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Henry Godinez
Felicia Oduh: Created a page about Henry Godinez
'''Henry Godinez''' is an award-winning, Cuban-American actor, director, and professor of theatre who is committed to the production of Latino theatre in Chicago <ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (1 for 2)</ref>. He has also directed and acted in New York City, Kansas City, Indiana, Colorado, Washington D.C., and San Diego. He is the Resident Artistic Director at the [[Goodman Theatre]], founded and serves as director of their biennial [https://ift.tt/2LjY81c Latino Theater Festival], and has directed and performed in multiple productions at the [[Goodman Theatre|Goodman]]. Additionally, he is the co-founder and former artistic director of [https://ift.tt/2Jvd8fs Teatro Vista], a Latino Theatre company in Chicago<ref name=":0"> Northwestern University School of Communication|website=communication.northwestern.edu|language=en-US|access-date=2018-05-04}}</ref>.
== Background ==
Godinez was born on August 4, 1958 in Havana, Cuba, the ninth of ten children in a middle class family. At the time, his parents were worried about the possibility of their children being enlisted in Castro's army. Because of this, the family moved to the United States when Godinez was three years old. A year after the family arrived in the US, they moved and settled in Dallas, Texas. It was during a high school theatre class that his younger sister convinced him to take with her that Godinez became interested in theatre. From this new fascination that was sparked by the class, he went on to take part in rhetoric and declamation competitions, taking first place at a competition in Oklahoma during his junior year of high school. After high school Godinez decided to study theatre in his undergraduate years at the University of Dallas. After graduating in 1980, Godinez worked in an apprenticeship in Louisville at The Actor's Theatre. He then furthered his theatre education by getting an MFA at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee's professional theatre training program, all of this fanning the flames that would ignite his career. <ref name=":2">Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (1 for 2)</ref>
Since then, Godinez has worked as an actor, director, and professor of theatre, mainly in Chicago, focusing a lot of his work on Shakespeare and Latino theatre. Playing the role of Stefano in one of his college productions of ''[[The Tempest]]'' is what made Godinez fall in love with Shakespeare. For him, the attraction to Shakespeare was rooted in the huge characters and their enormous needs and energy. He also found a connection between such texts as ''[[The Tempest]]'' and ''[[One Hundred Years of Solitude]]'', by [[Gabriel García Márquez]]. The magic that is present in ''[[The Tempest]]'' and the magic that can be found in the works of many Latino writers and in Latino cultures all clicked for him<ref name=":2" />.
Godinez's commitment to producing Latino theatre was inspired during his time living in [[Logan Square, Chicago|Logan Square]]. After growing up with predominantly white friends and living in an area where racism wasn't uncommon, being in Logan Square put him in a largely Cuban and Puerto Rican environment. This being his first time living in a Latino neighborhood gave him an awareness of all that came with his visibility in the theatre world, especially that he was representing the Latino community. That, coupled with the frustration of the stereotypical casting of Latino actors as drug dealers, led him to want to work to make a change. In doing so, Godinez also learned more about himself and his culture, as well as Latino culture as a whole. Reflecting upon his past made him aware of interactions with racism that he had not quite picked up on when he was growing up. All of this not only influenced his work, but the way he has raised his two daughters. He encourages them to have friends of all backgrounds and also spoke to them in Spanish as they grew up. He recognizes the importance of exposing them to their own culture and does what he can to preserve that<ref name=":2" />.
== Career ==
=== Teaching ===
As a theatre educator, Godinez has taught at [[Columbia College Chicago]] (1994 - 2000) and [[The Theatre School at DePaul University|DePaul University]] (2000 - 2006)<ref name=":1">Kennedy, Bobby. "Henry Godinez: An Impact on Chicago Theatre." Program for ''Mónica Hoth'' and ''Claudio Valdés Kuri's'' Quixote: On the Conquest of Self at the Writers Theatre, Glencoe, Playbill, 2017.</ref>. He is currently serving at [[Northwestern University]] (2006 - present) where he teaches courses in acting and other special topics, such as Latino Theatre and Advanced Shakespeare.<ref name=":0" /> During the summer of 2016, Godinez led a [[Northwestern University|Northwestern]] study abroad program to Havana, Cuba, during which students were able to collaborate with renowned theatre company [https://ift.tt/2LmYXGA Teatro Buendía] to gain an understanding of the style of Cuban theatre and storytelling, and foster new connections between Cuba and the United States<ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (1 for 2)</ref>.
