Introduction 2025

INTRODUCTION

MITsp – São Paulo 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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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

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

COLOCAR A NOVA

IDEALIZAÇÃO E DIREÇÃO ARTÍSTICA Antonio Araujo

IDEALIZAÇÃO E DIREÇÃO GERAL Guilherme Marques

DIREÇÃO INSTITUCIONAL Rafael Steinhauser

CURADORIA DOS OLHARES CRÍTICOS Leda Maria Martins

COCURADORIA DOS OLHARES CRÍTICOS Natasha Corbelino

CURADORIA DE AÇÕES PEDAGÓGICAS Dodi Leal

CURADORIA ENCONTRA DE PEDAGOGIA DA TEATRA Luh Maza

CURADORIA MITbr – PLATAFORMA BRASIL Marise Maués, Cecília Kuska e Marcelo Evelin

ASSISTÊNCIA DE CURADORIA DA DIREÇÃO ARTÍSTICA Jenia Kolesnikova

RELAÇÕES INTERNACIONAIS E DIREÇÃO DA PLATAFORMA MIT+ Natália Machiavelli

RELAÇÕES INTERNACIONAIS MITbr – PLATAFORMA BRASIL Fernando Ruiz Braun

COORDENAÇÃO GERAL DE PRODUÇÃO Rachel Brumana

COORDENAÇÃO ADMINISTRATIVA E FINANCEIRA Hiago Marques

GESTÃO E PRODUÇÃO EXECUTIVA DO PROJETO Marina Watanabe

COORDENAÇÃO DE COMUNICAÇÃO Andreia Duarte

COORDENAÇÃO DE ASSESSORIA DE IMPRENSA Márcia Marques | Canal Aberto

COORDENAÇÃO TÉCNICA Grazi Vieira

COORDENAÇÃO DE LOGÍSTICA Dora Leão

COORDENAÇÃO DE PRODUÇÃO MITbr – PLATAFORMA BRASIL Paulo Girčys

COORDENAÇÃO DOS EIXOS REFLEXIVO E PEDAGÓGICO Jaya Batista

COORDENAÇÃO DE EDIÇÃO, REDAÇÃO E SUPERVISÃO DE CONTEÚDO EDITORIAL Mariana Marinho

COORDENAÇÃO DE CIRCULAÇÃO Rafael Ferro

ASSESSORIA JURÍDICA José Augusto Vieira de Aquino

ASSESSORIA CONTÁBIL/TRIBUTÁRIA Carvalho Ramos Consultoria Contábil Tributária S/S

EDIÇÃO CARTOGRAFIAS E INTERMEDIAÇÃO MITbr – PLATAFORMA BRASIL Ferdinando Martins

ASSISTENTES DE COORDENAÇÃO GERAL DE PRODUÇÃO Dani Correia e Giovanna Monteiro

ASSISTENTES DE COORDENAÇÃO ADMINISTRATIVA E FINANCEIRA Nathália Monteiro e Pamela Machado

ASSISTENTES DE COMUNICAÇÃO Murilo Rocha e Maurício Coronado

ASSISTENTES DE ASSESSORIA DE IMPRENSA Daniele Valério, Flávia Fontes de Oliveira e Kelly Santos

ASSISTENTE DE RELAÇÕES INTERNACIONAIS Paula Malfatti

ASSISTENTE DE RELAÇÕES INTERNACIONAIS MITbr – PLATAFORMA BRASIL Juliana Garzillo

ASSISTENTES DE COORDENAÇÃO DE LOGÍSTICA Fernanda Teixeira Gama, Samuel Kobayashi e Veni Moraes Barbosa

ASSISTENTE DE COORDENAÇÃO DE PRODUÇÃO MITbr – PLATAFORMA BRASIL Marô Zamaro

ASSISTENTE DE COORDENAÇÃO DE EDIÇÃO, REDAÇÃO E SUPERVISÃO DE CONTEÚDO EDITORIAL Ana Elisa Faria

ASSISTENTE DE COORDENAÇÃO TÉCNICA Cauê Gouveia

ASSISTENTE DE ASSESSORIA JURÍDICA Nathalia Migliatti Marino

CONSULTORIA E IMPLANTAÇÃO CENOGRÁFICA Carol Buček

CONSULTORIA TÉCNICA André Boll (iluminação), Guilherme Ramos (sonorização) e Rodrigo Gava (vídeos e projeções)

