Kissing Che

by Augusto Amador

Miami, Florida, 1984. Four years after the Mariel Boatlift, a man named Reina is dying in a nursing home claiming to have been Cuba’s last famous drag queen and to had a passionate love affair with the Cuba's revolutionary icon, Che Guevara. Tamika, an African-American nurse, strikes up a friendship with him. United by untold pasts, shared confessions change their lives forever against the background of Cuba in...

Miami, Florida, 1984. Four years after the Mariel Boatlift, a man named Reina is dying in a nursing home claiming to have been Cuba’s last famous drag queen and to had a passionate love affair with the Cuba's revolutionary icon, Che Guevara. Tamika, an African-American nurse, strikes up a friendship with him. United by untold pasts, shared confessions change their lives forever against the background of Cuba in the late 60’s and 70’s, when Castro regime begins it’s systematic and brutal persecution of homosexuals.

Kissing Che is the first play in his Latin-American Dictator Trilogy series.

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Kissing Che

Recommended by

  • Liliana Talwatte: Kissing Che by Augusto Amador
    “

    The combination of theatricality and grounded, raw emotion in this play is compelling. It's delightful to see the relationship between Tamika and Reina develop into a deep place of trust. It taught me about a part of history I didn't have any prior knowledge about, but it's fully realised within human experience. I'd love to see the spectacle of this play be fully realised, with the music and the costumes.

    The combination of theatricality and grounded, raw emotion in this play is compelling. It's delightful to see the relationship between Tamika and Reina develop into a deep place of trust. It taught me about a part of history I didn't have any prior knowledge about, but it's fully realised within human experience. I'd love to see the spectacle of this play be fully realised, with the music and the costumes.

    ”

Development History

  • Reading, ScriptRead, 2020
  • Reading, North Carolina Black Repertory Company , 2019
  • Reading, The Kennedy Center D.C. Page to Stage Festival, 2019
  • Reading, The Road Theater Summer Play Festival, 2019
  • Reading, A Contemporary theater, 2017
  • Reading, Blank Theater, 2012
  • Reading, Skylight Theater, 2012
  • Workshop, Celebration Theater, 2012
  • Reading, Public Theater NYC, 2011
  • Reading, Lark Theater, 2011

Awards

  • 2022-23 WOODWARD/NEWMAN AWARD
    Finalist
    2022
  • Carlo Annoni International Prize
    PREMIO CARLO ANNONI
    Finalist
    2020
  • All Access New Play Series
    Equity Library Theater Chicago
    Finalist
    2019
  • Local LAB Festival
    Local LAB Theatre Boulder, CO
    Finalist
    2019
  • Arch and Bruce Foundation playwriting grant
    Arch and Bruce Foundation
    Semi-Finalist
    2014
  • Global Queer Playwriting/Queer Plays in Translation
    Arcola Theatre
    Finalist
    2018
  • Top 101 plays on Latinidad
    Howl Round
    Winner
    2013
  • Eugene O'Neill Conference
    Semi-Finalist
    2012
  • Terrence McNally Award best play
    Finalist
    2012