About
MITsp – International Theater Festival reaches its 10th edition. For a decade, despite adverse circumstances, the festival has remained true to its experimental and critical vocation, engaging with the historical moment and its reverberations in contemporary performing arts.
In the Performance Showcase, the featured artist is nora chipaumire from Zimbabwe. The program also includes performances from Argentina, France, and Mozambique, as well as national works by Alejandro Ahmed and Antonio Nóbrega, the latter being honored for his career.
MITbr – Plataforma Brasil, an ongoing program for the internationalization of Brazilian performing arts, brings together a diversity of themes and languages from the contemporary scene and highlights Rio de Janeiro-based artist Wallace Ferreira/Patfudyda.
The program also includes Olhares Críticos (Critical Perspectives), which invites audiences to reflect on performing arts and contemporary Brazil through a series of thought-provoking activities, and Ações Pedagógicas (Pedagogical Actions), which explores new ways of producing and transmitting knowledge.
HISTORICAL FIGURES
For its 10th edition, MITsp pays tribute to ten emblematic figures in Brazilian theater history through its visual identity, created by visual artist Bueno Caos. Known for the Pelé Beijoqueiro wheatpaste series—where he reinterprets the famous photo of Pelé kissing boxer Muhammad Ali’s face—Caos has developed a special version for the festival, celebrating ten individuals who dedicated their lives to the theatrical arts.
Honorees include: Artist and thinker Abdias do Nascimento, actor Cacilda Becker, actor and singer Denise Assunção, actor Grande Otelo, director José Celso Martinez Corrêa, actor Phedra de Córdoba, writer Plínio Marcos, actor Ruth de Souza, actor and cultural producer Ruth Escobar, and stagehand and set technician Aníbal Marques, known as Pelé.
CREDITS:
Guest artist: Bueno Caos
Work: Pelé Beijoqueiro, special series for MITsp
Concept: Rachel Brumana
Original photos: Jennifer Glass (photo by José Celso Martinez Corrêa); Vantoen Pereira Júnior (photo by Abdias do Nascimento); André Stefano (photo by Phedra de Córdoba); Mauricio Coronado (photo by Anibal Marques)
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
Marcelo Drummond, Elisa Larkin Nascimento, Anelis Assunção and Nelson
ABOUT THE HONOREES
Abdias do Nascimento (1914-2011)
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Actor, director, and playwright, Nascimento was a militant advocate against racial discrimination and for the valorization of Black culture. In 1944, he founded the Teatro Experimental do Negro (Black Experimental Theater), leading it until 1968, when he was forced into exile for 13 years by the military dictatorship. Upon returning to Brazil, he pursued a political career, serving as a congressman and senator for the Democratic Labor Party (PDT), always championing a space for Black culture in society.
Cacilda Becker (1921-1969)
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Considered one of Brazil’s greatest actor, Becker starred in several productions at the Teatro Brasileiro de Comédia (TBC) and co-founded the company that bears her name alongside Cleyde Yáconis, Walmor Chagas, Ziembinski, and Fredi Kleemann. She played iconic roles, moving between farce and tragedy, from classical to modern theater, and extended her presence to political activism, fighting censorship against the Brazilian artistic community.
Denise Assunção (1956-2024)
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Singer, actor, and composer, Assunção left a lasting mark on Brazilian culture. In the 1980s, she performed with Isca de Polícia, a band led by her brother Itamar Assunção. In 1990, she released her only album, A Maior Bandeira Brasileira. Beyond music, she also pursued acting, appearing in films like Jeca e seu Filho Preto and A Banda das Velhas Virgens, both starring Amácio Mazzaropi. On stage, she performed in Mistérios Gozózos, directed by José Celso Martinez Corrêa.
Grande Otelo (1915-1993)
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Sebastião Bernardes de Souza Prata, known as Grande Otelo, was a composer, singer, actor, comedian, and poet. One of the most significant actors in Brazilian history, he built a career in revue theater, radio, film, and television. He starred in numerous successful Brazilian films, including the popular chanchadas of the 1940s and 1950s, often alongside Oscarito, and the 1969 film adaptation of Macunaíma.
José Celso Martinez Corrêa (1937-2023)
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Director, playwright, and actor, José Celso was one of Brazil’s most influential theater directors and intellectuals. A founder of Teatro Oficina Uzyna Uzona, he was a staunch opponent of the military dictatorship and drew inspiration from countercultural movements. He became renowned for productions such as O Rei da Vela by Oswald de Andrade and Roda Viva by Chico Buarque. Leading Oficina until his passing, he maintained a restless and irreverent artistic spirit.
