Erlina Ortiz
Erlina Ortiz (she/her/ella) is a Dominican-American playwright and theatre maker from Reading, PA based in Philadelphia. Her heartfelt and humorous plays have been presented across the US and with Power Street Theatre where she is proud to be Resident Playwright and Co-Artistic Director.
In 2018 her self produced play Las Mujeres received The Bonaly Award for Creation of Community Joy and in 2019 Morir Sonyando was nominated for six Barrymore Awards including Outstanding New Play. In Fall 2021 Young Money premiered at Azuka Theatre and went on to receive the ATCA/Steinberg New Play Award Citation. In 2022 La Egoista was selected for the LTC Comedy Carnaval in Denver and went on to win the 2022 ATC National Latine Playwriting Award. It premiered at Actors Theatre of Louisville and Skylight Theatre and was featured on the 2023 Kilroy's WEB. La Egoista will have a hometown premiere at Philadelphia Theatre Company in October 2024. Her new musical, Siluetas, was developed for the O’Neill National Musical Theatre Conference and premiered with Power Street Theatre in June 2024 going on to be nominated for 7 Barrymore Awards including Outstanding Original Production.
Erlina has embarked on the Amtrak Writer’s residency where she traveled across the US in an Amtrak sleeper car, the Signal Fire Outpost Residency where she lived on the side of a mountain for a week, and in 2019 she gave the Keynote Address at the Delaware Writer’s Conference on the importance of nurturing your artistic community. Erlina was a member of NEXUS with New York Stage and Film and is a two time recipient of the Leeway Art and Change Grant and the 2021 Leeway Transformation Award. In 2023 she was named as a Dramatist Guild Foundation Catalyst Fellow. Erlina has taught playwriting with the University of the Arts, Power Street Theatre, and Blue Stoop Phl. She currently serves as secretary of the board for Theatre Philadelphia. Erlina believes being an artist is a superpower, she believes in using her powers for good.
Awarded Grants
2024
Window of Opportunity Grant (WOO)
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Overview
Erlina Ortiz has been selected to participate in the Latinx Theatre Commons Convening, running from October 30th to November 3rd, in Los Angeles, CA. The Latinx Theatre Commons (LTC) is a national movement that uses a commons-based approach to transform the narrative of American theater, amplify the visibility of Latinx performance making, and champion equity through advocacy, art making, convening, and scholarship. Additionally, this year is the Encuentro festival at the Latino Theatre Company, which will feature work from Latinx artists across the United States and abroad – work that Erlina otherwise would never be able to experience. Through this opportunity, Erlina will not only engage with Latinx theater history and conspire with her peers about what that community and industry looks like in the future, but also plant seeds to help organize a convening in Philadelphia before 2030.
The WOO Grant will assist with travel and accommodation costs.
2021
Art and Change Grant (ACG)
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Overview
Erlina Ortiz's project, Que Lo Que? WhatsApp Story Share (working title), will be a WhatsApp-based audio storytelling experience. Participants will join a curated community WhatsApp group where weekly bilingual audio stories will address themes of cultural preservation, immigration, racism, grief, and healing. Erlina’s hope is that these stories will bring these social change topics into a new and moment-specific light that sparks conversation, socially-distanced community catharsis, and action.
Partner
2021
Leeway Transformation Award (LTA)
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Overview
Erlina Ortiz is a Dominican-American playwright, performer, and theatre-maker from Reading, PA. Her heartfelt and timely plays ranging from topics of gentrification, domestic violence, and cultural preservation have been presented with Power Street Theatre where she is proud to be Co-Artistic Director. In 2018 her play, Las Mujeres received The Bonaly Award for Creation of Community Joy in Spring 2019, her play, Morir Sonyando was nominated for six Philadelphia Barrymore Awards, including Outstanding New Play.
Erlina has received the Amtrak Writer’s residency, the Signal Fire Outpost Residency, and in 2019 she gave the Keynote Address at the Delaware Writer’s Conference on the importance of nurturing your artistic community. In 2021 she began serving as secretary of the board for Theatre Philadelphia.
Erlina was a member of NEXUS with New York Stage and Film in 2020/2021. In Fall 2021, she received her professional Philly premiere with Young Money at Azuka Theatre. She has taught playwriting with the University of the Arts, Power Street Theatre, and Blue Stoop. Erlina believes being an artist is a superpower, and believes in using her powers for good.
2020
Art and Change Grant (ACG)
Related grantees
Overview
Power Street Theatre is changing up our yearly Theatre Al Fresco summer programming to bring you Nuestras Historias/Our Stories, Power Street’s first children’s theater performance curated by Co-Artistic Director Erlina Ortiz. What are the folk tales and myths of North Philly’s diasporas? Erlina has brought together storytellers and directors to answer this question and bring original and traditional folktales from around the world to life! This virtual performance is perfect for kids of all ages. Join us on June 20th from 12-1:30 in a unique Zoom celebration of story.
Featuring: Pratima Agrawal, Ang Bey, Tanaquil Marquez, Arthur Robinson, Krystal Rosa, Anjoli Santiago, and Sabriaya Shipley.
