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gentedeteatro.org

Who We Are

Gente de Teatro (GdT) is an award-winning Houston-based 501(c) non-profit theater company. Founded in 1995, GdT is committed to promoting the work of renowned playwrights from Latin America & Spain as well as acclaimed international authors through performances in Spanish almost always with English surtitles. The aim is to create cultural awareness, foster diversity, entertain and enrich the quality of life of the Houston greater community.

GdT was founded after several members performed in Mario Benedetti’s “Primavera con una esquina rota” directed by Ricardo Yamal at Rice University. Its founding members, Esteban Gago, Marcela Salas, and Claudia Soroka, recognized Houston’s need for a Spanish-language theatre company to present renowned Latin American plays in the language in which they were originally written.

In 2008, GdT began including Spanish playwrights in their repertoire. In September 2011, GdT first incorporated English surtitles during their performances, and they were also the first theater company to perform in Spanish at the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts. In 2021, GdT expanded its mission to include plays from acclaimed international authors.

GdT has presented 29 plays since 1995. GdT is the only non-profit theater company in Houston that has performed in Spanish continuously since 1995, mostly at Rice University’s Hamman Hall and MATCH. In 2017, 2018 & 2019, GdT was nominated for “Most Improved Theater Company” (Broadway World Houston Region Awards). GdT has also been a proud member of the Sin Muros Latinx Theater Festival Task Committee, celebrating the range of Latinx voices and stories reflecting the diversity of local Texas Communities (2017-2021).  In 2018, GdT received the inaugural Premio Puente (The Bridge Award) (Sin Muros Latinx Theater Festival, at Stages) in recognition of its body of work and its involvement in Houston’s diverse arts community. In 2019, Madenusa, by GdT member & playwright Claudia Soroka was nominated for Best New Play (Broadway World 2019 Houston Region Awards). GdT has also been recognized by the General Consulate of Argentina in Houston and the Cultural Cabinet of the Argentine Chancellery.  In November 2022, Toc Toc by Laurent Baffie and Spanish version by Julián Quintanilla was nominated for Best Play and Best Ensemble Performance (Broadway World 2022 Houston Region Awards).

GdT relies on the generous support of Blue Wave Supplier Development Platform, the Consulate General of Argentina in Houston, the Consulate General of Spain in Houston, Casa Argentina de Houston, the Institute of Hispanic Culture of Houston, La Casa de España en Houston & Telemundo Houston.

GdT members work tirelessly to enrich the quality of life for Houston’s community through education, cultural awareness, and entertainment. GdT boasts a loyal, mostly bilingual, audience that grows in size year after year.

GdT YouTube Channel


Gente de Teatro members: Claudia Soroka (Actress and Executive Director), Marcela Walter Salas, Ph.D. (Artistic Director), Sergio Amsel (Actor, Graphic Designer), Carmen Falla Aramayo (Assistant Director & Technical Director), Esteban Gago (Actor), Ana Ilvento Scuseria (Actress and Public Relations Director), Carolina Lander Cutrera (Actress) & Jorge Zambra (Actor).

GdT Cast