDA’S WAY – ROBERTO ATHAYDE

MISS JULIE/THE STRONGER – AUGUST STRINDBERG

THE AMERICAN DREAM – EDWARD ALBEE

THE LESSON – EUGENE IONESCO

THE ‘I HOPE I GET A GOOD REVIEW REVUE – COMPANY-DEVELOPED ORIGINAL REVUE

THE MANDRAKE – MACHIAVELLI

1988-1989             

THREE ONE-ACT PLAYS – ANTON CHEKHOV

VOICES AT THE MARY ELIZABETH HOTEL – SUSAN WESTFALL

GERTRUDE STEIN AND A COMPANION – WILL WELLS

HOW I GOT THAT STORY – AMLIN GRAY

THE MAIDS – JEAN GENET

LADIES AT PLAY – JULIO MATAS

NORA (A DOLL HOUSE) – HENRIK IBSEN (INGMAR BERGMAN ADAPTATION )

DEAR LIAR – JEROME KILTY

SPOON RIVER ANTHOLOGY – EDGAR LEE MASTERS

LA RONDE – ARTHUR SCHNITZLER

1989-1990             

FEIFFER’S PEOPLE II – JULES FEIFFER (REVUE)

NO EXIT – JEAN PAUL SARTRE

CAT’S PAW – WILLIAM MASTROSIMONE

THE ANASTASIA FILE – ROYCE RYTON

SUMMIT CONFERENCE – ROBERT DAVID MCDONALD

THE DANCE OF DEATH – AUGUST STRINDBERG

BRECHT ON BRECHT II – TABORI, BRECHT, WEILL (REVUE)

1990-1991             

YOU ARE HERE – SUSAN WESTFALL

THE BARBER OF SEVILLE – BEAUMARCHAIS

MOROCCO – ALLAN HAVIS

PAINTING CHURCHES – TINA HOWE

TWO ONE-ACT PLAYS – NOEL COWARD

THE CHEKHOV STORYBOOK – ANTON CHEKHOV (DE ACHA ADAPTATION)

DON JUAN IN HELL – GEORGE BERNARD SHAW

THE WHITE CROW: EICHMANN IN JERUSALEM – DONALD FREED

1991-1992             

ALFRED STIEGLITZ LOVES O’KEEFE – LANIE ROBERSON

THE PROMISE – ALEKSEI ARBUZOV

HEDDA GABLER – HENRIK IBSEN

NOEL COWARD: A TALENT TO AMUSE – NOEL COWARD (REVUE)

EDUCATING RITA – WILLY RUSSELL

THE GOLDEN AGE – A.R. GURNEY

ALCESTE (THE MISANTHROPE) – MOLIERE

1992-1993             

A MAN OF DESTINY – G.B. SHAW

THE COCKTAIL HOUR – A.R. GURNEY

THE ROAD TO MECCA – ATHOL FUGARD

BERLIN TO BROADWAY WITH KURT WEILL (REVUE)

A DOLL HOUSE – HENRIK IBSEN

SPEED-THE-PLOW – DAVID MAMET

BLITHE SPIRIT – NOEL COWARD

1993-1994           

SQUARE ONE – STEVE TESICH

MOUNTAIN – DOUGLAS SCOTT

NO EXIT – JEAN PAUL SARTRE

OTHER PLACES (4 ONE-ACT PLAYS) – HAROLD PINTER

LENNY: A SALUTE TO LEONARD BERNSTEIN (REVUE)

TO GILLIAN ON HER 37TH BIRTHDAY- MICHAEL BRADY

        “…an exquisite, subtle, and heartrending production…” [To Gillian on Her 37th Birthday – Michael Brady] – Roberta Morgan, Miami New Times, March 1994

THE MIDDLE AGES – A.R. GURNEY

1994-1995             

A PERFECT GANESH – TERRENCE MCNALLY

SIGHT UNSEEN – DONALD MARGULIES

LONG DAY’S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT – EUGENE O’NEILL

