Future Classics | March 23, 2026 

WAITING FOR GUAGUANCO
An adaptation of an Irish Play with Boricua Flavor by Nelson Diaz-Marcano

 

Synopsis

Two women wait for a concert that may or may not happen while feeling that they will only settle once and for all if Puerto Ricans could just start over and live on the moon. Is this an adaptation, or is it a metaphor for the everyday lives of those relocating to this land for better opportunities despite finding none?

Nelson Diaz-Marcano

Playwright

Nelson Diaz-Marcano is a Puerto Rican, NYC-based theater maker, advocate, and community leader whose work challenges dominant narratives and builds community through storytelling. His plays have been produced Off-Broadway and regionally in cities such as Chicago, Dallas, and throughout Connecticut. Select productions include Las Borinqueñas (Ensemble Studio Theatre, Teatro Francisco Arrivi & Vision Latino Theater Company), World Classic (Bishop Arts Theatre Center & Pa’lante Theater), Y Tú Abuela, Where is She? Part 1 (Chicago Latino Theater Alliance), The Diplomats (Random Acts Chicago), Paper Towels (INTAR), and Revolt! (Vision Latino Theatre Company). He currently serves as Literary Director of the Latinx Playwrights Circle, where he has helped develop over 100 new plays in the past four years.

JEAN CARLO YUNÉN

Director

JEAN CARLO YUNÉN (Director) is originally from the Dominican Republic with Lebanese and Spanish roots. He’s directed and developed work with Atlantic Theater Company, Soho Rep, Spanish Repertory Theater, TheaterSquared, San Diego Rep, Keen Company & the Latino Theater Company and worked as an associate/assistant director with Atlantic Theater Company, South Coast Rep, Seattle Rep, OSF, Cincinnati Playhouse, and the Denver Center for the Performing Arts. He’s been a member of the Soho-Rep Writer-Director Lab, an SDCF Observer (on the Sweeney Todd Broadway Revival), Van Lier Fellow, Williamstown Boris Sagal Fellow, Drama League Director’s Project Alumn and an inaugural artist-in-residence for the XR2C2 in Cannes, France. He currently serves as Roundabout Theatre’s Literary Associate. He holds an MFA in directing from UCLA and BA in film and environmental science from the University of Notre Dame.

Yadira “Yadi” Correa

Maite

Yadira “Yadi” Correa most recently appeared in Christin Eve Cato’s NYC Premiere of O.K.! at INTAR Theatre. Off-Broadway: La Paloma Prisoner Project (Chelsea Factory, La Luca Arts & Sam Morreale), Truckers (INTAR); My Broken Language (understudy, Signature Theatre); La Conducta de la Vida (Repertorio Español). Regional: Coast Starlight (Milwaukee Rep), All My Son’s (Hartford Stage), 2666 (Goodman Theatre); MALA, The Tempest, The Winter’s Tale, As You Like It (Old Globe); Comedy of Errors (Oregon Shakespeare Festival); Water by the Spoonful (Court Theatre). TV: Chicago P.D., Blindspot, The Punisher, New Amsterdam.Education/Training: The Old Globe and University of San Diego Shiley Graduate Program MFA in Acting. Proud member of the Actor’s Center in NYC and @yadeeenyc on Instagram if you wanna follow!

Cindy De La Cruz

Valeria

Cindy De La Cruz is a multi-hyphenate artist from NYC. Currently you can catch her as Jeannie on BEST MEDICINE on Fox. She is a 2024 Obie award recipient through her work as artistic producer of the Dominican Artists Collective. She is a recent graduate of the David Geffen School of Drama at Yale with an MFA in Acting.

Ana Sophia Colón

Crack Head Mami

Ana Sophia Colón is a Puerto Rican playwright, performer, and theatermaker whose work explores diaspora, language, family, and belonging through humor, musicality, and emotional specificity. She is the creator of the award-winning solo play Puerto Rico es una Cama Twin, which has been presented in New York and Puerto Rico, including a sold-out run at IRT Theater, performances at Punto Fijo, and the United Solo Theatre Festival, where the production received Best Production and Best Direction awards. The piece continues to evolve through performance, reflecting her commitment to developing work in conversation with live audiences. Her artistic practice is rooted in bilingual storytelling and narrative-driven performance, blending direct address, character work, and rhythmic language to create intimate theatrical experiences. As both playwright and performer, she is interested in how the body carries story, and how solo work can hold multiplicity while maintaining emotional clarity.In addition to her creative work, Ana Sophia has experience in producing and arts administration, contributing to organizations including LAByrinth Theater Company, The Public Theater, Broadway For All, and Out of the Box Theatrics. She holds a BA in Theatre Performance from Fordham University at Lincoln Center and has trained with LAByrinth Theater Company and INTAR.

Fé Torres

Stage Directions

Fé Torres (he/they) is a Chilean-American actor, artist, writer and teaching artist born and raised in Queens, NY. He obtained a BFA in Multimedia Performing Arts from Lehman College. He has trained at HB Studios, Atlantic Acting School and Dell’Arte International as well as playwriting with Jose Rivera and Josefina Lopez. He is a proud UNIT 52 member at INTAR Theatre. His play “My-My Name Is” won the 2017 Jacob Hammer Memorial Prize for Playwriting, was showcased at The Kennedy Center’s 50th American College Theatre Festival and later fully produced at LPAC. Theatre Credits: With Deepest Regrets, Lupe Velez (INTAR), I Hope This Letter Reaches Míctlān (Lenfest), Admitted (DUAF), A Boy Called Lobo (INTAR), The Devil and the Playwright (Theatre for the New City). Playwriting credits include No Vienen Los Tíos (HB Studios), My-My Name Is (LPAC).  www.fetorres.com @fetorresnyc

Thank you to our program sponsors

This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the New York City Council and the Coalition of Theatres of Color.

ABOUT THE LITERARY SERIES

MISSION

At the core of the Classical Theatre of Harlem’s Literary Series is the belief that theater has the transformative power to challenge the status quo, connect disparate worlds of thought, and, ultimately, change the world. Thus, we are invested in the development of work that shifts the conversation around representation in the theater and are dedicated to providing a platform for those voices traditionally underrepresented on the American Stage.

CTH’s Literary Series is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, the Jarvis & Constance Doctorow Family Foundation and the Axe-Houghton Foundation.

 

PLAYWRIGHTS’ PLAYGROUND

Selected playwrights submit 10-12 pages of a new work in the early stages of development. Actors are cast on the spot and perform a cold reading, followed by a moderated audience feedback session. In addition to serving the development of new work, these readings give audiences a sneak peek into how new plays are created.

 

FUTURE CLASSICS

CTH asserts that a “Future Classic” promotes courageous and open-minded examination of controversial and critical topics that are at the heart of society. Designed for the emerging professional playwright, Future Classics offers participating writers the opportunity to showcase their new completed works and receive dramaturgical feedback.  Participants work with CTH’s resident dramaturge, a professional director and a dedicated group of actors to showcase a new full-length play.

FOR PLAYWRIGHTS

 

Submit your work to Ms. Shawn René Graham, Literary Director at shawnrene@cthnyc.org. No phone calls please.