Jazz Vilá will present the work 'Candela' at the Cuórum Morelia 2023 Festival dedicated to Cuba

November 26, 2023

The work "Candela", written, starring and directed by actor Jazz Vilá, will be presented this Sunday the 26th, at 22:15 hours, at the Clavijero Cultural Center in the Mexican city of Morelia in a gala performance that the Cuórum 2023 Festival dedicates to Cuba, the guest country this year.

The work, which initially began as a monologue and has already had some 50 performances, stars Vilá himself as Gertrudis Calvario Candela and actress Yordanka Ariosa, who plays Peña Rosa, who recently won the Silver Shell at the San Sebastián Film Festival.

Belonging to the Jazz Vilá Projects repertoire, "Candela" is the first production by that company to be presented in Mexico, had two seasons in Havana and was performed in other Cuban cities, was at the UNAM 2023 Cultural Festival and, at the beginning of the year, was in theaters in New York for a month.
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The piece, full of subtleties and brilliant moments, portrays people with talent who never give up, those who are willing to struggle tirelessly to achieve their dreams. It is a hymn to hope, to the will to move forward.

"Candela", furthermore, is an interactive work where the audience is part of a great scenic game that includes music, singing and sparks of comedy and entertainment.

The Recognition

Jazz Vilá will receive next Monday at 11:30 hours the Festival's Honorary Award this year for the contributions of his characters and his career, in general, to respect and tolerance of the LGTB+ community, in an event organized by the Popular Faculty of Fine Arts in Hall 16 on Guillermo Prieto Street 87 in the Center of Morelia.

On this occasion the actor will offer the conversation "The Art of Changing" to performing arts students and the general public.

The Dialogue

We caught Jazz Vilá this Saturday at the Morelos Birth House, in the center of Morelia, when he was fine-tuning details of his presentation. When directly asked, he responded:
"In Mexico City I was surprised, because the UNAM audience is one of the ones that has most enjoyed 'Candela', I couldn't believe it… people were laughing and applauding, like never before".

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You are, without a doubt, a theater success, which works do you hold dear, besides "Candela"?

Certainly, "Farándula", for the mark, the imprint, it has left on Cuban theater, and "Skyscrapers", which was the production that opened the way for me. It was the first stone of this great building.

Are you happy with what you've done in cinema?

Yes… of course… the film Juan of the Dead remains at the top of my preferences for what it has given me with the audience and for the beauty of the character, but I have a very special place for Hotel Coppelia, a historic film I made in the Dominican Republic that tells the story of a group of women from a brothel fighting to maintain their space, their freedom, against North American invaders.

Had you been to Morelia before?

Yes, five years ago I was at the Cuórum festival as a juror, it was a great experience, to return now is a gift, really.

What message do you want to transmit to Morelians who will attend your presentation?

Well, that "they are going to be on fire with Candela", in other words, that they are going to enjoy the show a lot (LAUGHS).

I am very grateful to Morelia and to all the sponsors of Cuórum for supporting this festival of diversity in such an important and beautiful city. Thank you, also, for having Cuba as the guest country.