Artes de la Rosa, formerly Latin Arts Association of Fort Worth is the non-profit organization that manages the historic gem of Fort Worth's Northside – The Rose Marine Theater, and Fort Worth's only Hispanic theater company - Teatro de la Rosa. Artes de la Rosa obtained its non-profit status from the IRS in November, 1999, and though still a young organization, has quickly managed to become an award-winning organization receiving praise for its children's programming and critical acclaim for its productions. The Rose Marine Theater, the home of Artes de la Rosa, opened as a movie house in the 1920s and has operated under three names, and has a legacy of presenting Spanish language films to generations of the Northside's ever increasing Hispanic population. The theater is listed on the National Register of Historic places. Today, the Rose Marine Theater has a seating capacity of 254 seats and provides an intimate setting with excellent acoustics for any type of performance. Adjacent to the theater is a gorgeous outdoor plaza and art gallery, both of which provide ample space for performances and receptions.
Artes de la Rosa has garnered several local and national awards and achievements including:
2003 "Best Of" Award for Best Arts Experience for Kids - Fort Worth Weekly
2004"Best of the Arts" Award - WRR 101.1
2005 Kennedy Center Award Recipient – This annual program gives 30 of the nation’s stand-out ethnic specific performing arts organizations an opportunity to work directly with Michael Kaiser, Executive Director of the Kennedy Center and his staff to foster capacity building.
2006 Coming Up Taller Award Winner – This national award, given at the White House by the First Lady, is the nation’s highest honor for after-school arts and humanities programming for youths.
2007 "Best Performing Arts Organization" Award - Fort Worth Weekly
2008 U.S. State Department Honor – The State Department brought in ten cultural managers from Africa, South America, and the Middle East to study with ten different American arts organizations. We hosted an arts manager from Amman, Jordan for a week at the Rose Marine Theater.
2008 Release of original documentary The Rose: A Sense of Place. Directed by Logan Gilpin and Michael Rodriguez the film depicts the history of the Rose Marine Theater. The film explains the hardships of people living as a minority and finding a place they could call home.
2008 Designated An American Masterpiece by the Texas Commission for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.
2009 Selected to participate in the On Location Program by ArtsEdge.
2010 Conclusion of the 5 year Kennedy Center Award
2011 "Best Of" John Garcia’s The Column – Year in Review Edition; Editor & Chief John Garcias names Kiss of the Spiderwoman orchestra one of the best 5 of the year. It is interesting to note that Artes de la Rosa was the only Non-Equity production mentioned. Zac Dacus Reynolds & Keith J. Warren are noted as Stand Out Performances of the Year.
"Best Of" John Garcia’s The Column – Year in Review Edition; Associate Theatre Critic Bonnie K. Damon names A View From the Bridge as Best Show. The production’s star Eddie Zertuche & the Ensemble also recognized for their contributions to the production.
2012 Best Of" John Garcia’s The Column – Year in Review Edition; Associate Theatre Critic Richard Blake names Maria de Buenos Aires star, Grace Neely, Best Actress in a Musical."Best Of" John Garcia’s The Column – Year in Review Edition; Associate Theatre Critic Charlie Bowles honors director Adam Adolfo’s The Fifth Sun production concept for it complete mise-en-scene that wrapped the story and audience together through costume, lighting, music, and aerial silk work.
2013 "Best Of" John Garcia’s The Column – Year in Review Edition; Editor In Cheif names Artes de la Rosa’s In the Heights, Best Non-Equity Musical of 2013. Names cast members Lorens Portalatin (Nina), Joshua Sherman (Benny), and Matt Ransdell (Usnavi) with Best Performances of 2013. Director Adam Adolfo singled out for his direction of the urban musical."Best Of" The Dallas Examiner – Best 10 Productions of 2013; Christopher Soden names In the Heights one of the best productions of 2013 siting the joy, spirit, and elation the production elicits.
"Best Of" John Garcia’s The Colum – Year in Review Edition; names “Best” to Artes de la Rosa’s Romeo & Juliet director Adam Adolfo, and choreographers Austin Ray Beck & Rebekah Ruiz for their work on the Shakespeare adaptation. “Best Performance” nods also go to Courtney Reid Harris (Juliet) & Michael Alonzo (Balthasar) for their work in the Cuban set production.
2014 The Column Awards – 7 Nominations in Non-Equity Categories for the Regional Premiere production of In the Heights including BEST MUSICAL, Best Musical Direction (Kristin Spires)*, Best Choreography (Elise LaValle), Chita Rivera Dancer Award (Gina Gwozdz), Chita Rivera Dancer Award (Michael Anthony Sylvester)*, Best Featured Actress in a Musical (Natalie Coca)*, and Best Actor in a Musical (Matt Ransdell)*. *Denotes Winner
The Live Theatre League of Tarrant County honors Board of Director Steve DeLeon for his continued service to Artes de la Rosa in securing the mission to create art for the Fort Worth Community. Additionally, they award Adam Adolfo with the Rudy Eastmen Diversity Award for his continued vision to bring ethnically diverse theatre to the Rose Marine stage.
Adam Adolfo, Artistic Director, is honored by Fort Worth Weekly with their VISIONARY AWARD, becoming the first Tarrant County Theatre Professional to be given this honor.
Photos and article courtesy of Artes de la Rosa. For more information about Artes de la Rosa and The Rose Marine Theater, visit them on the web at www.artesdelarosa.org.