Hello and thank you for viewing our project. We are Urban Theatre Movement (UTM).

After TWO YEARS of waiting for approval of the rights, we are proud to have UTM’s production of SHORT EYES by Miguel Piñero, the first play by a Latino playwright to be produced on Broadway (1974), selected by the Los Angeles Theatre Center (LATC) as a co-production with the Latino Theatre Company  and opening November 18, 2011.   

Now, we must meet the costs required to bring SHORT EYES to this historic landmark of Los Angeles Theater. Your contribution to our $8,000 goal is essential in us honoring our financial commitment toward the production.

THE PLAY:

SHORT EYES, a term prisoners use to brand child molesters, reveals the racial, sexual and dangerously seditious personal politics wielded by an explosive group of inmates at an unnamed House of Detention in New York City.  Their petty ploys and communal rebellions are unexpectedly disturbed when they are joined by a middle-class white man accused of raping a young girl.  Written during Miguel Piñero’s incarceration for armed robbery in Sing Sing prison the play debuted at the Riverside Church, moved Off-Broadway in 1974 to The Public Theater in New York City and to Broadway at the Vivian Beaumont Theater to critical acclaim including 6 Tony Award Nominations, the New York Critics Circle Award and an Obie Award for “Best Play of The Year”.  SHORT EYES takes us into a world of survival, love, honor, fear,rage, integrity and betrayal. The play illuminates the visceral world of life behind bars and through its prism parallels are revealed that make us question longstanding notions of the meaning of humanity, survival, loyalty and love.

Here's where your generous donations will go:

Due to LATC on October 17, 2011 $4,500  payment due for rental of the space.

The remaining $3,500 will go toward production costs--set design and construction, lighting design, costumes, props, programs, posters etc.

It will be with your support that UTM will bring to Los Angeles Theater a revival of one of American Theater's most talked about, beloved and enduring works.  

OUR CAST:  Miguel Amenyinu, Carl Crudup, Cris D'Annunzio, Daryl Anthony Harper, Matthew Jaeger, Benny Nieves, Jason Olazabal, Matias Ponce, Mark Rolston, Donte Wince, William D. Wright and Daniel Zornes.

OUR UNDERSTUDY CAST:  J. Antonio Baguez, Sean Escalante, Daryl Anthony Harper, Christian Levatino, Charles Sanchez, David Santana, Paul Tully and Yonathan Zeray.

OUR ENSEMBLE CAST:  Alex Alfaro, J. Antonio Baguez, Jon Lance Duran, Adam Jaso and Jason Nieblas. 

Message From the Director:

SHORT EYES by Miguel Piñero is the first play I ever read.  When the thought of becoming an actor first occurred to me I decided to head towards the library in order to search for plays thinking to find something I could relate to.  I am Puerto Rican and so decided that plays by Puerto Rican writers might be a good place to start my search.  That is how I first discovered Miguel Piñero’s work.  When I read SHORT EYES I was moved, mesmerized and terrified.  That hasn’t changed. It is my privilege to be directing this play as Artistic Director of Urban Theatre Movement.  It is exactly for companies like ours—families—that this play was written.  In his introduction to the play, Marvin Felix Camillo the director of the original production, described the original theatrical family that brought SHORT EYES to life this way, “We traveled with a good artistic reputation, little money and the strongest kind of desire imaginable…” I can think of no better way to describe where our UTM family finds itself today. We are proud to be producing Miguel’s Piñero’s SHORT EYES at LATC this Fall and cannot do so with out your support.  Please support our UTM family and become part of the movement bringing this play to life.

Julian Acosta

Artistic Director

Urban Theater Movement

Information regarding the Show:

Opening Night: November 18, 2011

Run: November 18 - December 11, 2011

Thursday – Saturday 8pm; Sunday 7pm

General $30 | Students/Seniors $20 | Groups 10+ $20 | $10 Thursday
Where: LATC – Theater 4

514 South Spring Street
Los Angeles, CA 90013

To purchase tickets: http://thelatc.org/2011/shows/shorteyes/

Urban Theatre Movement | www.UrbanTheatreMovement.com