TALLEY’S FOLLY – LANFORD WILSON

THE VALUE OF NAMES/GEORGE’S FILE – JEFFREY SWEET

TWO BEARS BLINKING – MICHAEL BRADY

1995-1996             

PARK YOUR CAR IN HARVARD YARD – ISRAEL HOROVITZ

THE GLASS MENAGERIE – TENNESSEE WILLIAMS

THE BEST OF FRIENDS – HUGH WHITEMORE

LATER LIFE – A.R. GURNEY

KEELY AND DU – JANE MARTIN

SCHWEITZER – BILL YULE

1996-1997             

YOUTH AND ASIA – RICHARD JANARO

THAT SOUND YOU HEAR – MICHAEL MCKEEVER

PIRATES OF TIGERTAIL – SUSAN WESTFALL

LOVE! VALOUR! COMPASSION! – TERRENCE MCNALLY

LOVE LETTERS    A.R. GURNEY

CAMPING WITH HENRY AND TOM – MARC ST. GERMAIN

THREE HOTELS – JON ROBIN BAITZ

PAINTING CHURCHES – TINA HOWE

THE WOMAN IN BLACK – STEPHEN MALLATRATT

1997-1998             

ANGELS IN AMERICA, PARTS I AND II – TONY KUSHNER

“What fills that space is the best kind of theater — provocative, moving, funny, intellectually-stimulating, grand and captivating.  De Acha took a great risk in tackling Angels in America. Now you can reap the rewards… one of the highlights of South Florida’s homegrown theater season.” – Christine Dolen, Miami Herald

CLARENCE DARROW – DAVID RINTEL

MOLLY SWEENEY – BRIAN FRIEL

OLD TIMES – HAROLD PINTER

UNMERCIFUL GOOD FORTUNE – EDWIN SANCHEZ

1998-1999             

CLOUD TECTONICS – JOSE RIVERA

BETWEEN EAST AND WEST -RICHARD NELSON

37 POSTCARDS – MICHAEL MCKEEVER

AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS – JULES VERNE (AHLFORS/GOODSON ADAPTATION)

Around the World in 80 Days is a journey into the sublime.  Book passage for yourself and, if you have them, take your school-age kids, and see how far imagination can take you.” – Christine Dolen Miami Herald                         

THE TURN OF THE SCREW – JEFFREY HATCHER (AFTER HENRY JAMES)

A CHRISTMAS CAROL – CHARLES DICKENS (DE ACHA ADAPTATION)

DON JUAN IN HELL – G.B. SHAW

WHAT I DID LAST SUMMER – A.R. GURNEY

TAKING SIDES – RONALD HARWOOD

A MOON FOR THE MISBEGOTTEN – EUGENE O’NEILL

Named Best Director by Miami New Times l999

“De Acha brings such intricate care and subtle intelligence to the details of design and staging that a signature de Acha production, recognizable anywhere, has come to be one of the high points of the South Florida cultural landscape.”

1999-2000             

MICKEY AND WILL – RICHARD JANARO

JUMPING THROUGH WINDOWS – GEORGE CONTINI

ONE FLEA SPARE – NAOMI WALLACE

THE STRONGER/MISS JULIE – AUGUST STRINDBERG

HOW I LEARNED TO DRIVE – PAULA VOGEL

I AM A CAMERA – JOHN VAN DRUTEN

SIX ONE-ACT PLAYS – ROGER MARTIN, GEORGE CONTINI, ARNOLD MERCADO, DAVID KWIAT, RICHARD JANARO, MICHAEL MCKEEVER

THE BOOK OF RUTH – MARIO DIAMENT

2000-2001             

NEVER THE SINNER – JOHN LOGAN

THE HOUSE OF THE SEVEN GABLES – NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE (RICHARD JANARO ADAPTATION)

FAR EAST – A.R. GURNEY

SEXY AND MIGGS – MICHAEL MCKEEVER

THE LEGACY – MARK HARELIK

ELECTRA – SOPHOCLES (FRANK MCGUINNESS ADAPTATION)

2001-2002             

WIT – MARGARET EDSON

HORTENSIA AND THE MUSEUM OF DREAMS – NILO CRUZ

THE WAVERLY GALLERY – KENNETH LONERGAN

THE WEIR – CONOR MCPHERSON

SMITHEREENS – MARIO DIAMENT

      “De Acha also has an uncanny ability to conjure up a tactile sense of place, of society. The overall tone of this production [Smithereens – Mario Diament] is somber and decidedly provocative.” – Ronald Mangravite, Miami New Times

ON THE VERGE – ERIC OVERMYER

Named Best Director by Miami New Times 2003

“. . . his productions have been subtle, sensual, literate, evocative, and—most important— clear. . . .no wonder so many writers enjoy working with him. . . .The courtly Cuban-born, New York City-trained director is also a master of musicality, using elements of rhythm, tone, and harmony in his productions.  Hardly surprising, as he’s also an experienced opera director.”

