Mate

Anne Valentino, Writer

A queer playwright residing in the DC area, Anne often writes about that intersection where the LGBTQ+ community collides with a mindset that tragically interprets different as somehow “deviant.” Receiving a PhD in Literature from Temple University, Anne has made writing the center of her professional life for the past twenty years. She’s had plays presented across the US, in Baltimore, Fort Worth, Philly, Florida, DC, New York, and New Jersey, among others. She lives with her fiancée and their 2 highly untrainable pups, Tiberius and Athena—Goddess of Wisdom.

Eugenio Villamar, Director

Eugenio is a Mexican Screenwriter, Director, and Producer. He holds a Master in Fine Arts in Screenwriting from UCLA School of Theater Film & Television and was distinguished as a 2010 Coca-Cola Refreshing Filmmaker's Fellow and a 2011 Sloan Foundation Screenwriting Award Winner.

Meet the Cast

Margarita Lamas, Emilia

MARGARITA LAMAS was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where she soaked up the Tango by osmosis if nothing else. But there was "something else": after graduating with a BFA degree (Major in Drama) from Concordia University in Montreal, a passion for her native country's most popular cultural export, studied the form 7 days a week, and attended "practicas" and "milongas" 7 nights a week - eventually led to choreographing and dancing for a Cal State Long Beach production (L.A. has been her home base since 1987) of "The Marriage of Figaro" for Musical Director, Michael Carson who staged it in Buenos Aires. Several theatrical presentations followed, including "Hombre de la Esquina Rosada", "Dice que la Distancia es el Olvido", "Memorias de Tango" and "Salon Mexico". Margarita has travelled the world honing her skills at tango festivals in Rome, Sitches, Paris, Tokyo, Toronto, Vancouver, Seattle, San Francisco and, of course, Buenos Aires and Montreal.

Virginia Novello, Cory

Virginia is an actor/writer/ producer/ director. She loves to get to know other cultures and write about her experiences in life. With a big Mexican- Italian family, she has more than enough material for a lifetime. Creator by day, salsa dancer by night. Theater is her first love, and she has portrayed beautiful characters like Frida Kahlo, Bertha and Lady ( Tennessee Williams), Simone (the persecution of Jean Paul Marat) and Marjorie in Extremities. She directed the short documentary "Suenos Rotos" following a soccer player in Mexico ( which aired on national television during the world cup) She is now producing and acting in "Sisters" a feature film she wrote and stars in with 2 wonderful Latina women (2023).