=== Boards ===
Godinez serves/has served as a board member for several organizations for Chicago theatre. First and foremost, Godinez is the co-founder and former artistic director (1990 - 2005) of [https://ift.tt/2Jvd8fs Teatro Vista]. While part of the cast of a show at the [[Goodman Theatre]], Godinez was talking with two castmates, [https://ift.tt/2JsRmcg Ramiro Carillo] and [https://ift.tt/2LkMWBm Edward Torres], about all of the plays by Latino playwrights that were not being produced. The three decided that they should be producing the shows themselves, and from there Godinez and Torres founded [https://ift.tt/2Jvd8fs Teatro Vista]. The first production of Chicago's new Latino theatre company was at Pilsen Arts Center (now the [[National Museum of Mexican Art]]). Their goal was to bridge the gap between Latino theatre and mainstream, big theatres, as well as the non-Latino communities of Chicago.<ref name=":1" /> In addition to [https://ift.tt/2Jvd8fs Teatro Vista], Godinez has served on the Board of Directors for the [https://ift.tt/1NwyuV8 Illinois Arts Council Agency], [[Albany Park Theater Project|Albany Park Theatre Project]], and the [[Northwestern University Press]]<ref name=":3"></ref>. He is also the Resident Artistic Director at the [[Goodman Theatre]] after having joined their Artistic Collective in 1997.
=== Acting ===
Godinez has performed on many stages. His first role in Chicago after receiving his graduate degree was in ''Kabuki Medea'' (1983) at Wisdom Bridge Theater. Additionally, his love of Shakespeare has led him to play roles in multiple productions at [[Chicago Shakespeare Theater|Chicago Shakespeare Theatre]]: ''[[Hamlet]], [[King Lear]], [[Twelfth Night]], [[Much Ado About Nothing]], [[Henry V (play)|Henry V]], [[Cymbeline]],'' and ''[[King John (play)|King John]]''.<ref name=":2" /> He also led [[Notre Dame Shakespeare Festival]]'s 2014 production of ''[[Henry IV, Part 1|Henry IV]]''.<ref name=":0" /> Godinez's [[Goodman Theatre]] credits include ''[[Romeo and Juliet]]'' (1988), ''[[A Christmas Carol]]'' (1988)<ref name=":4">Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (1 for 2)</ref>, ''[[The Rover (play)|The Rover]]'' (1989)<ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (1 for 2)</ref>, ''[https://ift.tt/2LnpbZs Massacre (Sing to your Children)]'' (2007)<ref name=":1" />, [[2666]] (2016)<ref name=":0" />'','' and a co-production of ''[[Pedro Páramo]]'' (2013) with [https://ift.tt/2JqTVLQ Teatro Buendía]<ref> Goodman Theatre 90 Years|website=www.goodmantheatre.org|language=en-US|access-date=2018-05-17}}</ref>. Additional stage credits include ''Quixote: On the Conquest of Self'' (2017) at the [[Writers Theatre]]<ref name=":1" />, as well as having performed at the [[John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts|Kennedy Center]] and the [[Old Globe Theatre]]<ref name=":4" />.
In addition to acting on stage, Godinez has also found roles on screen. In the realm of film and television he has appeared in ''[[Above the Law (film)|Above the Law]] (''1988), ''The Beast'' (1988), ''[[The Fugitive (1993 film)|The Fugitive]]'' (1993), ''[[The Chicago Code]]'', (2011), ''[[Empire (2015 TV series)|Empire]]'', and ''[[Chicago Fire (TV series)|Chicago Fire]]''<ref name=":0" />.
