César Alvarez
{{Short description|American composer, lyricist and playwright}}
{{Distinguish|César Álvarez}}
{{Infobox person
| name = César Alvarez
| birth_date = 1980
| birth_place = Greensboro, North Carolina, U.S.
| nationality = American
| occupation = Composer, lyricist, playwright, professor
| known_for = FUTURITY (musical), The Lisps
| awards = Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Musical (2016)
| education = Interlochen Arts Academy
Oberlin Conservatory
Bard College (MFA)
| employer = Dartmouth College
| notable_works = FUTURITY, The Elementary Spacetime Show, The Universe is a Small Hat, NOISE
}}
César Alvarez (born 1980) is an American composer, lyricist and playwright.{{Cite news|url=http://www.americantheatre.org/2015/10/13/cesar-alvarez-is-changing-the-american-musical-form-and-the-world/|title=César Alvarez Is Changing the American Musical Form, and the World|date=2015-10-13|work=AMERICAN THEATRE|access-date=2017-10-23|language=en-US}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.economist.com/blogs/prospero/2015/11/new-york-theatre|title=A musical for people who don't like musicals|newspaper=The Economist|access-date=2017-10-23|language=en}} César is best known for the musical FUTURITY which they wrote with their band The Lisps. FUTURITY won the Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Musical in 2016.{{Cite news|url=https://variety.com/2016/legit/news/lucille-lortel-awards-2016-full-list-1201764268/|title=Lucille Lortel Awards: 'Guards at the Taj,' 'The Robber Bridegroom' Score Big|last=Cox|first=Gordon|date=2016-05-02|work=Variety|access-date=2017-10-23|language=en-US}}
Alvarez is an assistant professor of music at Dartmouth College.{{Cite web|title=César Alvarez and Allie Martin join Music Department
|date=2 July 2020 |url=https://music.dartmouth.edu/news/2020/07/cesar-alvarez-and-allie-martin-join-music-department}}
Early life
César J. Alvarez was born to a Cuban father and a Euro-American mother{{Cite news|url=http://ftp.aldianews.com/articles/culture/c%C3%A9sar-alvarezs-elementary-spacetime-show-debuts/44032|title=César Alvarez's "Elementary Spacetime Show" Debuts|date=2016-09-12|work=AL DÍA News|access-date=2017-10-24|language=en}} in Greensboro, NC.{{Cite news|url=http://lmcc.net/person/cesar-alvarez/|title=César Alvarez - Lower Manhattan Cultural Council|work=Lower Manhattan Cultural Council|access-date=2017-10-24|language=en-US}} He was named for César Cauce and James Waller, who were both victims of the Greensboro Massacre.{{Cite news|url=http://www.americantheatre.org/2015/10/13/cesar-alvarez-is-changing-the-american-musical-form-and-the-world/|title=César Alvarez Is Changing the American Musical Form, and the World|date=2015-10-13|work=AMERICAN THEATRE|access-date=2017-10-24|language=en-US}}
Alvarez attended Interlochen Arts Academy{{Cite web|url=http://camp.interlochen.org/crescendo/1990s-motifs|title=1990s Motifs {{!}} Interlochen Summer Arts Camp|website=camp.interlochen.org|language=en|access-date=2017-10-24}} and Oberlin Conservatory.{{Cite web|url=https://new.oberlin.edu/conservatory/departments/composition/alumni.dot|title=Alumni Composers {{!}} Composition {{!}} Conservatory {{!}} Oberlin College|website=new.oberlin.edu|date=24 October 2016 |access-date=2017-10-24}} They received an MFA from Bard College.
