-
Birth
Fornes was born in Havana, Cuba. Youngest of six children. Her mother, Carmen, is a school teacher. Her father, Carlos, is a bureaucrat from Cuba's civil service. -
Immigration
Fornes' mother moved the family to New York City after father died. -
Education
She dropped out of high school (school unknown), and started to work in the Capezio shoe factory. -
Teacher & Her Start
She began being interested in visual arts and studied painting under Hans Hoffman in New York and Provincetown, Massachusetts. -
Inspiration
During her time in Paris, she saw Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot in French. She didn't understand the language but she understood the play itself. It inspired her. -
Period: to
Cuban Revolution of 1959
A political movement led by Fidel Castro in order to overthrow the Cuban Government. -
Period: to
1st Partner
Fornes got together with Harriet Sohmer and moved to Paris with her until they broke up 3 years later. Fornes returned to New York. -
2nd Partner
Fornes met Susan Sontag and later entered in a romantic relationship with her. -
La Viuda (The Widow)
She translated her cousin's letters to their great-grandfather and turned it to the play La Viuda. It premiered in Spanish in New York. -
Tango Palace
About a power struggle between the two central characters: Isidore, a clown, and Leopold, a naive youth. -
The Successful Life of 3: A Skit for Vaudeville
About two men and a woman who have an unusual relationship with each other. Won an Obie Award. -
Promenade
A musical about two escaped prisoners who make their way into the city. Won an Obie Award. -
Fefu and her Friends
About eight women gathered at a country home to discuss a fundraiser. -
Period: to
INTAR Hispanic Playwrights in Residence Lab
She founded this part of INTAR(International Arts Relations) and directed it. This is considered one of the oldest Hispanic theatre companies. -
The Dunabe
A businessman and his friend's daughter meet and fall in love but a mysterious sickness infected them and started spreading throughout the city. -
Mud
About the lives of the three characters, Mae, Lloyd and Henry, who are in a love triangle. -
Sarita
A musical about a 14 year old mother who struggles to decide between her love or sexual desire throughout her life. -
The Conduct of Life
About three women, Leticia, Nene, Olympia, who are trapped by a military officer in Latin America. They are trying to find their own hope in the grim situation. Won an Obbie Award. -
Letters from Cuba
About a brother in Cuba reading letters from his sister, who's in New York. Based on Fornes' personal experience. -
Diagnosed
She was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and began living in care facilities. -
Death
Fornes died at Manhattan, New York at the age of 88. -
References
https://www.fornesinstitute.com/about/biography
https://www.roundabouttheatre.org/get-tickets/upstage-guides-current/refocus-year-two/maria-irene-fornes-a-biography/
https://www.americantheatre.org/2017/07/05/maria-irene-fornes-world-builder/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mar%C3%ADa_Irene_Forn%C3%A9s#Awards_and_recognition
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Maria-Irene-Fornes