Felipe, Carlos

Person

Felipe, Carlos

1914-1975

Carlos Felipe was a Cuban playwright born in Havana, Cuba in 1914 and the brother of actress Rosa Felipe. He was most known for his play “Requiem for Yarini” which was written in the style of a Greek tragedy, and later was adapted into the film “Los Dioses Rotos” in 2008 by Ernesto Daranas. He wrote his first play at age 11, without actually having been to the theater or having received any formal education. In fact, he had to work to support his family from a young age and was self-taught. He studied grammar, literature, English and French as well as music. At age 13, he worked in a rubber import house of automobiles, brand "Hood", on Prado Street, cleaning and running errands. At age 17 he worked in a cafe on the Calzada de Vibora and San Francisco. In 1939, after winning the first prize in the theatrical competition organized by the Ministry of Education for his “Esta noche en el bosque,” Felipe decided to pursue a professional career in the theater world. His comedy “El chino” was premiered by El Grupo ADAD was a theater company directed by José Rubia Barcia in the 1940’s, which existed before Teatro Universitario. The play’s premier was directed by Modesto Centeno and premiered in 1939.

He worked at the Havana Customs Office for 32 years until after the Cuban Revolution. In 1961 he was taken to work as a literary advisor to the National Dramatic Ensemble and the Department of Theater and Dance of the National Council of Culture where he helped to produce and disseminate propaganda. His theatrical works, including some unpublished pieces include: Réquiem por Yarini (La Habana, Universidad Central de Las Villas. Dirección de Publicaciones, 1960.); Tambores (1943); El travieso Jimmy (1951); Esta noche en el bosque (1939); La bruja en el obenque; El alfabeto o la bata de encajes (1962); Los compadres, a melodrama; Capricho en rojo (1948); El Chino, a comedy (1947); Ladrillos de plata; Ibrahim; ¡De Película! A musical comedy, (October 17, 1963); El divertido viaje de Adelita Cossi, 1930's. In a 1966 interview, Felipe described his impetus for writing theatrical works as a need to communicate a feeling or sentiment.

Felipe won several prominent awards for his works including in 1947 he won Best Play for El Chino at the Concurso de Teatro ADAD. In 1948 he won Best Play for Capricho en rojo at the Concurso de Teatro ADAD and in 1951 he won first prize for El travieso Jimmy at the concurso teatral del Ministerio de Educación. In 1965, he served on the jury of the Casa de las Américas theater contest. Felipe expressed great optimism in the future of Cuban theater. He died in 1975.

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Biographical note written by Kate Villa, 2020-2021 UGrow Fellow for Manuscripts and Archives Management.

1. Muere en Miami actriz cubana Rosa Felipe - New York Daily News (nydailynews.com)

2. Biographical note, "Rosa Felipe: actriz cubana" :: CHC Theater Collections (miami.edu)

3. Cuban Theater Digital Archive (miami.edu)

4. Cubaliteraria - Autores (archive.org)

5. Felipe251_entrevistas_1.pdf (miami.edu)

6. CHC5243_Folder4-_Revista_nacional_de_teatro.pdf (miami.edu)

7. manet.pdf (miami.edu)