Howard Collado Photo

From: Photo Flash: Sneak Peek at Howard Collado in GOLONDRINAS (SWALLOWS) at La MaMa

On March 15, the majority party in Venezuela gave President Nicolas Maduro the power to temporarily govern Venezuela by decree, thanks to a law described by opposition activists as a measure to cover up the government's weaknesses and to subjugate the Venezuelan people. It is the second time Maduro has been given such powers and the late populist Hugo Chavez, Maduro's mentor and predecessor, ruled by fiat four times in his 14-year tenure. In her modern tragedy 'Golondrinas (Swallows),' Venezuelan expatriate playwright/director/actor Aminta De Lara likens the nation's acquiescence to the submissiveness of a family to a dominating and abusive father. De Lara will direct the piece, in a translation by Francine Jacome, at La MaMa April 16 to 26. Scroll down for a first look at him onstage!