Erlina Ortíz
Photo by Andrew Young
Tell us about you and your work
I am a playwright, performer, director, teaching artist, theatre-maker, and lifelong learner. I've had the incredible blessing of being a founding member of Power Street Theatre (PST) where I discovered my artistic voice and power.
PST was founded by Gabi Sanchez who was tired of the status quo of the theatre world that was stifling us instead of uplifting us as women of color and artists. I wrote my first play with PST, MinorityLand, which was about gentrification in North Philadelphia and was performed at the old Taller Puertorriqueno building. After so many years of experiencing white-washed theatre, it was life-affirming and transformational to see a multicultural audience experiencing a multicultural cast, in a show about issues that mattered to them and their community. Today PST has produced 4 of my plays, we have bilingual classes and story circles, and we just presented a zoom version of the musical I am working on about immigrants and refugees in North Philadelphia./
Outside of PST I just had my first commission this last year at Live and In Color which was exciting, and my play Young Money opens in November at Azuka Theatre. I think that is going to be a really fun time and great return to live performance, and there'll be some music in that as one of the characters is a rising rap star. I'm also going to be launching a website with my teaching, coaching, consulting services etc by the end of the year.
What inspires you?
My community inspires me. My ancestors. The writers who have become ancestors inspire me. I'm having a very deep relationship with Octavia E. Butler right now and everything she ever wrote. People with big hearts, who have overcome, who have learned to forgive, who find humor and contentment in the everyday inspire me. Babies and the way they learn about the world, the wisdom of our elders... So much.
What does community mean to you?
Community means being able to come as your full self. To know you have a network of people who will be there to celebrate the highs, and uplift you through the lows. Community is food, bodies, dance, laughter, sleepovers at a friend or cousins house, traditions, inside jokes, warmth and joy.
Favorite film
The Selena movie with Jlo :) or The Matrix if I'm looking for action.
Favorite song
That's hard to choose! I'm really into the whole Lil Nas X album right now, Montero. But on any day a song that always does it for me is 'The Dog Days are Over' by Florence and the Machine.
Favorite place
My Abuela's house in Santo Domingo