Teatro Círculo’s 2025-26 Season Opens with ‘La monja alférez’, the Story of a 17th Century Decorated Trans Soldier at Teatro Círculo

Teatro Círculo, one of New York City’s leading Spanish-language theatre companies - known for its creative staging of classical and contemporary works – presents La monja alférez (The Lieutenant Nun) by Juan Ruiz de Alarcón, an extraordinary play that challenged the idea of gender conformity 400 years ago.

When President Trump issued his Executive Order declaring transgender soldiers, “not in the best interest of the Service of the Militaries...and not consistent with the interests of national security,” José Cheo Oliveras, the Founding Artistic Director of NYC’s Teatro Círculo knew which play he would choose to open the theater’s 2025-26 Season.

“I have always been drawn to the Golden Age Classics, because many addressed political oppression, wealth disparity, and women’s agency,” explains Oliveras. “The story of Catalina de Erauso has fascinated people for centuries because the central character openly challenged gender norms.”

Director Daniel Alonso de Santos, who also adapted this 17th Century Spanish Golden Age play with Germán Vega García-Luengos, reimagines La monja alférez as a play within a play set in a piano bar in present day New York City. The MC, a nonbinary pianist and opera singer, that tells the powerful true story of Catalina de Erauso (Guzmán), who fled a convent disguised as a man, sailed to the Americas, and became a decorated soldier.

The international cast and design team they together hold more than 35 awards in Spanish language theater, including María Fontanals, Sandra Gumuzzio, Gerardo Gudiño, Eva Cristina Vásquez, Fernando Gazzaniga, Mario Mattei, Jei Fabiano, and José Cheo Oliveras.

The creative and design team is completed with verse direction by Karmele Aranburu, Production Design by Israel Franco-Müller, Caridad del Valle is the Assistant Director and Stage Manager, Kareliz Michelle De Jesús is the Hair & Makeup Designer, with original music by Jei Fabiano, and fight choreography by Mario Mattei.

La monja alferez will have 12 performances, October 17 through November 2, 2025 at Teatro Círculo’s 64 East 4th Street Mainstage Theater in Manhattan.
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Performances are in Spanish verse with overtitles in English.