Mando Alvarado is a multifaceted artist from South Texas, with a profound passion for the world of playwriting, screenwriting, and acting.
His cinematic endeavors began with the feature film "Cruzando", which he co-wrote and co-directed with Michael Ray Escamilla, garnering widespread acclaim and recognition at prestigious festivals such as the HBO New York International Latino Film Festival, Newport Beach International Film Festival, and the London Latino International Film Festival. The film was subsequently distributed by Vanguard Cinema and is available on DVD.
As a playwright, Alvarado has had numerous notable productions, including "Sangre", an adaptation of "Blood Wedding", and "A King of Infinite Space", which blended the music of Pearl Jam with the classic tale of Hamlet. These plays premiered at Central Park's SummerStage and The Here Art Center, respectively.
Alvarado also wrote the book for the bilingual musical adaptation of "The Wizard of Oz", titled "Yellow Brick Road", which received critical acclaim in its Off-Broadway premiere at the Lortel Theater in July 2011. His play "Post No Bills" premiered at Rattlestick Playwright's Theater in November 2009, while "Splitting Mama" was selected for the Black Swan Lab at Oregon Shakespeare Festival.
As a contributing writer, Alvarado has worked with Theater 167 on "You Are Now the Owner of This Suitcase" and participated in the Freight Project, where he developed his play "(O)n THE 5:31", which was commissioned for Rising Phoenix Rep's Cino Nights at the Seventh Street Small Stage.
His play "Rear Exit" was presented at INTAR's New Works Lab as part of the evening of shorts "One Night in the Valley" and was also featured at The Atlantic Theater's Latino Theater Festival. Alvarado's translation of "Yamaha 300" for The Lark's Mexico/US Exchange Program received a staged reading at The Goodman's Latino Theater Festival.
His play "Throat" was developed at The Field ArtWard Bound Residency Program and was produced by Allison Prouty at the 45th St Theater, subsequently touring to Washington, DC, McAllen, TX, and Minneapolis, MN, with an additional run at INTAR's New Works Lab.
Throughout his career, Alvarado's plays have received developmental support from various organizations, including Rattlestick Playwright's Theater, The Kennedy Center, INTAR, The Lark, Naked Angels, Mixed Company, Sonnet Rep, The Shalimar, Theater Alliance, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, and The Round House Theater.
Alvarado's play "Basilica" is set to be produced by Rattlestick Playwright's Theater at the Cherry Lane and had a developmental production at STC in McAllen, TX in May 2011. The play is slated for the 2012-2013 season and also received a week-long workshop at The Black and Latino Playwright Conference in San Marcos.
Additionally, Alvarado was a finalist for the Ellen Steward Artist Award at La MaMa and is a member of Rising Phoenix Rep, an alumnus of INTAR's Hispanic-Playwright-in-Residence Laboratory from 2006 to 2008, and a graduate of the North Carolina School of the Arts.