=== Directing ===
Although Godinez got into theatre through acting, his truest love for theatre comes from the collaborative process of directing<ref name=":2" />. He has directed numerous productions throughout his career, having worked at such venues as [[Oak Park Festival Theatre]] (''[[Macbeth]])'', [https://www.wbez.org/ WBEZ Chicago Public Radio], [[Signature Theatre Company]] in New York City (''[https://ift.tt/2Lna2aq Urban Zulu Mambo]'', 2001), Kansas Repertory Theatre (''[[The Winter's Tale]],'' 2002), [[Indiana Repertory Theatre]], [[Colorado Shakespeare Festival]] (''[[Romeo and Juliet]],'' 1997''),'' and [[Portland Center Stage]] (''[[True West (play)|True West]]'', 2002)<ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (1 for 2)</ref>. However, much of his work has been in Chicago. At the [[Goodman Theatre]] alone Godinez has directed ''[[Cloud Tectonics]]'' (1995) in co-production with [https://ift.tt/2Jvd8fs Teatro Vista]; six of the annual productions of ''[[A Christmas Carol]]'' (1996 - 2001); ''Straight as a Line'' (1998); ''[https://ift.tt/2JvlrYD Millennium Mambo]'' (2000); ''[[Zoot Suit (play)|Zoot Suit]]'' (2000); ''[https://ift.tt/2LmvkVJ Electricidad]'' (2004); ''[https://ift.tt/2pNKRDR Mariela in the Desert]'' (2005); ''[https://ift.tt/2LoUWBB The Cook]'' (2007); ''[[Boleros for the Disenchanted]]'' (2009), which he also directed in its world premiere at [[Yale Repertory Theatre]]; ''[https://ift.tt/2JuZ5Gy The Sins of Sor Juana]'' (2010)<ref name=":0" />; and ''[https://ift.tt/2LkMWRS Feathers and Teeth]'' (2015)<ref name=":1" />.
At [https://ift.tt/2Jvd8fs Teatro Vista], Godinez has directed ''[https://ift.tt/2JwJjv6 Broken Eggs]'' (1991), ''The Crossing'' (1991), ''[https://ift.tt/2LovBaT Journey of the Sparrows]'' (1996), ''[https://ift.tt/2JuqJDD Santos and Santos]'' (1996), and ''[https://ift.tt/2LovBHV El Paso Blue]'' (1997)<ref name=":5"> Goodman Theatre|website=www.goodmantheatre.org|access-date=2018-05-17}}</ref>.
Other Chicago productions Godinez has directed include ''[https://ift.tt/2Jt7Dhi Two Sisters and a Piano]'' (2004) at [https://ift.tt/2LmHA8S Apple Tree Theatre]; ''[[Anna in the Tropics]]'' (2005) at [[Victory Gardens Theater|Victory Gardens Theatre]]; ''[https://ift.tt/2JpkuRF Esperanza Rising]'' (2008), ''[[A Year With Frog and Toad]]'' (2013), and ''[[Last Stop on Market Street]]'' (2018) at [https://ift.tt/1BcapLE Chicago Children's Theatre]; ''[https://ift.tt/2Jso0ut A Civil War Christmas]'' (2010) at [https://northlight.org/ Northlight Theatre]; and ''[https://ift.tt/2LnWgEr End Days]'' (2015) at [https://ift.tt/1rovAck Windy City Playhouse]. Godinez's university directing credits include ''[[Water by the Spoonful|Water By the Spoonful]]'' (2014) at [[University of Chicago]]'s Court Theatre, as well as ''[[Anna in the Tropics]]'' (2016) and ''[[In the Red and Brown Water]]'' (2017), both at [[Northwestern University]]'s Josephine Louis Theatre<ref name=":0" />.
== Publications ==
Godinez is co-editor of ''[https://ift.tt/2Lm7Ccp The Goodman Theatre's Festival Latino: Six Plays]'' (2013) and has written for [[Latino USA|''Latino USA'']]<ref name=":3" />.
