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Adding local short description: "Paraguayan playwright", overriding Wikidata description "Paraguayan playwright, director, actor, theater and television producer."
 
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{{Infobox playwright
{{Short description|Paraguayan playwright}}
{{Infobox writer
| name = Nestor Amarilla
| image = En el Debate 01.jpg
| name = Nestor Amarilla
| caption = Amarilla in 2013
| image = En el Debate 01.jpg
| birth_date = {{birth date|1980|7|24|mf=y}}
| birth_date = {{birth date|1980|7|24|mf=y}}
| birth_place= Colonia Genaro Romero, [[Coronel Oviedo]], [[Caaguazú Department|Caaguazu]], [[Paraguay]]
| birth_place = [[Paraguay]]
| occupation = Playwright, director, producer
| occupation = Playwright
| genre = [[Drama]] and [[comedy]]
| genre = [[Drama]] and [[comedy]]
| influences = [[Anton Chekhov]]<br>[[Tennessee Williams]]<br>[[August Wilson]]<br>[[Neil Simon]]
| signature =
}}
}}


'''Néstor Salvador Amarilla Acosta''' (born [[Coronel Oviedo]], [[Paraguay]] on July 24, 1980) is a [[playwright]], [[television director|director]], [[actor]]{{citation needed|date=August 2014}}, [[theater]] and [[television producer]].
'''Néstor Salvador Amarilla Acosta''' (born July 24, 1980) is a [[playwright]] from [[Paraguay]].

Nestor Amarilla writes for theater and television. His most known work is "Saved by a Poem." According to [[Reuters]], he is reported to have been nominated for the [[Nobel Prize in Literature]] of 2010 and 2011.<ref>https://www.reuters.com/article/2010/09/29/us-nobel-literature-preview-idUSTRE68S2X020100929 Poets poised for Nobel glory; Swede is favorite</ref> The low odds given by betting company [[Unibet]] for Amarilla being the winner led journalists to believe that the Paraguayan was a favorite among the nominees.<ref>http://www.lostiempos.com/diario/actualidad/tragaluz/20101002/escritor-paraguayo-de-30-anos-es-el-favorito-para-el-nobel-de_92365_178053.html</ref> During 2013, he was coach at [[La Academia (Paraguay)]] and panelist of "El Debate", both programs produced by the Paraguayan television broadcaster [[Telefuturo]].

==Childhood and education==
Nestor Amarilla was born on 24 July 1980 in a small rural farm 30&nbsp;km from the main city of [[Coronel Oviedo]]. His parents are Juan de la Cruz Amarilla, who died in 2008,and Herminia Acosta de Amarilla. Both of his parents did not finish their elementary education. Amarilla has two brothers.

Being the son of a [[peasant]], Amarilla lived a simple and humble life, growing up without [[running water]], [[electricity]] and [[television]]. Only after he turned 7 years old, did he first wear shoes, walking to school and in a [[parade]] celebrating the anniversary of the [[independence]] of [[Paraguay]]. During the [[Stroessner]] era, it was mandatory to participate in the parades to celebrate the independence day. From the beginning, Amarilla stood out in school because of his ability and interest in the [[arts]].

In their [[community]], his father was known{{by whom|date=August 2014}} to be an anti Stroessner. Thus, remembering many of the different situations his father went through. When Amarilla was 7 years old, he accompanied his father to one of their secret meetings that took place. He remembers "I insisted so much in going with him to their secret meetings, that my father didn't have a choice, but take me along. The meeting location changed three times so Stroessner's informants wouldn't find out about the meeting place. The meeting was short and simple. There was a small table covered with a cloth and one candle. 30 to 40 people sat around the little table and they discussed a book one of the attendants had read. The book was titled "[[Democracy]]." Back then, I thought the name was a woman's name."