Phedra de Córdoba (1938-2016)
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Born in Cuba, Córdoba moved to Brazil in the 1950s after meeting revue theater impresario Walter Pinto. She worked with notable figures like Consuelo Leandro, Hebe Camargo, Nelson Gonçalves, Costinha, and Ewerton de Castro. She gained prominence in the Les Girls travesti show and, in 2003, joined Os Satyros, performing in productions such as A Filosofia na Alcova, A Vida na Praça Roosevelt, and Transex.
Plínio Marcos (1935-1999)
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Playwright, writer, and actor, Marcos became known for his raw and socially critical plays. His theater career began in the 1950s, rising to prominence with Barrela (1958), which was censored at the time. Labeled a “cursed” playwright, he faced heavy repression for works like Navalha na Carne (1967) and Abajur Lilás (1969), which depicted violence and marginalization. Persecuted by the dictatorship, he remained independent and became one of Brazil’s greatest playwrights.
Ruth de Souza (1921-2019)
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A pioneer in Brazilian theater, television, and film, Souza was the first Black woman to perform at the Theatro Municipal do Rio de Janeiro. She joined the Teatro Experimental do Negro in the 1940s and became the first Brazilian actor nominated for an international award. She starred in films like Sinhá Moça (1953) and telenovelas such as O Clone and Senhora do Destino. Her 70-year career paved the way for generations of Black artists in Brazil.
Ruth Escobar (1936-2017)
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Born in Portugal and later naturalized Brazilian, Escobar was an actor and producer who revolutionized Brazilian theater. She founded the Teatro Ruth Escobar in São Paulo, produced groundbreaking performances, and brought international directors and playwrights to Brazil. A pioneer in organizing international theater festivals, she fought for cultural democratization and left a legacy of artistic resistance and innovation.
Anibal Marques
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Better known as Pelé, Marques is a stagehand and set technician who has worked at the Theatro Municipal de São Paulo for over 45 years. Starting at age 18 under the guidance of his father, Geraldo Marques (known as Batucada), he has contributed to theater, film, concerts, and events both in Brazil and abroad. He also teaches scenography techniques at institutions such as SP Escola de Teatro and Instituto de Teatro Brasileiro (ITB) and mentors technical apprentices at the Chico Giacchieri Technical Production Center.
CREDITS
CONCEPTION AND ARTISTIC DIRECTOR Antonio Araujo
CONCEPTION AND GENERAL PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Guilherme Marques
INSTITUTIONAL DIRECTOR Rafael Steinhauser
MITbr – PLATAFORMA BRASIL CURATORS Ave Terrena, Kenia Dias, and Jay Pather
CRITICAL REGARDS CURATOR Helena Vieira
PEDAGOGICAL ACTIVITIES CURATOR Alexandra G. Dumas
GENERAL PRODUCTION COORDINATOR Rachel Brumana
INSTITUTIONAL RELATIONS COORDINATOR Andreia Duarte
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS COORDINATOR Fernando Ruiz Braun
PUBLIC RELATIONS AND MIT+ PLATFORM COORDINATOR Natália Machiavelli
ADMINISTRATIVE AND FINANCIAL COORDINATOR Hiago Marques
TECHNICAL COORDINATOR Grazi Vieira
LOGISTICS COORDINATOR Dora Leão
MITbr – PLATAFORMA BRASIL COORDINATOR Paulo Girčys
CRITICAL REGARDS AND PEDAGOGICAL ACTIONS AXES COORDINATOR Iramaia Gongora
COMMUNICATION COORDINATION Maurício Coronado
EDITORIAL CONTENT COORDINATOR Mariana Marinho
PRESS OFFICE COORDINATOR Márcia Marques | Canal Aberto
CARTOGRAFIAS EDITING & TRANSLATION Ferdinando Martins
PROJECT SUPERVISION Isadora Petrin
EXECUTIVE PRODUCTION Giovanna Monteiro
LEGAL ADVISORY José Augusto Vieira de Aquino
ACCOUNTING AND TAX ADVISORY Carvalho Ramos Consultoria Contábil Tributária S/S
CURATORIAL ASSISTANCE OF ARTISTIC DIRECTION Jenia Kolesnikova and Fernando Ruiz Braun
ADMINISTRATIVE AND FINANCIAL COORDINATION ASSISTANT Nathália Monteiro
INSTITUTIONAL RELATIONS ASSISTANT Dani Correia
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS ASSISTANT Lua Negão
