Note: This database is incomplete and updates are in progress!

This database traces the stagings of early-modern Spanish plays (comedias) in the U.S. from the 16th century to present-day.  Early modern Spanish theater has lacked visibility outside Spain.  However, the number of plays and playwrights is extremely rich. Lope de Vega alone, one of Spain’s most prolific writers, has over 500 plays that we know for sure he wrote (although some historians have argued his plays amount to over 1,000).

This abundance of plays is understandable if we dive into Spanish history and understand how theatergoing was one of the most common forms of entertainment at the time, affordable for almost all citizens, and to a certain extent, socially inclusive for men, women, children and all classes. With the rise of cross-cultural studies, knowing the extent of Spanish dramatic heritage internationally is indispensable to preserving and strengthening its legacy.

Compiling this information demonstrates the continuous presence of the comedia in the U.S. and brings new visibility to a genre that has been erased from theater histories, but nevertheless, left a strong imprint among Spanish-speaking communities.

What is the comedia?

The comedia is a three-act, early modern Spanish play. Famous playwrights of the comedia included Pedro Calderón de la Barca, Lope de Vega, Miguel de Cervantes y Sor Juana Inez de la Cruz.

What we’ve chosen to document and why:

Entries of stagings include performances of original works, adaptations, translations, and some new works that emulate the comedia and/or reference early modern Spain.

We’ve also include some instances of the zarzuela and works from Federico García Lorca. Although they aren’t directly associated with the comedia, they have roots in early modern Spain.