New York Film Academy Graduate Wins Hispanic-American Playwriting Competition: Fully Staged Production of Show Now Playing in New York
New York Film Academy Graduate Jaime Espinal attended NYFA’s 8-week screenwriting workshop and 4-week filmmaking workshop in 2009. Immediately afterwards, he began writing No Problemo Amigo, a hilarious comedy about emigration-immigration. The bilingual show was the winner of the Inter American Development Bank’s (IDB) Hispanic-American Playwriting Competition out of 170 new play submissions from 17 countries. Jaime is now enjoying the show’s world premiere at the Thalia Spanish Theatre in Sunnyside, NY.
Writer Jaime Espinal in a scene from No Problemo Amigo. Photo by Michael Palma.
“NYFA fulfilled me with craft and inspiration to write my play,” says Colombian writer Jaime. “I won the prize and now I am starring in the show. I am grateful for the school.”
A sketch from No Problem Amigo. Photo by Michael Palma.
No Problemo Amigo features original live music by Los Tres Cerditos. The show is a hodge-podge of skits, monologues, sketches, and dance numbers around the theme of Hispanics in America, with writer Jaime appearing in the show. One review comments, “the proceedings are so immensely energetic, good-natured, and varied, that it’s an enjoyable experience in theater that’s off the beaten path and illuminating about the unique spirit with which these new Americans are enriching our society and our culture.”
A scene from Thalia Spanish Theatre's No Problemo Amigo. Photo by Michael Palma
The show runs through June 19th on Fridays, Saturday, and Sundays. For more information including how to buy tickets, visit www.thaliatheatre.org.
