The 56th edition of the International Theater Festival, organized by the Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña (ICP), will be dedicated to the career of veteran actor, mime, and stage director Rafael Fuentes. Fuentes has a nearly 60-year career in the performing arts and is a retired associate professor at the University of Puerto Rico. He holds a master's degree in Education Arts and a certificate from the Jacques Lecoq International Theater School in Paris, France.
Fuentes has worked as a theater professor at various institutions, including Hostos Community College in New York City and the Puerto Rico Department of Education. He began his career in theater at the age of 17 and has participated in the International Theater Festival as both an actor and audience member. Fuentes expressed his surprise and gratitude at being honored, stating that he wanted to share the news with his friends and colleagues in the theater community.
The festival will take place starting September 30, 2026, and will feature a diverse range of voices and theater styles. According to Melissa Santana, executive director of the ICP, the festival aims to recognize the contributions of individuals like Fuentes to the development of Puerto Rican performing arts.