Amarilla met a [[Peace Corps]] [[volunteer]] working near his hometown when he was 13 years old. Her name was Kristin Callahan. Amarilla made a deal with Kristin that he would teach her the [[Guarani language]] and she would teach him English. Together they created a newspaper for the local people to read. This newspaper was called "Kokue Poty" and they also decided to teach English to local people interested in learning the language. The most important thing that Amarilla learned from that volunteer was to dream and believe that anything was possible in life. Then, she encouraged him to investigate about the [[American Field Service]] (AFS) about the possibility of studying in a foreign country. After manfully competitions and after moving to the city of [[Coronel Oviedo]], Amarilla was rewarded a full [[scholarship]] to study in the [[United States]].

At 17, Amarilla left [[Paraguay]] for the first time. He went to the United States before he visited any other foreign country. He lived with the Stillson family in [[Fridley, Minnesota]] for one year where he finished his secondary education. He graduated with honors especially in the areas of [[theater]] and [[music]]. At his host families' insistence, Amarilla returned to Minnesota to study in college in 2000.

While he was singing with the well known choir [[VocalEssence]], he met the director of the [http://www.wallinpartners.org/ Wallin Foundation]. The director was very impressed by the young aspiration to succeed and by his amazing background, that she offered him a full scholarship to finish his college career at any university of his choice.

Amarilla chose the [[Metropolitan State University]] in Minnesota. Convinced that he wanted to study television and mass communication, he chose the career of television and dramatic arts. Two years later, one of this professor suggested that he changed his focus into writing authentic plays that can be carried to the stage. Discovering this new endeavor, Amarilla concentrated on acting and directing. In 2005, Amarilla graduated from Metropolitan State University with a bachelor's degree in Theater & Mass communication. His parents traveled all the way from the rural country home to see Amarilla graduate and receive the award as the honor student in his department.


==Career==
==Career==
Hector Amarilla was born July 24, 1980, in Colonia Genaro Romero, near the town of [[Coronel Oviedo]] in [[Paraguay]].<ref name=emol>{{cite news|title=Escritor paraguayo de 30 años es el favorito para alzar el Nobel de Literatura |url=http://www.emol.com/noticias/magazine/2010/10/01/439047/escritor-paraguayo-de-30-anos-es-el-favorito-para-alzar-el-nobel-de-literatura.html|work=El Mercurio|date=1 October 2010|language=es-LA}}</ref> His father was persecuted by the regime of [[Alfredo Stroessner]].<ref name=Born/> When he was 17 years old he went to the US to study on a scholarship; he completed the US high school requirements then enrolled in [[Metropolitan State University]] in [[Minnesota]].<ref name=emol/><ref>{{cite news|last1=Drobac|first1=JC|title=Paraguayan Metropolitan State University student rolls difficult and impoverished life experiences into intriguing plays|url=http://themetropolitan.metrostate.edu/September2005/092005001.html|work=The Metropolitan Online|date=September 2005|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060904075122/http://themetropolitan.metrostate.edu/September2005/092005001.html|archivedate=4 September 2006}}</ref>
With two degrees and three plays produced by the University, Americana Rose, [http://themetropolitan.metrostate.edu/September2005/092005001.html Ripped Dress o Vestido Roto y La Pruebera], Nestor started writing theatrical pieces for the theaters of the Twin Theaters. He wrote and directed the play [http://liberatormagazine.com/content/5.2/political.htm Saved by a Poem] at the Theatre Festival organized by [http://www.teatrodelpueblo.org/ Teatro del Pueblo]. The same year, he co-authored the play ''"Born in Iraq"''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2006/07/05/borniniraq |accessdate=August 12, 2010 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608194703/http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2006/07/05/borniniraq/ |archivedate=June 8, 2011 }}</ref> and it was presented at the Mixed Blood Theater in the Twin Cities, MN. Both plays were of a great success.

