“How Universes Solves a Problem Like Maria”: Steven Sapp ’89 and Mildred Ruiz-Sapp ’92 Profiled in American Theatre
Mildred Ruiz-Sapp ’92 and Steven Sapp ’89. Photo by Chiara Clemente
Steven Sapp ’89 and Mildred Ruiz-Sapp ’92 met at Bard, fell in love, and went on to create Universes, a groundbreaking national theater company of color founded in 1995, whose members include William Ruiz ’03 (a.k.a. Ninja) and Gamal Chasten. They are currently working on a piece, titled Maria, commissioned by Long Wharf Theatre, that explores the aftermath of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, as seen through the eyes of a woman who has experienced a trauma similar to that of West Side Story’s heroine Maria. “With Maria, Universes intends to reclaim the way stories about specific communities are made without their consent, not to mention stories that white culture specifically tells them they have no right to have an opinion on,” writes Jose Solís for American Theatre.
Post Date: 03-08-2022
Post Date: 03-08-2022