Alvarez uses they/them pronouns {{Cite web|title=Dartmouth College Faculty Bio|date=16 July 2020 |url=https://music.dartmouth.edu/people/cesar-alvarez}}
Career
Alvarez spent the early years of their career performing with The Lisps. The Lisps released 4 albums between 2006 and 2012."{{Cite news|url=http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/2008-03-13/music/the-lisps/|title=The Lisps|last=D'Andrea|first=Niki|date=2008-03-13|work=Phoenix New Times|access-date=2017-10-24|archive-date=2012-10-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020113505/http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/2008-03-13/music/the-lisps/|url-status=dead}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=90250304|title=The Lisps: Sing Along with Heartache|work=NPR.org|access-date=2017-10-24|language=en}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.wfuv.org/110720/listen-and-watch-lisps-tas-session-wnye-915|title=Listen And Watch: The Lisps On TAS In Session On WNYE 91.5 {{!}} WFUV|website=www.wfuv.org|language=en|access-date=2017-10-24}}
In 2008, Alvarez conceived of the Civil War-era science fictional musical FUTURITY as their master's thesis at Bard.{{Cite news|url=http://bedfordandbowery.com/2015/10/futurity-is-a-folk-rock-math-science-musical/|title=Futurity Is A Folk-Rock-Math-Science… Musical?|work=Bedford + Bowery|access-date=2017-10-24|language=en-US}} In 2009, The Lisps first performed FUTURITY at the now defunct New York City venue, The Zipper Factory.{{Cite web|url=http://atlengthmag.com/music/title-of-post-here/|title=At Length » Futurity|website=atlengthmag.com|language=en-US|access-date=2017-10-24}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.papermag.com/an-indie-rock-musical-grows-in-brooklyn-1425507973.html|title=An Indie Rock Musical Grows in Brooklyn|date=2009-01-09|work=PAPERMAG|access-date=2017-10-24|language=en}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/nonfiction/music-is-science-fiction-an-interview-with-the-lisps/|title=Interview: The Lisps - Lightspeed Magazine|date=2010-07-27|work=Lightspeed Magazine|access-date=2017-10-24|language=en-US}} FUTURITY world premiered as part of the American Repertory Theater's 2011/12 season under the direction of Sarah Benson{{Cite news|url=http://www.boston.com/ae/specials/culturedesk/2011/04/art.html|title=ART's new season: 'Porgy' and The Lisps|work=Boston.com|access-date=2017-10-24|language=en}} co-commissioned by Walker Art Center.{{Cite news|url=http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/state-of-the-arts/archive/2011/05/walker-celebrates-cunningham-in-new-performing-arts-season.shtml|title=Walker celebrates Cunningham in new performing arts season|last=Kerr|first=Euan|work=State of the Arts|access-date=2017-10-24|language=en-US}} FUTURITY went on to an Off-Broadway premiere co-produced by Soho Rep and Ars Nova in 2015.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/21/theater/review-futurity-in-a-civil-war-setting-wishes-for-todays-technology.html|title=Review: 'Futurity,' in a Civil War Setting, Wishes for Today's Technology|last=Isherwood|first=Charles|date=2015-10-20|work=The New York Times|access-date=2017-10-24|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}} That production won the Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Musical and received 4 other Lortel nominations.
In 2013 Alvarez composed original music with The Lisps for The Foundry Theater's production of Bertolt Brecht's The Good Person of Szechwan starring Taylor Mac.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/09/theater/reviews/good-person-of-szechwan-with-taylor-mac-at-la-mama.html|title='Good Person of Szechwan,' With Taylor Mac, at La MaMa|last=Isherwood|first=Charles|date=2013-02-08|work=The New York Times|access-date=2017-10-24|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}} Alvarez and The Lisps received a Drama Desk Nomination for Outstanding Music in a Play.{{Cite web|url=http://www.playbill.com/article/nominations-announced-for-58th-annual-drama-desk-awards-giant-and-hands-on-a-hardbody-lead-the-pack-com-204869|title=Nominations Announced for 58th Annual Drama Desk Awards; Giant and Hands on a Hardbody Lead the Pack {{!}} Playbill|website=Playbill|language=en|access-date=2017-10-24}}
In 2014 Alvarez composed original music for the World Premiere production of Branden Jacobs-Jenkins's play An Octoroon. They received another Drama Desk Nomination for Outstanding Music in a Play.{{Cite news|url=https://variety.com/2015/legit/news/drama-desk-nominations-2015-full-list-1201478395/|title=Drama Desk Nominations: 'Hamilton' Leads the Polls (FULL LIST)|last=Cox|first=Gordon|date=2015-04-23|work=Variety|access-date=2017-10-24|language=en-US}}
