Set in a brothel in northern Argentina, Venecia unfolds a vibrant marginal world where wit and humor intertwine with deep humanity. Tender, funny, and profoundly moving, the play invites audiences to reflect on illusion, solidarity, desire, and the enduring dignity of the human spirit.

At the heart of the story is La Gringa — an elderly, blind madam who dreams of traveling to Venice to reunite with the love of her life and finally free herself from a lingering guilt. When the journey proves impossible, the other characters create a touching theatrical illusion — a play within the play — to bring her dream to life.

In the words of its author, Jorge Accame, these tender and endearing characters are guided “toward the only possible epiphany, toward the only light allowed to them — that of their dreams.” Venecia is a heartfelt tribute to shared hope, to friendship that invents new paths, and to a love that seeks redemption before the final curtain. It is also a moving reflection on the unique power of theater to transform reality, even if only for a fleeting moment.

Widely acclaimed, Venecia has been translated into multiple languages and staged across Europe and the Americas. It stands among the most celebrated contemporary Argentine plays, earning prestigious honors including the ACE Awards, the Trinidad Guevara Award, the Estrella de Mar Award, and the Florencio Sánchez Award.

Gente de Teatro previously presented Venecia at the Evelyn Rubenstein Jewish Community Center of Houston (2003) and at Rice University (2004).

Venecia by Jorge Accame is represented in the United States through the F&F Literary Agency (Buenos Aires).

This production is made possible by the generous sponsorship of Blue Wave Supplier Development Program and the support of these organizations: the Consulate General of the Argentine Republic in Houston, the Consulate General of Spain in Houston, the Theatre Network of TX, Casa Argentina de Houston, La Casa de España, the Institute of Hispanic Culture of Houston, Cámara de Empresarios Latinos de Houston, the Argentina Texas Chamber of Commerce, Asociación Uruguaya en Houston, Alief ISD Education Foundation, Doray Castillo Productions, Qué Hacer en Houston, TX, and El Venezolano en Houston.

Directed by Marcela Salas, PhD.

ALL PERFORMANCES ARE IN SPANISH. English Surtitles are not available for this production.

APRIL 30 - MAY 3

RUNTIME:
85 minutes with no intermission

NO LATE SEATING

TICKETS:
GENERAL ADMISSION SEATING
$40 Regular (Fri/Sat)
$37 Seniors 65+(Fri/Sat)

$37 tickets (Fri/Sat) for members of the
CAH, CELH, ATCC, IHCH, AUH, Houston Spaniard Community
and Theatre Network of TX with special discount code.

DISCOUNTED PERFORMANCES

$32 ALL SEATS
Thursday, April 30 at 7:30 PM
Sunday, May 3 at 3:30 PM

All performances are in Spanish. 

Suitable for adult audiences 

Information: www.gentedeteatro.org * mail@gentedeteatro.org 

713-826-0445 * 713-410-8370

ABOUT JORGE ACCAME

Jorge Accame was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1956. Since 1982, he has lived in Jujuy, Argentina. He studied Literature at the Catholic University of Buenos Aires and teaches at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at the National University of Jujuy.

In 1998, his play Venecia premiered in Buenos Aires at the Teatro del Pueblo. He received a fellowship from the Antorchas Foundation to attend the International Writing Program at the University of Iowa in the United States. He has also received fellowships from Argentina’s National Endowment for the Arts (Fondo Nacional de las Artes), the National Theater Institute, the Civitella Ranieri Foundation, the MacDowell Colony, the Yaddo Corporation, and the Guggenheim Foundation.

Jorge Accame has published books of poetry (Golja; Cuatro Poetas; Objetos; Un parpadeo), short stories (Cumbia; Quería taparla con algo; Un tiempo en la oscuridad), novels (Concierto de Jazz; Segovia o de la Poesía; Gentiles criaturas; Forastero; Contrafrente), and plays (Chingoil Cómpani; Venecia; Jueves de comadres).

Among other distinctions, he received the City of Buenos Aires Prize for his short-story collection Cumbia, the La Nación–Sudamericana Prize for the novel Forastero, a Guggenheim Foundation Fellowship, and the National Novel Prize for Contrafrente.

Widely acclaimed, Venecia has been translated into several languages and staged throughout Europe and the Americas.

PLAN YOUR VISIT TO MATCH

🎟️ BOX OFFICE & TICKETING

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  Enjoy a cocktail, wine, beer, or snack before the show.
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• Seating typically opens 30 minutes prior to curtain.

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