© Latinas in History 2008 |
REID, MARITA (?1980S)
The
precocious daughter of an English father and Spanish mother, Marita
Reid appeared on a public stage at the age of seven. Throughout the
1920s, she toured with Spanish dramatic companies at the National and
Belmont theaters in New York City and acted in a variety of genres,
ranging from drama to the light operatic Zarzuela. She formed her own
company, Compañia Marita Reid, and played the circuit
of mutual aid societies. The Depression and World War II curtailed live
performance but Reid continued to produce Spanish and English language
theatrical works. Reid worked in Hollywood, on Broadway, and appeared
on live television in the Armstrong Circle Theatre, the U.S.
Steel Hour, and Studio One. She authored four unpublished
plays, and was politically active in support of the Spanish Republic.
Involved in several anti-fascist productions in New Yorks Latino
community, these were often followed by fundraisers, rallies and speeches.
In 1957 she was honored at a special performance of a play she had made
famous, Lo Que Hablan las Mujeres (What Women Talk
About).
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