Still from La Paloma Prisoner at The Signature Theatre
Photo credit: Bobby Plasencia
Almazan’s La Paloma Prisoner was awarded the Arthur J. Harris Memorial Prize in social justice through Columbia University. Raquel will partner with STEPS to End Family Violence that will include programming with formerly incarcerated women, conferences, prison facilities and other organizations to create exchange towards ending mass incarceration.
La Paloma Prisoner (Impacted women series)
LPP – IWS – combines women who have experienced the criminal justice system alongside performers to engage with audiences with the themes of mass incarceration. April 3rd 2016 performance took place at Wild Project and on June 1st 2017 excerpts of the play were performed at Greenhope Services for Women as well Queensboro Correctional Facility in New York City; in collaboration with impacted women. Co – produced with Mightee Shero Productions. These unique readings were directed by Laura Gomez (who is a recurring actress on Orange is the New Black)
“This year, 2015, the Arthur J. Harris Memorial Prize will go to Raquel Almazan to produce her play La Paloma Prisoner, ‘. . . a lyrical bi-lingual play’ that tackles issues of mass incarceration. This work dramatically embodies the goals of the prize to address very pertinent social issues and in this case, does so in a uniquely innovative form.” Carol Becker – Dean of Arts
The Arch and Bruce Brown Foundation LGBTQ Playwriting Prize – 2nd place
“This prize is an incredible support to me as a female writer of color focusing on women, in today’s playwriting landscape.”
Raquel Almazan, of New York City, for La Paloma Prisoner. Set in a Colombian prison, the play focuses on an infamous woman nicknamed La Paloma, convicted of killing men who raped girls. As Paloma alongside a group of women, prepare as selected beauty pageant contestants (an actual phenomenon in Colombian women’s prisons), the women’s stories testify to Colombia’s social, political, and spiritual history.
More about the La Paloma Prisoner Project (pics and updates) – HERE