As he returned to Paraguay, Nestor assisted Mario Ferrero in Cuentas Claras on [[Sistema Nacional de Televisión (Paraguay)|SNT]], produced by Augusto Barreto. In 2008, he was hired as the Director of Fiction for channel 13 by the Chena Company. That same year, he directed the famous and successful show called [http://www.rpc.com.py/blog/un_alto_en_la_grabacin_17.html Ninera de Adultos] where he was also the co-writer of the show. The same year he was named the Director of the Fiction department and he also directed the talk show called Ellas.

At the end of 2008, Nestor was fired by the Chena Company for not complying with their rules and guidelines to be followed in order to air a show. The Director, Nestor, considered this action, as being [[Censorship|censored]] by his boss. In his book, the author, mentions that he has pending legal action against the Chena Company. Until now, nothing has been settled between the two parties.

As a sign of protest, still going on in his country, Nestor directed "Fecha Feliz" the Spanish and Guarani version of "Saved by a Poem" in [[Asuncion]] at the Latino Theater. This play tells a true story of his family during the [[dictatorship]] during the [[Stroessner|Stroessner regime]]. With the intent of boycott<ref>http://www.ultimahora.com/notas/192738-D%27Oliveira-dejo---Fecha-Feliz-por-exigencias-de-su-canal</ref> the directors of the Canal 13 tried to stop the premier of the play Saved by a Poem. So, the play's premiere was taken place on February 6,<ref>http://archivo.abc.com.py/2009-02-01/articulos/491890/doliveira-fue-obligado-a-dejar-elenco-de-teatro</ref> 2009, three days later after it was first scheduled. The play received many [http://www.ultimahora.com/notas/195688-El-amor-en-tiempos-de-dictadura good reviews] and was [http://archivo.abc.com.py/2009-02-13/articulos/495292/pasado-doloroso-en-la-obra-fecha-feliz highly claimed] that Nestor was asked to present the play again at the Teatro Municipal de Asuncion on March 8. This date celebrated the day of the Women.


In 2005, his play, “La Pruebera”, was staged in Minneapolis.<ref name="La Nacion">{{cite news|title="La Pruebera" se estrena hoy en el "Salazar"|url=http://www.lanacion.com.py/articulo.php?la-pruebera-se-estrena-hoy-en-el-salazar&edicion=2&sec=9&art=19998|work=La Nacion|date=19 April 2011|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111003002255/http://www.lanacion.com.py/articulo.php?la-pruebera-se-estrena-hoy-en-el-salazar&edicion=2&sec=9&art=19998|archivedate=3 October 2011}}</ref>
In July 2009, the same day he 29 turned years old, his most polemic and most criticized work Che, Che K-nal premiered. Che, Che K-nalis a comedy show that tells the life of a chief, who misunderstood his wife request to buy a TV. Instead of buying a TV, the chief, the husband, bought the whole channel to please his wife. The critics, mostly of them belong to the media, did not find it particular humoristic. What the author tried to convey through this play was the usage of power in the media in order to degrade the women. Later on, the author [http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_u2tmc-2BId0/Sw5kVEydwxI/AAAAAAAAF_c/P2AwWzgmOqY/s1600/marce26novdenuncia.JPG sued] the Chena Company for defamation.


In 2006, he co-authored a play with Yacoub Aljaffery called "Born in Iraq" that describes life under the regime of [[Saddam Hussein]], and the two formed a production company called Earth Speak that presented the play at the Mixed Blood Theater in Minneapolis. Amarilla had met Aljaffery while tutoring him in Spanish at Minneapolis Community and Technical College; Aljaffery had grown up under the regime and his father had been murdered by soldiers.<ref name=Born>{{cite news|url=http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2006/07/05/borniniraq |title="Born in Iraq" gives a different perspective on conflict|work=Minnesota Public Radio|date=July 5, 2006 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608194703/http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2006/07/05/borniniraq/ |archivedate=June 8, 2011 |first=Ambar |last=Espinoza}}</ref>
Going back to what the author loves the most, which is [[drama]], the author published the book ''"Fecha Feliz"'' It is this the book that has been reported to be one of the reasons why he has been nominated<ref>http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/state-of-the-arts/archive/2010/03/paraguayan-nobel-nominee-got-his-start-in-st-paul.shtml</ref> by a Linguistic Professor and a Human Right Fighter from Paraguay for the [[Nobel prize (literature)|Nobel Prize of Literature]] of 2010;<ref>http://video.latam.msn.com/watch/video/juego-de-palabras-nestor-amarilla/16j8wyjk3</ref> one should notice that there are hundreds of nominations each year, and only very few of them are considered seriously by the [[Swedish Academy]]. The editorial company Servilibro, published the new version of the book Saved by a Poem in three different languages. Also, the well known site of Amazon.com features this book on its website.