== Awards ==
Godinez has been award the [https://ift.tt/2JsnZGV TCG Alan Schneider Directing Award] (1999)<ref name=":0" />, the Distinguished Service Award by the [https://ift.tt/2LnC1Xs Lawyers for the Creative Arts] (2000), the Latino Professional of the Year Award by [https://ift.tt/2JpwC5b Chicago Latino Network] (2008)<ref name=":5" />, and the [https://ift.tt/2LlxdC1 Clarence Simon Award for Teaching and Mentoring] (2013)<ref name=":0" />.
== References ==
<references />
== Background ==
Godinez was born on August 4, 1958 in Havana, Cuba, the ninth of ten children in a middle class family. At the time, his parents were worried about the possibility of their children being enlisted in Castro's army. Because of this, the family moved to the United States when Godinez was three years old. A year after the family arrived in the US, they moved and settled in Dallas, Texas. It was during a high school theatre class that his younger sister convinced him to take with her that Godinez became interested in theatre. From this new fascination that was sparked by the class, he went on to take part in rhetoric and declamation competitions, taking first place at a competition in Oklahoma during his junior year of high school. After high school Godinez decided to study theatre in his undergraduate years at the University of Dallas. After graduating in 1980, Godinez worked in an apprenticeship in Louisville at The Actor's Theatre. He then furthered his theatre education by getting an MFA at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee's professional theatre training program, all of this fanning the flames that would ignite his career. <ref name=":2">Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (1 for 2)</ref>
Since then, Godinez has worked as an actor, director, and professor of theatre, mainly in Chicago, focusing a lot of his work on Shakespeare and Latino theatre. Playing the role of Stefano in one of his college productions of ''[[The Tempest]]'' is what made Godinez fall in love with Shakespeare. For him, the attraction to Shakespeare was rooted in the huge characters and their enormous needs and energy. He also found a connection between such texts as ''[[The Tempest]]'' and ''[[One Hundred Years of Solitude]]'', by [[Gabriel García Márquez]]. The magic that is present in ''[[The Tempest]]'' and the magic that can be found in the works of many Latino writers and in Latino cultures all clicked for him<ref name=":2" />.
Godinez's commitment to producing Latino theatre was inspired during his time living in [[Logan Square, Chicago|Logan Square]]. After growing up with predominantly white friends and living in an area where racism wasn't uncommon, being in Logan Square put him in a largely Cuban and Puerto Rican environment. This being his first time living in a Latino neighborhood gave him an awareness of all that came with his visibility in the theatre world, especially that he was representing the Latino community. That, coupled with the frustration of the stereotypical casting of Latino actors as drug dealers, led him to want to work to make a change. In doing so, Godinez also learned more about himself and his culture, as well as Latino culture as a whole. Reflecting upon his past made him aware of interactions with racism that he had not quite picked up on when he was growing up. All of this not only influenced his work, but the way he has raised his two daughters. He encourages them to have friends of all backgrounds and also spoke to them in Spanish as they grew up. He recognizes the importance of exposing them to their own culture and does what he can to preserve that<ref name=":2" />.
== Career ==
=== Teaching ===
As a theatre educator, Godinez has taught at [[Columbia College Chicago]] (1994 - 2000) and [[The Theatre School at DePaul University|DePaul University]] (2000 - 2006)<ref name=":1">Kennedy, Bobby. "Henry Godinez: An Impact on Chicago Theatre." Program for ''Mónica Hoth'' and ''Claudio Valdés Kuri's'' Quixote: On the Conquest of Self at the Writers Theatre, Glencoe, Playbill, 2017.</ref>. He is currently serving at [[Northwestern University]] (2006 - present) where he teaches courses in acting and other special topics, such as Latino Theatre and Advanced Shakespeare.<ref name=":0" /> During the summer of 2016, Godinez led a [[Northwestern University|Northwestern]] study abroad program to Havana, Cuba, during which students were able to collaborate with renowned theatre company [https://ift.tt/2LmYXGA Teatro Buendía] to gain an understanding of the style of Cuban theatre and storytelling, and foster new connections between Cuba and the United States<ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (1 for 2)</ref>.
