Rubén Darío Salazar Receives Ibero-American Stage Management Recognition

Renowned actor and director Rubén Darío Salazar Taquechel, the leader of Teatro de Las Estaciones, has been awarded the Guillermo Heras Ibero-American Stage Management Recognition. The award is presented by Iberescena, a fund for performing arts aid created by the Ibero-American Summit of Heads of State and Government.

This accolade, which spans the entire Ibero-American cultural and linguistic sphere, is dedicated to highlighting the life and work of those who have contributed outstandingly to the development of the performing arts in the region. It bears the name of Spanish actor, theater director, playwright, and editor Guillermo Heras.

A Distinguished Career in Figure Theater

Rubén Darío's journey into the world of figure theater began early. Shortly after graduating with a degree in acting from the Instituto Superior de Arte (ISA) in the late 1980s, he joined the company of the Matanzas-based troupe Papalote, under the direction of what would undoubtedly become his most important teacher, René Fernández Santana.

He landed his first leading role in the legendary production “Okín, pájaro que no vive en jaula.” This was followed by other memorable titles such as “Romance del Papalote que quería llegar a la luna” and “Los Ibeyis y el Diablo,” quickly making him a familiar face for audiences in Matanzas.

Founding Teatro de Las Estaciones

In 1994, he founded Teatro de Las Estaciones alongside his creative alter ego and life partner, designer Zenén Calero Medina. The company has since earned a place in the vanguard of Cuban theater. Its creator defines it as a sort of "alliance between musicians, dancers, radio artists, theater practitioners, circus artists, puppeteers, and painters, with everything I recognize and defend as legacy, identity, and patrimony."

From its headquarters at the Pepe Camejo Hall in the City of Bridges, Rubén has taken on the challenge of staging the fundamental values of Cuban identity. His work has included portraying iconic figures like José Martí, Dora Alonso, and Bola de Nieve, as well as transgressing conventions to create works for adult audiences.

A Legacy of Promotion and Preservation

In his role as a promoter, he has significantly contributed to safeguarding Cuba's puppeteer heritage. This effort is exemplified by his work compiling the history of its precursors, documented in his book "Mito, verdad y retablo. El guiñol de los hermanos Camejo y Pepe Carril," co-authored with playwright Norge Espinosa.

Salazar is a recipient of the National Theater Prize (2020) and the Maestro de Juventudes award, granted by the Hermanos Saíz Association, among several Villanueva awards from theater critics. He has participated in festivals and events in Italy, Mexico, France, Spain, Brazil, the United States, China, Ecuador, Venezuela, and other countries.

This latest award reaffirms that art made from Matanzas—"as if it were made from London or Paris," as the creator himself states—invariably finds its path to universality.