In 2006, he authored another play called "Saved by a Poem", based on the story of his grandmother saving his father's life by submitting a poem to a national competition to honor Stroessner's birthday.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Grant|first1=David|title=Political Theatre (a Teatro del Pueblo festival at Intermedia Arts)|url=http://www.liberatormagazine.com/content/5.2/political.htm|work=Liberator Magazine|date=July–August 2006}}</ref>
On April 19, 2011, Nestor Amarilla launched his newest book ''LA PRUEBERA.<ref>http://www.ultimahora.com/notas/421551-Una-pruebera-de-vivaz-energia-llega-a-las-tablas</ref>'' and premiered the same work on stage that same night.<ref>http://www.abc.com.py/nota/la-pruebera-se-presenta-en-version-libro-y-obra-teatral/</ref> The editorial company Servilibro published this book for Paraguay. The Spanish Embassy sponsored the production of the play<ref>http://www.lanacion.com.py/articulo.php?la-pruebera-se-estrena-hoy-en-el-salazar&edicion=2&sec=9&art=19998</ref> on their main stage Juan de Salazar in Asuncion.


He authored a play about his own experiences under the Stroessner regime called "Fecha Feliz" that was performed in Paraguay in 2009, following some problems with [[Canal 13 (Paraguay)|Canal 13]] preventing its star from performing.<ref>{{cite news|title=DOliveira dejó Fecha Feliz por exigencias de su canal|url=http://www.ultimahora.com/doliveira-dejo-fecha-feliz-exigencias-su-canal-n192738.html|work=UltimaHora|date=1 February 2009|language=es}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=D'Oliveira fue obligado a dejar elenco de teatro|url=http://archivo.abc.com.py/2009-02-01/articulos/491890/doliveira-fue-obligado-a-dejar-elenco-de-teatro|work=Digital abc|date=1 February 2009|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100909064637/http://archivo.abc.com.py/2009-02-01/articulos/491890/doliveira-fue-obligado-a-dejar-elenco-de-teatro|archivedate=9 September 2010|language=es}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=El amor en tiempos de dictadura|url=http://www.ultimahora.com/el-amor-tiempos-dictadura-n195688.html|work=UltimaHora|date=February 11, 2009|language=es}}</ref>
[[File:40 Mentes Brillantes.jpg|thumb|The 40 greatest students of the [[Metropolitan State University]] who have made a difference in the world.]]


In 2010, he was nominated for the [[Nobel prize (literature)|Nobel Prize of Literature]] by Professor Fulvia Sanchez de Coronel and artist [[Joel Filártiga]], as one of several hundred names submitted for consideration to the Swedish Academy from writers and academics around the world.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Grossman|first1=Mary Ann|title=Paraguayan playwright, Nobel nominee got his start in St. Paul|url=https://www.twincities.com/2010/02/24/paraguayan-playwright-nobel-nominee-got-start-in-st-paul/|work=Twin Cities Pioneer Press|date=February 24, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Poets poised for Nobel glory; Swede is favourite|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/nobel-literature-idUSLDE68S15320100929|work=Reuters|date=September 29, 2010}}</ref><ref>https://www.nobelprize.org/nomination/literature/ ''Nomination and Selection of Literature Laureates''</ref>
In May 2011, as part of bicentennial celebration of Paraguay independence, Amarilla's hometown authorities selected him as one of 200 most prominent people from [[Coronel Oviedo]] in [[Paraguay]]. In this year, also, as part of 40th anniversary celebrations, the [[Metropolitan State University]] selected him as one of the 40 greatest minds that studied in this institution and who make differences in the world. The Paraguayan flag and writer's photography are part of the traces wall located in the St John's Hall on the campus of that university.