=== Boards ===
Godinez serves/has served as a board member for several organizations for Chicago theatre. First and foremost, Godinez is the co-founder and former artistic director (1990 - 2005) of [https://ift.tt/2Jvd8fs Teatro Vista]. While part of the cast of a show at the [[Goodman Theatre]], Godinez was talking with two castmates, [https://ift.tt/2JsRmcg Ramiro Carillo] and [https://ift.tt/2LkMWBm Edward Torres], about all of the plays by Latino playwrights that were not being produced. The three decided that they should be producing the shows themselves, and from there Godinez and Torres founded [https://ift.tt/2Jvd8fs Teatro Vista]. The first production of Chicago's new Latino theatre company was at Pilsen Arts Center (now the [[National Museum of Mexican Art]]). Their goal was to bridge the gap between Latino theatre and mainstream, big theatres, as well as the non-Latino communities of Chicago.<ref name=":1" /> In addition to [https://ift.tt/2Jvd8fs Teatro Vista], Godinez has served on the Board of Directors for the [https://ift.tt/1NwyuV8 Illinois Arts Council Agency], [[Albany Park Theater Project|Albany Park Theatre Project]], and the [[Northwestern University Press]]<ref name=":3"></ref>. He is also the Resident Artistic Director at the [[Goodman Theatre]] after having joined their Artistic Collective in 1997.
=== Acting ===
Godinez has performed on many stages. His first role in Chicago after receiving his graduate degree was in ''Kabuki Medea'' (1983) at Wisdom Bridge Theater. Additionally, his love of Shakespeare has led him to play roles in multiple productions at [[Chicago Shakespeare Theater|Chicago Shakespeare Theatre]]: ''[[Hamlet]], [[King Lear]], [[Twelfth Night]], [[Much Ado About Nothing]], [[Henry V (play)|Henry V]], [[Cymbeline]],'' and ''[[King John (play)|King John]]''.<ref name=":2" /> He also led [[Notre Dame Shakespeare Festival]]'s 2014 production of ''[[Henry IV, Part 1|Henry IV]]''.<ref name=":0" /> Godinez's [[Goodman Theatre]] credits include ''[[Romeo and Juliet]]'' (1988), ''[[A Christmas Carol]]'' (1988)<ref name=":4">Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (1 for 2)</ref>, ''[[The Rover (play)|The Rover]]'' (1989)<ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (1 for 2)</ref>, ''[https://ift.tt/2LnpbZs Massacre (Sing to your Children)]'' (2007)<ref name=":1" />, [[2666]] (2016)<ref name=":0" />'','' and a co-production of ''[[Pedro Páramo]]'' (2013) with [https://ift.tt/2JqTVLQ Teatro Buendía]<ref> Goodman Theatre 90 Years|website=www.goodmantheatre.org|language=en-US|access-date=2018-05-17}}</ref>. Additional stage credits include ''Quixote: On the Conquest of Self'' (2017) at the [[Writers Theatre]]<ref name=":1" />, as well as having performed at the [[John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts|Kennedy Center]] and the [[Old Globe Theatre]]<ref name=":4" />.
In addition to acting on stage, Godinez has also found roles on screen. In the realm of film and television he has appeared in ''[[Above the Law (film)|Above the Law]] (''1988), ''The Beast'' (1988), ''[[The Fugitive (1993 film)|The Fugitive]]'' (1993), ''[[The Chicago Code]]'', (2011), ''[[Empire (2015 TV series)|Empire]]'', and ''[[Chicago Fire (TV series)|Chicago Fire]]''<ref name=":0" />.