PUBLIC RELATIONS ASSISTANT Bruna Aly
TECHNICAL COORDINATION ASSISTANT Giovanna Gonçalves
LOGISTICS COORDINATION ASSISTANTS Fernanda Teixeira Gama, Ricardo Henrique and Samuel Kobayashi
MITbr – PLATAFORMA BRASIL PRODUCTION COORDINATION ASSISTANT Joy Catharina
CRITICAL REGARDS AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIONS AXES PRODUCTION COORDINATION ASSISTANT Igor Nascimento
COMMUNICATION COORDINATION ASSISTANT Giovana Carneiro
PRESS OFFICE ASSISTANTS Daniele Valério and Flávia Fontes de Oliveira
LEGAL ADVISORY ASSISTANT Nathalia Migliatti
PUBLIC RELATIONS CONSULTING Carminha Gongora
SCENOGRAPHY CONSULTING AND IMPLEMENTATION Carol Buček
TECHNICAL CONSULTING André Boll, Guilherme Ramos, and Rodrigo Gava
INTERNATIONALIZATION CONSULTING FOR BRAZIL PLATFORM GROUPS – MITbr Iva Horvat
EXECUTIVE PRODUCTION TEAM Thata Lopes, Carmen Mawu Lima, and Rafaela Correia
INTERNATIONAL PERFORMANCES LOCAL PRODUCERS Aura Cunha, Veni Moraes Barbosa, Julia Gomes, and Julio Cesarini
MITbr–PLATAFORMA BRASIL PERFORMANCES LOCAL PRODUCERS Lígia Helena de Almeida, Luiza Alves, and Paula Malfatti
CRITICAL REGARDS AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIONS AXES PRODUCERS Edan Mar Panesso Quintero and Benedito Mariano Canafistula
CULTURAL SUPPORT PRODUCTION Flavia Primo
LOCAL PRODUCTION ASSISTANT Vini Silveira
TECHNICAL TEAM Aledj Moreira (equipe de carregadores/apoio), Audrey Hibbeln, Bruna Lessa, Calu Batista, Cauê Palumbo Atgauzem, Diego França, Éder Eduardo Dias Santos, Eduardo Albergaria, Emilie Becker, Enrique Casas, Felipe Venâncio, Fernanda Guedella, Jeferson Gomes, Júlia Fávero, Joana Pegorari, José Dahora, Kuka Batista, Mark II (equipe de montagem som), Mirella Brandi, Pero Manzé, Raíssa Milanelli, Raquel Balekian, Ronaldo Zero, Santa Luz (equipe de montagem luz), Tetê Rocha, Vic Von Poser, Vivi Barbosa e Wanderley Wagner
WARDROBE Arieli Marcondes & team
CATERING Maria Foi Pra Cozinha
GENERAL SERVICES Jair Nascimento
VISUAL IDENTITY
GUEST ARTIST Bueno Caos
WORK Pelé Beijoqueiro, special series for MITsp
CONCEPT Rachel Brumana
GRAPHIC DESIGN & ART DIRECTION Casaplanta [Amanda Dafoe] + Lila Botter
WEBSITE GRAPHIC DESIGN Marina Duca
SOCIAL MEDIA Monica Gomes, Louise Gomes, and Redson Pereira
SIMULTANEOUS TRANSLATION Cecília Mattos
TEXT & SUBTITLE TRANSLATION Tempo Filmes
SUBTITLE REVIEW Lucas Neves and Jack Faustinoni
EDITORIAL CONTENT REVIEW Samantha Arana
PHOTOGRAPHIC COVERAGE Guto Muniz and Silvia Machado
VIDEO DOCUMENTATION & AUDIOVISUAL PRODUCTION ERA – Empório de Relacionamentos Artísticos
LIBRAS Mão Preta Libras
AUDIO & VOICE-OVER Carolina Correa
MASTER OF CEREMONY Aivan e Carminha Gongora
OPENING CEREMONY SCRIPT & DIRECTION Ave Terrena
Acknowledgments
Agnaldo Moreno
Airton José Marangon
Alessandro Azevedo
Alexandre Padilha
Álvaro Machado
Anamaria Boschi
Andre Stefano
André Sturm
Andrea Caruso Saturnino
Andressa Paré
Aninha Barros
Anna Helena da Costa Polistchuk
Arthur Hideki
Aurea Vieira
Benedita da Silva
Benjamin Seroussi
Bernardo Galegale
Bob Oliviera
Brigida Sousa
Bruna Cavanella
Bruno Saraiva Santana
Cafira Zoé
Camila Mota
Carlos Giannazi
Carlos Moreira Gomes
Carol Lafemina
Celso Curi
Celso Giannazi
Chris Ramirez
Cristina Nascimento
Daisaku Ikeda (in memorian)
Dandara Almeida
Danilo Santos de Miranda (in memorian)
Debora Viana
Eduardo Fragoaz
Eduardo Saron
Elaine Cristina Lopes de Oliveira
Eliane da Rocha
Eliézer Giazzi
Elisa Larkin Nascimento
Elisa Volpatto
Equipe da Biblioteca Mário de Andrade
Equipe do Centro Cultural São Paulo
Equipe da Coordenadoria de Teatros e Centros Culturais da Secretaria Municipal de Cultura
Equipe da Corpo Rastreado
Equipe da FUNARTE
Equipe da Gerência de Ação Cultural do Sesc SP
Equipe da Secretaria Municipal de Cultura e Economia Criativa de São Paulo
Equipe do Instituto Brasileiro de Teatro – IBT
Equipe do Instituto de Pesquisas e Estudos Afro-Brasileiros
Equipe do Goethe-Institut de São Paulo
Equipe do Itaú Cultural
Equipe do Museu Itamar Assumpção
Equipe do SATED SP
Equipe do Sesc Pompeia
Equipe do Sesc Vila Mariana
Equipe do SESI-SP
Equipe do Teatro Cacilda Becker
Equipe do Teatro Oficina Uzyna Uzona
Equipe do Theatro Municipal de São Paulo
Érika Dutra Mourão
Esthon Medeiros Jr.