In 2011, his play, “La Pruebera”, was staged in Paraguay; on the same name he released a book of the same name.<ref name="La Nacion"/>
Since May 28, 2013, Amarilla was part of the television program [[La Academia (Paraguay)]], which was produced by the Paraguayan television broadcaster [[Telefuturo]]. He was the acting and theater coach. Also, he was one of the panelists of the support program called "El Debate". Both lasted four months.


==Plays written==
==Plays written==
Line 67: Line 42:


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
* [http://nestoramarilla.com/ Nestor Amarilla official website]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20101004185225/http://nestoramarilla.com/ Nestor Amarilla official website]
* [http://www.facebook.com/nestor.amarilla Nestor Amarilla's official Facebook profile]
* [http://www.facebook.com/nestor.amarilla.author Nestor Amarilla's official Facebook Fan Page]
* [http://www.twitter.com/nestoramarilla Nestor Amarilla's official Twitter profile]
* [http://noticias.terra.com.ar/sociedad/vargas-llosa-merecia-hace-tiempo-el-nobel-dice-autor-paraguayo-amarilla,ed755d619078b210VgnVCM3000009af154d0RCRD.html Vargas Llosa "merecía hace tiempo" el nobel, dice autor paraguayo Amarilla] - AFP (French Press) October 7, 2010.
* [https://www.reuters.com/article/2010/09/29/nobel-literature-idUSLDE68S15320100929 Poets poised for Nobel glory; Swede is favourite]. Reuters - Sept 29th, 2010.
* [http://www.dn.se/dnbok/dnbok-hem/den-ofrivillige-lagoddsaren Den ofrivillige lågoddsaren] - Dagens Nyheter of Sweden, October 6, 2010.
* [http://www.emol.com/noticias/magazine/detalle/detallenoticias.asp?idnoticia=439047 Escritor Paraguayo de 30 años es el favorito para alzar el Nobel de Literatura] - El Mercurio of Chile, October 2010.
* [http://www.elmiradorparaguayo.com/tk1/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=390:nominan-a-un-paraguayo-al-premio-nobel-de-literatura&catid=45:paraguayas Nominan a un paraguayo al Premio Nobel de Literatura] - El Mirador News, New York, NY. (February 19, 2010)
* [http://themetropolitan.metrostate.edu/September2005/092005001.html Paraguayan Metropolitan State University student rolls difficult and impoverished life experiences into intriguing plays] -
The Metropolitan, St Paul, MN. (September 2005)
* [http://liberatormagazine.com/content/5.2/political.htm Political Theatre (a Teatro del Pueblo festival at Intermedia Arts)]. Liberator Magazine, Minneapolis, MN. (March 2006).
* [http://www.politablog.com/miscellaneous/interview-with-nestor-amarilla-nominated-for-nobel-prize-for-literature/ Interview with Nestor Amarilla: nominated for Nobel Prize for Literature at Politablog]


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[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Coronel Oviedo]]
[[Category:People from Coronel Oviedo]]
[[Category:Spanish-language writers]]
[[Category:Guarani-language writers]]
[[Category:Guarani-language writers]]
[[Category:Paraguayan dramatists and playwrights]]
[[Category:Paraguayan dramatists and playwrights]]

Latest revision as of 02:06, 27 March 2024

Nestor Amarilla
Born(1980-07-24)July 24, 1980
Paraguay
OccupationPlaywright
GenreDrama and comedy

Néstor Salvador Amarilla Acosta (born July 24, 1980) is a playwright from Paraguay.

