A Night of Argentinian Theater
Lionel “Leo” Messi, a renowned professional footballer, once said, “I’ve never stopped being Argentine, and I’ve never wanted to. I feel very proud of being Argentine, even though I left there.” This sentiment resonates with Matias “Mad MAT” Diuorno, a local Argentine performance artist. Diuorno is set to perform from March 12-15 at “A Night of Argentinian Theater,” an event that marks the annual celebration of Tallahassee Hispanic Theater’s 10th anniversary.
The show features two one-act plays written by distinguished Argentine playwrights. Both plays were translated to be performed in English by Alejandra Gutierrez, founder and director of the Tallahassee Hispanic Theater.
The Lives Our Families Lead
Diuorno became interested in theater in sixth grade. His elementary school in Miami was one of the filming locations for Ron Howard’s 1988 film “Cocoon: The Return.” “I got $50 and all-you-can-eat food,” Diuorno recalled. “It was the coolest experience.” He added that this was the moment he told his mom he wanted to be an actor. “She looked at me and said, ‘That sounds about right.’”
Artistry runs within Diuorno’s family through his brother. His brother, who lives in Buenos Aires, plays in a rockabilly band called “Los Adoquines” (“The Cobblestones”). The rest of his family, though not artists, has always been supportive. Diuorno briefly discusses how his family was transplanted from Buenos Aires to Miami in 1983 and the lives his mother and father have led.
“My mother was a psychologist and a professor,” Diuorno stated. “She received a doctorate in psychology because she was told that she couldn’t… and women weren’t supposed to do that.”
Diuorno smiles with pride as he speaks about his mom. Diuorno also speaks about his father, an aeronautical and mechanical engineer who worked with jet engines, which is also what his brother ended up doing. Watching him speak with absolute reverence and love, it’s easy to tell that family is one of the most treasured parts of Diuorno’s soul.
Serving the Tallahassee Community Through the Arts
Yet another treasure of his soul is theater. Diuorno is a staple of several theater groups in town. Tallahassee Hispanic Theater, Mickee Faust Club, and Theatre with a Mission are among the community theatres he has worked with. During the day, Diuorno is an instructor at Pyramid Studios, teaching theater to individuals with developmental disabilities.
However, Diuorno credits his theatrical work with a particular theatre group in town for significantly influencing his career. Starting at the Mickee Faust Club 10 years ago this summer, his experience there opened his eyes. “It was there I saw people who don’t [normally] get the opportunity to be on stage… I was taught how to help direct and guide people with disabilities.”
Diuorno helps and guides his entire community across many art forms. He came to Tallahassee years ago to attend Florida State University to earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA). This education and training helped him engage in every art form he could get his hands on.
His artistic interests include painting in various mediums such as acrylic, oil, and spray paint; light-based photography; and playing music as a percussionist. And while he does perform on stage, he also works behind the scenes in many ways with theater tech, administrative work, and more. “I’m a technical director,” he said, listing how he works with lights and sound in various local theatres. “I [also] produce shows, direct, and sometimes write.”
Whether addressing a technical need, playing an instrument backstage, or capturing photographs for friends in need, Diuorno consistently strives to assist others. Across all facets of artistic pursuits, his principal concern is the impact he has on individuals.
“Life can be a tough thing for a lot of us, and… something that I get to do [is] let [a] person forget about any problems they have and enjoy a bit of imagination.”
Dreaming of the Beauty of Argentina
As for imagination, most performing artists indeed imagine a dream role, and he is no exception. “Iago in Shakespeare’s ‘Othello’.” Yet unlike Iago, Diuorno is what he is: an artist, with dreams that he wears upon his sleeve. “I hope to someday sustain myself financially enough to focus on the arts I like to do, where I don’t necessarily have to do a 9-5 to get through one week to another… Eventually, being able to show my work across the world.”
The current role Diuorno is performing is in “Verona,” written by Argentine author Claudia Piñeiro, who is famous for her novels “Elena Knows” (adapted into a Netflix film) and “The Cracks of Jara” (also adapted into a film and available on Amazon).
“Verona”, directed by Marlene DuBois, features a family with three sisters and one brother, portrayed by Diuorno, celebrating their mother’s birthday. The siblings reflect on changes in their lives and care for their mother.
Another one-act play is “Mother by Trade,” directed by Tahirih Lee and written by Graciela Gambaro, an influential figure in 20th-century Latin American theater. The evening will also give the audience the chance to enjoy traditional Argentinian empanadas from Empanadas Miles and Argentinian wine to enhance the experience.
Performing in “Verona” has felt like a significant opportunity for Diuorno, as it connects deeply with his roots. When asked what he loves about Argentina, Diuorno enthusiastically mentions his passion for football and more. “I am a die-hard soccer fanatic, as most people from my nationality are,” he says with a grin. “I also love so many things from Argentina: our wines, the beautiful nature that we have in our country, and tango.”
While most of the actors in the one-act are of Hispanic descent, Diuorno is the sole Argentine performer. He further states that this marks the first Argentine play he’s performed in.
“For anyone who knows me, I have a strong sense of national pride. Even though it’s a place I haven’t visited in over 30 years, I still feel very much that I am a proud Argentine, just living in a different land.”
If You Go
What:“A Night of Argentinian Theater” presented by Tallahassee Hispanic Theater
When:8 p.m. March 12-14 | 2 p.m. March 15
Where:Jubilee Cottage at Goodwood Museum & Gardens, 1600 Miccosukee Road
Cost:$20 in advance; only a few tickets will be sold at the door
Details:tallahasseehispanictheater.org
Both one-act plays have been translated to be performed in English
