Francisco Covarrubias

Francisco Covarrubias (1775 in Havana – 1850) was a Cuban actor and dramatist known as "the father of Cuban theatre".^[1][2] Covarrubias was notable in the history of the music of Cuba through his involvement in the early days of Cuban musical theatre. He has a memorial plaque at the National Theater of Cuba where the second-largest auditorium, the Covarrubias Hall, is named after him.

References

1. Martin Banham, Errol Hill, George William Woodyard The Cambridge Guide to African and Caribbean Theatre - 1994 Page 159 "The acknowledged father of the Cuban national theatre is Francisco Covarrubias (1775-1850). Impresario, actor and author of more than twenty plays, he was famous for his representations of the 'negrito' (the white actor in black face), ..."
2. Felicia Hardison Londré, Daniel J. Watermeier The History of North American Theater 2000 Page 158 "Author of many short populist plays with a distinctly Cuban flavor, the actor Francisco Covarrubias (1775-1850) earned posterity's accolade as the father of Cuban theater."