Latin American Monologue Festival in Cienfuegos

Latin American Monologue Festival in Cienfuegos: a party, a birthday

Nothing better for an old coliseum like the Tomás Terry theater, in Cienfuegos, than to celebrate its 135th birthday with a one-man party as will happen shortly, between February 27 and March 2, when it takes over the VI edition of the Latin American Monologue Festival 2025.

The event will take place this month, so that it coincides with the celebrations for the 27th anniversary of the "Terry", inaugurated on a day like today, but in the year 1890.
Genesis

It was in 2002 that the Terry Monologue Festival and Awards was born, convened by the main theater institution in the Cienfuegos territory, frequently biennial.

Miguel Cañellas, director of the coliseum and the architect of this exchange, explains that although in its first five editions only national casts were invited and competed, there was never a lack of presence of foreign companies interested in presenting their work, exchanging experiences, comparing criteria and getting to know in depth the work of Cuban artists.

Due to the demand of many actors and actresses from Latin America and Europe, due to the increase in the presence of these companies and creators, and at the suggestion of Casa de las Américas, the National Council of Performing Arts and prestigious invited personalities, since 2011 (when the sixth edition was due) it was decided to convene the First Latin American Monologue Festival (FML).

During these 23 years of existence, artists from Canada, Mexico, Chile, Peru, Venezuela, Ecuador, Uruguay, Argentina, Puerto Rico and Spain, among others, have attended the festivals, Cañellas tells us.

Every February, the Terry was dressed in luxury with special guests such as actors and actresses of the stature of Victoria Abril, Rossi de Palma, Teófilo Suárez, Corina Mestre, Ana María Salas, Monse Duany, José-Luis García Barrientos, Carlos Pérez Peña, added the director.
From the stages

For some it may seem pretentious that from Cienfuegos, one of the smallest provinces and among those with the least population in Cuba, an event of the magnitude of this Festival can be assumed.

The poet, narrator and theater artist from Cienfuegos also remembers that up to 27 foreign groups have coincided, which measures the power of the FML. The groups assume their expenses in order to participate and learn about other works, stages and audiences.

From the tables of the “Terry” and other venues, the Latin American Monologue Festival promotes and gives prestige to spaces of confrontation and exchange for all artists who dedicate themselves to one-man shows.

In turn, the Festival becomes a major celebration for an audience like the Cienfuegos people, who in these more than two decades have learned and known much more about theatre and especially about a very complex theatrical genre, which now allows them to enjoy the productions more.
A Terry Award that will carry the heart of Cienfuegos

It was already a tradition to give the Terry Awards to the best performances, productions, and direction of the works.

However, in this new celebration, two awards will be given: the Terry Award to distinguished personalities of culture in the town, and a new recognition that will carry the feeling of the hearts of the Cienfuegos people: the Popularity Award.

Whoever deserves this distinction should feel as proud as the other honorees because they will know that they have been subjected to a multitudinous jury, with a vast culture, a perfectionist demand and that other and new pride of the Cienfuegos people, of being the capital of the Latin American Monologue.
Source