Career

[edit]

Hector Amarilla was born July 24, 1980, in Colonia Genaro Romero, near the town of Coronel Oviedo in Paraguay.[1] His father was persecuted by the regime of Alfredo Stroessner.[2] When he was 17 years old he went to the US to study on a scholarship; he completed the US high school requirements then enrolled in Metropolitan State University in Minnesota.[1][3]

In 2005, his play, “La Pruebera”, was staged in Minneapolis.[4]

In 2006, he co-authored a play with Yacoub Aljaffery called "Born in Iraq" that describes life under the regime of Saddam Hussein, and the two formed a production company called Earth Speak that presented the play at the Mixed Blood Theater in Minneapolis. Amarilla had met Aljaffery while tutoring him in Spanish at Minneapolis Community and Technical College; Aljaffery had grown up under the regime and his father had been murdered by soldiers.[2]

In 2006, he authored another play called "Saved by a Poem", based on the story of his grandmother saving his father's life by submitting a poem to a national competition to honor Stroessner's birthday.[5]

He authored a play about his own experiences under the Stroessner regime called "Fecha Feliz" that was performed in Paraguay in 2009, following some problems with Canal 13 preventing its star from performing.[6][7][8]

In 2010, he was nominated for the Nobel Prize of Literature by Professor Fulvia Sanchez de Coronel and artist Joel Filártiga, as one of several hundred names submitted for consideration to the Swedish Academy from writers and academics around the world.[9][10][11]

In 2011, his play, “La Pruebera”, was staged in Paraguay; on the same name he released a book of the same name.[4]

Plays written

[edit]
  • "Rosa Americana" (2004) Theater Underground (EU)
  • "Vestido Roto" (2005) Teatro de las Americas (Paraguay)
  • "Ripped Dress" (2005) Theater Underground (EU)
  • "La Pruebera" (2005) Theater Underground (EU)
  • "Saved By A Poem" (2006) Teatro del Pueblo (EU)
  • "Born in Irak" (2006) Mixed Blood Theater (EU)
  • "Fecha Feliz" (2009) Teatro Latino y Teatro Municipal (Paraguay)
  • "Che, Che K-nal" (2009) Teatro Latino (Paraguay)

Books

[edit]
  • "Saved By A Poem"
  • "Fecha Feliz"
  • "La Pruebera"

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Escritor paraguayo de 30 años es el favorito para alzar el Nobel de Literatura". El Mercurio (in Spanish). 1 October 2010.
  2. ^ a b Espinoza, Ambar (July 5, 2006). ""Born in Iraq" gives a different perspective on conflict". Minnesota Public Radio. Archived from the original on June 8, 2011.
  3. ^ Drobac, JC (September 2005). "Paraguayan Metropolitan State University student rolls difficult and impoverished life experiences into intriguing plays". The Metropolitan Online. Archived from the original on 4 September 2006.
  4. ^ a b ""La Pruebera" se estrena hoy en el "Salazar"". La Nacion. 19 April 2011. Archived from the original on 3 October 2011.
  5. ^ Grant, David (July–August 2006). "Political Theatre (a Teatro del Pueblo festival at Intermedia Arts)". Liberator Magazine.
  6. ^ "DOliveira dejó Fecha Feliz por exigencias de su canal". UltimaHora (in Spanish). 1 February 2009.
  7. ^ "D'Oliveira fue obligado a dejar elenco de teatro". Digital abc (in Spanish). 1 February 2009. Archived from the original on 9 September 2010.
  8. ^ "El amor en tiempos de dictadura". UltimaHora (in Spanish). February 11, 2009.
  9. ^ Grossman, Mary Ann (February 24, 2010). "Paraguayan playwright, Nobel nominee got his start in St. Paul". Twin Cities Pioneer Press.
  10. ^ "Poets poised for Nobel glory; Swede is favourite". Reuters. September 29, 2010.
  11. ^ https://www.nobelprize.org/nomination/literature/ Nomination and Selection of Literature Laureates
[edit]
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