CONSULTORIA PARA INTERNACIONALIZAÇÃO DOS GRUPOS DA PLATAFORMA BRASIL – MITbr Iva Horvat

CONSULTORIA DE RELAÇÕES PÚBLICAS Carminha Gongora

PRODUÇÃO DOS EIXOS REFLEXIVO E PEDAGÓGICO Igor Nascimento, Mohamed Azambuja, Ramona Ísis, Thata Lopes

PRODUÇÃO EXECUTIVA DE BILHETERIA Filipe Roseno

ASSISTENTE DE PRODUÇÃO EXECUTIVA Leonardo Monteiro

PRODUTORAS LOCAIS DOS ESPETÁCULOS INTERNACIONAIS Aura Cunha, Iramaia Gongora, Karina Legrand e Olivia Barcellos

PRODUTORAS LOCAIS DOS ESPETÁCULOS MITbr – PLATAFORMA BRASIL Carol Vidotti, Joy Catharina, Lígia Helena de Almeida, Mariana Campos

ASSISTENTES DE PRODUÇÃO LOCAL Eve Santana, Vini Silveiras e Julia Fávero

EQUIPE TÉCNICA Bruna Lessa, Calu Batista, Cecília Lüzs, Eder Eduardo, Eduardo Albergaria, Emilie Becker, Fabio Farias, Felipe Venâncio, Fernanda Guedella, Fernando Albuquerque, Gabriel Fernandes, Gabriela Miranda, Giovanna Gonçalves, Giullia Kelly, Jefferson de Lima, José Dahora, Kuka Batista, Lara Gutierrez, Lilla Stipp, Raíssa Milanelli, Raquel Balekian, Rafael Alcântara, Vic Von Poser e Wanderley Wagner

CAMAREIRA Arieli Marcondes

ASSISTENTES DE CAMAREIRA Fátima Marcondes Reis e Luan Mateus Araújo dos Santos

RECEPTIVOS Henrique Leonel, Lheo Shiroma, Rafaela Correia

SERVIÇOS GERAIS Jair Nascimento

IDENTIDADE VISUAL E PROJETO GRÁFICO Casaplanta + Lila Botter

PROJETO GRÁFICO DO SITE Marina Duca

REDES SOCIAIS Carol Braga, Juma Mascarenhas e Priscila Natany

TRADUÇÃO CONSECUTIVA Bruno Murtinho, Lígia Xavier, Rodrigo Fabbro e Vicente Antunes Ramos

TRADUÇÃO CONSECUTIVA MITbr Rafael Werá Mirim Hernandez e Julia Ruiz Di Giovanni

TRADUÇÃO DE CONTEÚDO TÉCNICO E EDITORIAL Kevin Kraus

TRADUÇÃO DE TEXTOS E LEGENDAS Casarini Produções

REVISÃO DE LEGENDAS Lucas Neves

REVISÃO DE CONTEÚDO EDITORIAL Samantha Arana

COBERTURA FOTOGRÁFICA: Guto Muniz, Silvia Machado e Nereu Jr

REGISTRO VIDEOGRÁFICO E PRODUÇÃO AUDIOVISUAL: ERA – Empório de Relacionamentos Artísticos

TRANSMISSÃO ONLINE Agência Bowie

ÁUDIOS E LOCUÇÕES Cynara Bruno

LIBRAS Mão Preta Libras

AUDIODESCRIÇÃO Ver com Palavras

MESTRES DE CERIMÔNIAS Mawusi Tulani e Nilcéia Vicente

MESTRE DE CERIMÔNIAS aula-magMa ACHILLE MBEMBE Roberta Estrela D’Alva

ROTEIRO E DIREÇÃO DA CERIMÔNIA DE ABERTURA Dione Carlos

CRÉDITO DAS OBRAS QUE INTEGRAM A IDENTIDADE VISUAL DA MITsp 2024 t_r_i_n_c_a