The name of Puerto Rican actor, director, and producer Ernesto Concepción now graces a new theater studio in New York. The 'Ernesto Concepción Studio Theatre' is a 50-seat experimental space within the People’s Theater: Centro Cultural Inmigrante, which also includes a main theater with up to 208 seats, five rehearsal rooms, and space for art exhibitions.
Lin-Manuel Miranda, Concepción’s great-nephew, and his father Luis, joined Concepción’s son Ernesto for the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Concepción, born in Vega Alta in 1943, was a renowned artist who worked on over 250 theatrical productions and won numerous awards. He passed away on August 30, 1999.
The People’s Theater, located in the Washington Heights neighborhood, is the first independent theater center in Upper Manhattan, built at a cost of $40 million. The main theater debuted on September 25 with the solo play 'Guac', written and performed by Manuel Oliver, which runs until October 10.