My OperaQueretaro's Theatrical Tradition
Sunday, June 10, 2007 6:14:41 AM
Theater tradition in Queretaro is very old, the city was founded in the time of the begining of the theater "Golden Era" in Spain, in the XVI century (16th in Spanish it is forced to use roman numerals for centuries).
In 1531 the city of Santiago de Queretaro was founded, thanks to it's location the city grew very fast a became the third city of the kingdom (the viceroyalty was considered a kingdom), an honor provided by the Queen of Spain. Many spaniards and indians became rich in short time, and with money the city started to be pretty, many gardens and plazas where built and the theater bloosomed.
Colonial coutyard that can be used as theater.
In that time the theater took place in the courtyards of the houses, and those where called "Corral de Comedias" (comedy corral) later some buildings where built specialy to serve as theaters and look a lot like the Elizabeth Theater in England (Shakespeare time) the stage at the end next to a wall, in the middle the general public and on the sides the rich audience.
Spanish "Corral de Comedias" (medieval theater)
Right now in Queretaro we have several theatres, most of them still has the "Corral de Comedias" style, this are medieval theaters in the XXI century (21st), this can have up to 100 people seated, and many of this offer cheese, wine and bread, just like in the medieval times. The plays are very diverse, contemporary plays and classic ones, like does of Cervantes (Don Quijote de la Mancha) or Shakespeare.
The most popular theater in Queretaro is actually named "Corral de Comedias" is the oldest and it has all the feeling of the medieval times.
Also in the public plazas and gardens it is a tradition in Queretaro to have shows and plays, some sponsored by the goverment, some private, and in Queretaro there is an international Abstract Theater Festival every year, and the stages are all the plazas and courtyards, in this festival the entrance is free to many of the plays.
Here a list of some of the theaters of the city:
- Corral de Comedias (Comedy Corral)
- Comicos de la Legua (Comics of the League)
- Teatrito La Carcajada (The laugher)
- Sol y Luna (Sun and Moon)
- Teatro del IMSS (IMSS theater)
- Teatro la Casona del Arbol (the big house of the tree)
- Teatro de la Republica (Republic Theater)
- Patio Barroco (Barroque Courtyard)
- La Cartelera (The Billboard)
- Teatro Rafael Camacho Guzman (Rafael Camacho G. Theater)
- Auditorio Josefa Ortíz de Dominguez (Josefa O. de Domiguez Auditorium)
- Teatro Metropolitano (Metropolitan Theater, is under construction right now)
- La Vieja Estación (Old Train Station)
- Jardín del Arte (Garden of Art)
- Teatro del Museo de la Ciudad (City Museum Theater)
This are some I can recall, and you must count all the plazas, and churches as possible places to be used as theaters.
To see the theater schedule in Queretaro.
Public play in the garden of the little dogs (State Goverment Plaza)
In 1531 the city of Santiago de Queretaro was founded, thanks to it's location the city grew very fast a became the third city of the kingdom (the viceroyalty was considered a kingdom), an honor provided by the Queen of Spain. Many spaniards and indians became rich in short time, and with money the city started to be pretty, many gardens and plazas where built and the theater bloosomed.
Colonial coutyard that can be used as theater.
In that time the theater took place in the courtyards of the houses, and those where called "Corral de Comedias" (comedy corral) later some buildings where built specialy to serve as theaters and look a lot like the Elizabeth Theater in England (Shakespeare time) the stage at the end next to a wall, in the middle the general public and on the sides the rich audience.
Spanish "Corral de Comedias" (medieval theater)
Right now in Queretaro we have several theatres, most of them still has the "Corral de Comedias" style, this are medieval theaters in the XXI century (21st), this can have up to 100 people seated, and many of this offer cheese, wine and bread, just like in the medieval times. The plays are very diverse, contemporary plays and classic ones, like does of Cervantes (Don Quijote de la Mancha) or Shakespeare.
The most popular theater in Queretaro is actually named "Corral de Comedias" is the oldest and it has all the feeling of the medieval times.
Also in the public plazas and gardens it is a tradition in Queretaro to have shows and plays, some sponsored by the goverment, some private, and in Queretaro there is an international Abstract Theater Festival every year, and the stages are all the plazas and courtyards, in this festival the entrance is free to many of the plays.
Here a list of some of the theaters of the city:
- Corral de Comedias (Comedy Corral)
- Comicos de la Legua (Comics of the League)
- Teatrito La Carcajada (The laugher)
- Sol y Luna (Sun and Moon)
- Teatro del IMSS (IMSS theater)
- Teatro la Casona del Arbol (the big house of the tree)
- Teatro de la Republica (Republic Theater)
- Patio Barroco (Barroque Courtyard)
- La Cartelera (The Billboard)
- Teatro Rafael Camacho Guzman (Rafael Camacho G. Theater)
- Auditorio Josefa Ortíz de Dominguez (Josefa O. de Domiguez Auditorium)
- Teatro Metropolitano (Metropolitan Theater, is under construction right now)
- La Vieja Estación (Old Train Station)
- Jardín del Arte (Garden of Art)
- Teatro del Museo de la Ciudad (City Museum Theater)
This are some I can recall, and you must count all the plazas, and churches as possible places to be used as theaters.
To see the theater schedule in Queretaro.
Public play in the garden of the little dogs (State Goverment Plaza)