Alvarez also composed music for Soho Rep's site specific work Washeteria,{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/31/theater/review-soho-reps-washeteria-staged-in-a-brooklyn-storefront.html|title=Review: Soho Rep's 'Washeteria,' Staged in a Brooklyn Storefront|last=Soloski|first=Alexis|date=2015-03-30|work=The New York Times|access-date=2017-10-24|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}} Theatre for a New Audience's production of Thornton Wilder's The Skin of Our Teeth,{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/28/theater/the-skin-of-our-teeth-review.html|title=Review: In 'The Skin of Our Teeth,' the End of the World as We Know It|last=Brantley|first=Ben|date=2017-02-28|work=The New York Times|access-date=2017-10-24|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}} and the documentary A Woman Like Me.{{Cite news|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/a-woman-like-me-film-806929|title='A Woman Like Me': Film Review|work=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=2017-10-24|language=en}}
Alvarez's other musicals include The Universe is a Small Hat,{{Cite news|url=http://extendedplay.thecivilians.org/cesar-alvarez-universe-is-a-small-hat/|title=Building the Future with Gaming and Participatory Theater - Extended Play|date=2015-01-28|work=Extended Play|access-date=2017-10-24|language=en-US}} The Elementary Spacetime Show{{Cite news|url=http://www.philly.com/philly/entertainment/20160917_Philly_Fringe___Spacetime_Show__probes_teen_suicide_with_humor__music__physics.html|title=Philly Fringe: 'Spacetime Show' probes teen suicide with humor, music, physics|work=Philly.com|access-date=2017-10-24}}{{Cite news|url=https://whyy.org/articles/fringe-reviews-the-elementary-spacetime-show-switched-and-the-chairs/|title=Fringe reviews: 'The Elementary Spacetime Show,' 'Switched!' and 'The Chairs' : Shapiro on Theater : Arts & Entertainment : WHYY|work=WHYY|access-date=2017-10-24|language=en-US}} and NOISE.{{Cite news|url=http://www.liherald.com/lynbrook/stories/Making-some-Noise,88444|title=Making some 'Noise'|work=Herald Community Newspapers|access-date=2017-10-24|language=en}}
Alvarez was an Artist-in-Residence at The University of the Arts where they served as Founding Artistic Director of Polyphone, a festival of new musicals for five years.{{Cite web|url=http://americantheatrewing.org/working-in-the-theatre/polyphone/|title=Polyphone|website=The American Theatre Wing|language=en-US|access-date=2017-10-24}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.americantheatre.org/2016/04/07/polyphone-festival-is-bigger-and-better-for-its-second-year/|title=Polyphone Is Bigger and Better the Second Time Around|date=2016-04-07|work=AMERICAN THEATRE|access-date=2017-10-24|language=en-US}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.uarts.edu/news/polyphone-director |title=UArts Appoints Director of Polyphone Festival |date=2019-10-10}}
Awards
- 2016 Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Musical (FUTURITY)
- 2016 Jonathan Larson Award recipient{{Cite web|url=http://americantheatrewing.org/program/jonathan-larson-grants/|title=America Theatre Wing|website=The American Theatre Wing|language=en-US|access-date=2017-09-27}}
- 2016 Off-Broadway Alliance Award for Best New Musical (FUTURITY){{Cite news|url=http://www.theatermania.com/off-broadway/news/off-broadway-alliance-announces-2016-winners_77112.html|title=Off Broadway Alliance Announces 2016 Award Winners|work=TheaterMania.com|access-date=2017-10-24}}
- 2022 Kleban Prize in Musical Theater{{Cite news|url=https://playbill.com/article/c%C3%A9sar-alvarez-and-isabella-dawis-awarded-kleban-prize-for-musical-theatre|title=César Alvarez and Isabella Dawis Awarded Kleban Prize for Musical Theatre}}
- 2022 Guggenheim Fellowship recipient for Drama & Performance Art{{Cite web |date=2022-04-08 |title=Among the 2022 Guggenheim Fellows, 4 Theatremakers |url=https://www.americantheatre.org/2022/04/08/among-the-2022-guggenheim-fellows-4-theatremakers/ |access-date=2022-04-09 |website=American Theatre |publisher=Theatre Communications Group |language=en-US}}
== References ==
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://cesaralvarez.net/ Official Website]
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Alvarez, Cesar}}
Category:Oberlin Conservatory of Music alumni
Category:University of the Arts (Philadelphia) faculty
Category:American musical theatre composers