=== Directing ===
Although Godinez got into theatre through acting, his truest love for theatre comes from the collaborative process of directing<ref name=":2" />. He has directed numerous productions throughout his career, having worked at such venues as [[Oak Park Festival Theatre]] (''[[Macbeth]])'', [https://www.wbez.org/ WBEZ Chicago Public Radio], [[Signature Theatre Company]] in New York City (''[https://ift.tt/2Lna2aq Urban Zulu Mambo]'', 2001), Kansas Repertory Theatre (''[[The Winter's Tale]],'' 2002), [[Indiana Repertory Theatre]], [[Colorado Shakespeare Festival]] (''[[Romeo and Juliet]],'' 1997''),'' and [[Portland Center Stage]] (''[[True West (play)|True West]]'', 2002)<ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (1 for 2)</ref>. However, much of his work has been in Chicago. At the [[Goodman Theatre]] alone Godinez has directed ''[[Cloud Tectonics]]'' (1995) in co-production with [https://ift.tt/2Jvd8fs Teatro Vista]; six of the annual productions of ''[[A Christmas Carol]]'' (1996 - 2001); ''Straight as a Line'' (1998); ''[https://ift.tt/2JvlrYD Millennium Mambo]'' (2000); ''[[Zoot Suit (play)|Zoot Suit]]'' (2000); ''[https://ift.tt/2LmvkVJ Electricidad]'' (2004); ''[https://ift.tt/2pNKRDR Mariela in the Desert]'' (2005); ''[https://ift.tt/2LoUWBB The Cook]'' (2007); ''[[Boleros for the Disenchanted]]'' (2009), which he also directed in its world premiere at [[Yale Repertory Theatre]]; ''[https://ift.tt/2JuZ5Gy The Sins of Sor Juana]'' (2010)<ref name=":0" />; and ''[https://ift.tt/2LkMWRS Feathers and Teeth]'' (2015)<ref name=":1" />.
At [https://ift.tt/2Jvd8fs Teatro Vista], Godinez has directed ''[https://ift.tt/2JwJjv6 Broken Eggs]'' (1991), ''The Crossing'' (1991), ''[https://ift.tt/2LovBaT Journey of the Sparrows]'' (1996), ''[https://ift.tt/2JuqJDD Santos and Santos]'' (1996), and ''[https://ift.tt/2LovBHV El Paso Blue]'' (1997)<ref name=":5"> Goodman Theatre|website=www.goodmantheatre.org|access-date=2018-05-17}}</ref>.
Other Chicago productions Godinez has directed include ''[https://ift.tt/2Jt7Dhi Two Sisters and a Piano]'' (2004) at [https://ift.tt/2LmHA8S Apple Tree Theatre]; ''[[Anna in the Tropics]]'' (2005) at [[Victory Gardens Theater|Victory Gardens Theatre]]; ''[https://ift.tt/2JpkuRF Esperanza Rising]'' (2008), ''[[A Year With Frog and Toad]]'' (2013), and ''[[Last Stop on Market Street]]'' (2018) at [https://ift.tt/1BcapLE Chicago Children's Theatre]; ''[https://ift.tt/2Jso0ut A Civil War Christmas]'' (2010) at [https://northlight.org/ Northlight Theatre]; and ''[https://ift.tt/2LnWgEr End Days]'' (2015) at [https://ift.tt/1rovAck Windy City Playhouse]. Godinez's university directing credits include ''[[Water by the Spoonful|Water By the Spoonful]]'' (2014) at [[University of Chicago]]'s Court Theatre, as well as ''[[Anna in the Tropics]]'' (2016) and ''[[In the Red and Brown Water]]'' (2017), both at [[Northwestern University]]'s Josephine Louis Theatre<ref name=":0" />.
== Publications ==
Godinez is co-editor of ''[https://ift.tt/2Lm7Ccp The Goodman Theatre's Festival Latino: Six Plays]'' (2013) and has written for [[Latino USA|''Latino USA'']]<ref name=":3" />.
== Awards ==
Godinez has been award the [https://ift.tt/2JsnZGV TCG Alan Schneider Directing Award] (1999)<ref name=":0" />, the Distinguished Service Award by the [https://ift.tt/2LnC1Xs Lawyers for the Creative Arts] (2000), the Latino Professional of the Year Award by [https://ift.tt/2JpwC5b Chicago Latino Network] (2008)<ref name=":5" />, and the [https://ift.tt/2LlxdC1 Clarence Simon Award for Teaching and Mentoring] (2013)<ref name=":0" />.
== References ==
<references />
June 05, 2018 at 08:10AM
