(Credit: Courtesy)
Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, Mexico’s renowned nun, prolific poetess and proto-feminist from the 17th century, is the subject of a current play in Los Angeles that centers on a reported romantic affair between the rebellious nun and a noblewoman. Playing at East Los Angeles’ Casa 101 Theater, The Nun and the Countess ends its run this weekend.
Written, produced and directed by Odalys Nanin, the play is based on the novel Sor Juana’s Second Dream by Alicia Gaspar de Alba. It features Nanin in the lead role of Sor Juana and actresses Genevieve Joy and alternate Lee Ann Gutierrez as Countess Maria Luisa de Paredes, vicereine of Mexico. Co-directing is Corky Dominguez.
(Credit: Courtesy)
Born Inés de Asbaje y Ramírez de Santillana in 1648, Sor Juana was a Hieronymite nun who was also a multifaceted writer, philosopher, composer and poet. She was an advocate for women’s education. Her body of work earned her the nicknames of “The Tenth Muse” and “The Phoenix of America.”
While her relevance in academia faded over centuries, Sor Juana is now recognized for her contributions to the literature of the Baroque Period, considered a golden era of the arts in Europe and the Americas. According to Encyclopaedia Britannica, the authoritative modern edition of her complete works runs to four lengthy volumes. Her notable works include First Dream, Respuesta a Sor Filotea de la Cruz and The Divine Narcissus.
Casa 101 Theater is located at 2102 E. 1st St., Los Angeles, CA 90033.
For tickets and more information, visit www.machatheatre.org
Featured Photo: Odaliz Nanin is Sor Juana in “The Nun and the Countess” (Credit: Courtesy)