2002-2003             

HAMLET – SHAKESPEARE

“It will be a long time before Floridians see a Hamlet as triumphant as the one enthralling audiences at the New Theatre. In fact, it will be a long time before we see any Shakespeare this fine again. With virtuoso acting, sublime direction and just plain mesmerizing theater, de Acha and an outstanding company spin a vibrant vision that modern audiences can easily connect with.” – Bill Hirschman, Sun Sentinel

TOM WALKER – JOHN STRAND

ANNA IN THE TROPICS – NILO CRUZ

“…Anna in the Tropics, in its world premiere at the New Theatre under the elegant direction of Rafael de Acha… The beautifully staged play starts off with contrapuntal scenes. De Acha orchestrates these scenes and their atmospheric soundtracks with great style.  The dialogue swirls in alternation between the two, and then washes together at times.  It’s a bravura entrance into Cruz’s story and the long-ago world he conjures.” – Ronald Mangravite, Miami New Times

JACOB MARLEY’S CHRISTMAS CAROL – TOM MULA

MADAME MELVILLE – RICHARD NELSON

THE CREDEAUX CANVAS – KEITH BUNIN

“…Rafael de Acha’s production [The Credeaux Canvas – Keith Bunin] is beautifully staged but deliberately stark. Scenes and acts end without fanfare or codas. Rather, they just evaporate, like these friendships do. As usual, de Acha is in fine form, delivering nuanced, subtle staging.” -Ronald Mangravite, Miami New Times

A TOWN LIKE IRVING – MICHAEL McKEEVER

2003-2004             

OTHELLO – SHAKESPEARE

TWELFTH NIGHT – SHAKESPEARE

 “De Acha and company have whipped up a colorful froth of a show [Twelfth Night].  The result is both a charming and an uncharacteristically bold approach to Shakespeare’s original script.” – Ronald Mangravite, Miami New Times

LONG DAY’S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT – EUGENE O’NEILL

TIMES LIKE THESE – JOHN O’KEEFE

“No theatre in town is better able to create so much size and spectacle in so little space. De Acha should be permitted a slow, deep bow for his Times Like These [John O’Keefe].” – Bruce Miller, Coral Gables Gazette

BEAUTY OF THE FATHER – NILO CRUZ

“As with his direction of the other Nilo Cruz plays, de Acha again shows a refined, sensual touch with this material [Beauty of the Father]… He uses the stage to good effect, creating dreamlike moods…” – Ronald Mangravite, Miami New Times

BLIND DATE – MARIO DIAMENT

WHITE PEOPLE – J. T. ROGERS

Named Best Director by Miami New Times 2005

“De Acha, Florida’s busiest man in show biz, does everything, from caressing the best  out of his actors to editing the scripts with a practical eye and even composing his own music with his heart on his sleeve. This is South Florida theatre at its best.”

2004-2005             

KING LEAR – SHAKESPEARE

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM – SHAKESPEARE

WAIT AND SEE – MICHAEL McKEEVER

BARRIO HOLLYWOOD – ELAINE ROMERO

“De Acha’s production [Barrio Hollywood – Elaine Romero] fully exploits its sensual aspects. He uses expressionistic staging and choreography to add mystery and theatricality…” – Ronald Mangravite, Miami New Times

AFFLUENZA! – JAMES SHERMAN

CLARENCE DARROW’S LAST TRIAL – SHIRLEY LAURO

THE DIARIES – JOHN STRAND

TOUCH – TONI PRESS-COFFMAN

2005-2006             

ROMEO AND JULIET – SHAKESPEARE

“…a slam-bang show [Romeo and Juliet] that erupts from the starting gate like a rambunctious colt.” – Jack Zink, Sun Sentinel

“A resplendent Romeo and Juliet… de Acha’s direction is sensitive and swift…“ – Octavio Roca, New Times

THE MERCHANT OF VENICE – SHAKESPEARE

MACBETH – SHAKESPEARE

MADAGASCAR – J. T. ROGERS

LOST TANGO – MARIO DIAMENT

LADIES AND NOT SO GENTLE WOMEN – ALFRED ALLEN LEWIS

PARADISE – GLYNN O’ MALLEY

DAY OF RECKONING – MELODY COOPER

THE SUNKEN LIVING ROOM – DAVID CAUDLE

Bolded titles signify world premieres

Published by ALL ABOUT THE ARTS

Rafael de Acha has enjoyed a distinguished career in the arts as a performer, stage director, producer, and educator. He was born and grew up in Cuba. At the age of 17 he moved to the United States to study Drama at the University of Minnesota, and later Languages at L.A. City College, Music at the Juilliard School of Music, at the University of Cincinnati’s College Conservatory of Music, and at the New England Conservatory of Music, from which he received the Master's degree. He has taught courses on the History of Music at the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music and at Florida International University, and contributed writings and reviews to Seen and Heard International (www.seenandheard-international.com ) and to this blog. He co-founded the award-winning New Theatre in Coral Gables, Florida, where he produced and staged twenty seasons of classical and contemporary theater, including fifty world premieres of plays that went on to have international and national productions on and off Broadway, including Ana in the Tropics by Nilo Cruz (Pulitzer Prize for Drama 2002 and Tony Nomination 2003.) In 2006 he was presented with a citation from The Dade County Cultural Affairs Council for “trailblazing contributions to the arts in South Florida.”

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