Família Assumpção
Felipe Hoenen
Francis Wilker
Gaelle Massicos Bitty
Galiana Brasil
Gui Miralha
Guto Portugal
Helena Bastos
Heloisa Pisani
Henilton Menezes
Henrique Rochelle
Ivam Cabral
Jacinto Januário Maguni
Jader Rosa
Jayme Antonio Paez Filho
Jennifer Glass
Jô Santana
Juca Ferreira
Julian Correia de Aquino
Júlio César Dória
Jupira Santos
Jurandy Valença
Kelly Adriano
Kiko Barros
Leo Lama
Leonardo Lessa
Lorinaldo Silva
Luiz Deoclécio Massaro Galina
Marcelo Drummond
Márcio Tavares do Santos
Márcio Vidal Marinho
Margareth Menezes
Maria Beatriz Cardoso
Maria Lúcia Pupo
Maria Marighella
Mariana Guarnieri
Mariza Prota
Marllon Robert Caetano da Costa
Martim Villares
Matthias Makowski
Michele Rolim
Morizi Talles
Natália Risovas
Nathalia Costa
Nelson Aguilar
Núcleo dos Festivais Internacionais de Artes Cênicas do Brasil
Odecir Luiz Prata da Costa
Patrice Pauc
Patricia Borges Roggero
Paulo Fehlauer
Pedro Leão
Ramirez Lopes
Regina Célia da Silveira Santana
Renate Heilmeier
Ricardo Muniz Fernandes
Rita Teles
Rodrigo Lorena
Rosana Paulo da Cunha
Rubens Carsoni
Rui Moreira
Sandra Lopes
Sérgio Dávila
Silas Martí
Sylvia Aragão
Thaína Gonçalves Silva
Thiago Albanesi
Thiago Toledo
Tião Soares
Totó Parente
Vantoen Pereira Júnior
Wesley Kawaai
William Zarella Jr.
Special thanks for the 10-year journey of MITsp
Alba Roque
André Cortez
Cássia Andrade
Cecilia Kuska
Célio Faria
Daniele Avila Small
Dodi Leal
Erica Teodoro
Eustáquio Guglielmelli
Fause Haten
Felipe Assis
Fernando Mencarelli
Gabi Gonçalves
Géssica Arjona
Henrique Carsalade
Hugo Casarini
Iva Horvat
Jenia Kolesnikova
João Passos
José Fernando Peixoto de Azevedo
Julia Guimarães
Kil Abreu
Leda Maria Martins
Leo Devitto
Luciana Romagnolli
Malu Barsanelli
Marcelo Evelin
Maria Fernanda Vomero
Marina Watanabe
Marise Maues
Natasha Corbelino
Osvaldo Piva
Patrícia Cividanes
Patricia Perez
Pollyanna Diniz
Rodrigo Fidelis
Ruy Cortez
Silvia Fernandes
Sonia Sobral
Patrons
Laura Vinci
Marcelo Araújo
Marisa Riccitelli
Ricardo Ohtake
Honored personalities featured in the visual identity
Abdias do Nascimento
Aníbal Marques (Pelé)
Cacilda Becker
Denise Assunção
Grande Otelo
José Celso Martinez Corrêa
Phedra de Córdoba
Plínio Marcos
Ruth de Souza
Ruth Escobar
