Remembering Rei

Remembering Rei was created to pay tribute to Reinaldo Povod, an extraordinary artist, who in his short life, made an immense impact on the theatre world. His two pieces of work, which portrayed the lifestyles and told the story of the people of the Lower East Side in the 70’s, were gripping and honest. At the age of 17, Reinaldo was discovered by the Public Theater. In 1986, at the age of 26, his play “Cuba and his Teddy Bear” was performed on Broadway starring Robert De Niro, Burt Young, and Ralph Macchio. Before his death, at the young age of 34, his last produced play, “La Puta Vida Trilogy” was also performed at the Public Theater featuring John Turturro and John Leguiziamo.

The production consists of selected scenes, original monologues never published or heard and a visual and audio tribute to Reinaldo’s life. In conjunction with the Latino College Expo, Inc., a non-profit organization that has provided educational access and scholarship opportunities to the Latino community since 1990, this production serves as a vehicle to establish a support and mentoring program, in the name of Reinaldo Povod, that will develop the talents of a future Latino playwright.

This production pays homage to a truly distinctive voice that achieved extraordinary fame and respect in his short time in the theater community.