Meet Diana Burbano | Playwright and Performer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Diana Burbano and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Diana, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
I spent a lot of my early life in the theatre being timid, being a “good girl”, working hard, and being thankful for whatever I got. When I switched to writing, I decided that I wasn’t going to underplay my talent or skill anymore. One of the things I do is say yes to things, even if they are terrifying. I submit my work to everything, without apology, and when I see an opportunity I go for it. I find that intuition works best for me, so I generally jump on things that other people might take a longer time to consider. It’s served me very well. I banish any thought of impostor syndrome. If I have been asked to do something, then I belong there and I can be confident that my work and my talent will get me through.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I am a a playwright. I had my last world premiere in January 2020 of my play Ghosts of Bogotá. This play directly addresses the dehumanization of Latinx people by depicting real, dynamic, funny and tragic human beings that audiences can connect with across cultural and international divides.

I started writing for myself to perform. I started out as an actor, I soon  discovered that what inspires me is writing for other Latinx women. Watching  in rehearsal as actresses bloom  into characters where they can be powerful, unapologetic, flawed, and complex  is a great joy.

I am driven to give theatrical voice to the Latinx community. I have spent so many years listening to non-Latinx writers trying to tell our stories, often getting them wrong, or reducing us to one dimensional characters.

The last, lost season was one where many other Latinx writers were beginning to come into their own, to be seen as a force, rallied perhaps by the brutal dehumanization we let at the hands of the last administration. It is imperative for our voices to be heard, for Latinx people across the nation to see themselves represented in narratives, on stage, in film, in art, in music.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I love Downtown LA. I’d take them to Breakfast at La Monarcha in Boyle Heights. The Last Bookstore for a long browse through fabulous imaginations, then a play at LATC or the Taper, and finish off with some late night yummies in Little Tokyo

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There is a whole long list! I am a Latinx playwright who would not be where I am without other Latinx playwrights going to bat for me and my work. Octavio Solis, Luis Alfaro, Jose Cruz Gonzales, Josefina Lopez, fantastic writers who have been encouraging with advice and who lifted up my name and helped me get my foot in the door of a lot of theatres. Jesus Reyes and Patricia Garza producers and activists at Center Theatre Group, Jeanette Harrison the AD at Alter Theatre who gave me my first commission and first professional production. And my sibs Sonja and Donald for being so cool and forgiving when I use our family stories in my work.

Website: http://dianaburbano.com/index.html

Instagram: ladianaburbano

Image Credits
Headshot is by Cristina Burgos Photography Play cover is by Rob Dario