Date: Mon, 6 Mar 2006 10:54:01 -0800 (PST)
From: Gretchen Van Lente <gretchen-AT-dramaofworks.com>
To: puptcrit-AT-lists.driftline.org
Subject: [Puptcrit] Fwd: The passing of Rafael Ortiz



--- Manuel Moran <mmoran-AT-sea-ny.org> wrote:
> 
> Dear friends,
> 
> 
> It is with great sadness that I inform you that the Puerto
> Rican educator
> and master puppeteer, Rafael A. Ortiz, passed away early this
> morning in
> Puerto Rico.  Rafael was a pioneer in the art of puppetry on
> our island.  He
> was a teacher, mentor, father and above all, friend to all of
> us.
> 
> 
> 
> His life was dedicated to education and to theatre,
> specifically puppet
> theatre.  For more than 30 years, Ortiz worked for the
> Department of
> Education of Puerto Rico, where he directed the successful but
> now defunct
> Teatro Escolar program, and was one of the creators of the
> School of
> Stagecraft (ETAE).
> 
> 
> 
> With his family puppet troupe, =93El Mundo de los Mu=F1ecos=94 Ortiz
> entertained
> children and grown ups for almost three decades and brought
> glory to Puerto
> Rico, being the only Puerto Rican company to date to receive
> the prestigious
> UNIMA-USA Award (Citation of Excellence in the Arts of
> Puppetry), considered
> the =93Oscar=94 of puppetry arts in the United States.  His book
> Apuntes Sobre
> el Teatro de Titeres en Puerto Rico is signular in its class
> of showcasing
> his commitment to preserving part of our Puerto Rican
> theatrical history.
> 
> 
> 
> Ortiz was a producer, director, writer, actor, puppeteer,
> designer and,
> above all, a passionate and tireless theatre artist.  My
> respect, admiration
> and most sincere condolences go to the Ortiz-Cortés family, to
> Ortiz=92s wife
> Virgenmina, and his children Rey Antonio, Noelia, Javier,
> Myrna, as well as
> to his grandchildren.
> 
> 
> 
> Maestro Rafael, thanks for your legacy.  Rest in peace.
> 
> 
> 
> Manuel Mor=E1n
> _______________________
> Dr. Manuel A. Mor=E1n
> CEO & Artistic Director
> SEA, Sociedad Educativa de las Artes, Inc.
> Society of the Educational Arts, Inc.
> 
> The Premier Bilingual Arts-in-Education Organization &
> Latino Theatre Company for Young Audiences
> 
> www.sea-online.info
> mmoran-AT-sea-ny.org
> 
> 
> 
> 

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