Angelo Parra

Angelo Parra is a playwright extraordinaire, born and raised in Manhattan before finding his creative calling in the Bronx. Though he initially worked in various other fields, including journalism and politics, Parra finally found his true passion in the theater world in 1986. His first play, 'Casino', was produced at T. Schreiber Studio and won a New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA) Fellowship in Playwriting and an Arts International grant. This was just the beginning of an illustrious career that would see him produce plays across the US and beyond.

One of Parra's most acclaimed works is 'The Devil's Music: The Life and Blues of Bessie Smith'. This play, featuring music based on the life of legendary blues singer Bessie Smith, was named one of the top 10 Off-Broadway experiences of 2001 by the New York Daily News. It won a second NYFA Playwriting Fellowship, was nominated for a Helen Hayes Award for Best Visiting Production, and was also nominated by the Lucille Lortel Awards for Best Solo Show in 2012. The play was originally directed by Joe Brancato and staged by Penguin Rep Theatre in Stony Point, NY. It was even invited to perform at the Montreal International Jazz Festival, making it the first "play" ever presented in the festival's 30-year history!

Parra has an impressive list of production credits to his name, with plays staged in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington D.C., and beyond. He's produced plays at renowned institutions like The Hartford Stage and the Edinburgh International Festival. He's also the author of the popular international series of how-to books, Playwriting for Dummies.

Among Parra's other plays is 'Journey of the Heart', a hospital drama that won multiple national play awards in 1998-99. In the same year, 'Song of the Coquí', his Hispanic family drama with humor and dance, won the Chicano/Latino Literary Award and an "American Dream" prize by Repertorio Español in New York City. His screenplay adaptation of 'Journey of the Heart' was a Sundance Institute Feature Film Program Finalist.

Parra's talent and hard work haven't gone unnoticed. He's been the recipient of numerous prestigious grants and awards, including a National Endowment for the Humanities Landmarks of American History and Culture Grant. He's also a member of the Dramatists Guild and member emeritus of the BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theater Workshop. He teaches playwriting, performing arts, and English at SUNY Rockland Community College.

Parra's plays are known for their variety, covering everything from the children's musical 'Percy T. Penguin Comes to America' to adaptations of classic novels like 'Beau Geste' and 'Of Human Bondage'. Other plays include 'The Mnemonist', 'Canvases', 'The Price of Honor', 'Brooklyn Brownstone', 'Borinquen', 'Newley Discovered', and 'Eva's Song' - a musical.

In conclusion, Angelo Parra is a versatile and talented playwright who has made a significant contribution to the world of theater. From his early beginnings in the Bronx to his current role as a respected educator, Parra's passion for the written word shines through in all his works. His plays have entertained and inspired audiences around the world, and he remains a force to be reckoned with in the theater community.