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Quiara Alegría Hudes

EXCLUSIVE
  • Pulitzer Prize-Winning Playwright
  • Tony Award-Winning Musician
  • Writer of 'In the Heights', the Tony-Winning Musical and Hollywood Blockbuster Film
  • Activist and Founder, Emancipated Stories

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Pulitzer-winning playwright, author and Tony-winning musician Quiara Alegría Hudes offers audiences the opportunity to hear untold stories. Her memoir, My Broken Language, is a lyrical exploration of coming of age against the backdrop of a Philadelphia barrio, with her sprawling Puerto Rican family as a collective muse. Hudes won the Pulitzer Prize in Drama for her play Water by the Spoonful. She wrote the script for Tony Award-winning In the Heights, a Broadway play adapted into a major motion picture, in collaboration with Lin Manuel Miranda. The accompanying book, In the Heights: Finding Home, is a New York Times bestseller. Hudes’ screenplay for Netflix, Vivo, is her animation debut. As an essayist, she has written for The Nation, The Washington Post, The New York Times, and more. She is one of the most innovative artists of this generation, expanding the boundaries of storytelling.

Hudes’ material impact as an activist is as strong as her cultural influence as a writer. Hudes and her cousin founded Emancipated Stories, a nonprofit helping people behind bars share one page of their life story with the world. Hudes’ accolades include the USA Artists Fellowship, the Lucille Lortel Award, the HOLA Award, and more. Her work uplifting marginalized communities, sharing often untold stories, and creating brilliant art captivates audiences worldwide. Hudes has been invited to speak for centers of creative innovation such as Vanderbilt University, Americans for the Arts, Google, and more.

 


Quiara Alegría Hudes headshot
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Quiara Alegría Hudes photo 2
Past Hosts Include:
  • Vanderbilt University
  • Americans for the Arts
  • Google
  • Bryn Mawr College
  • Deerfield Academy
  • Students of Deerfield Academy
  • A Community College
  • Radius Global
Rave Reviews About Quiara Alegría Hudes
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"It was AMAZING! This was the best Harry Howard Lecture that I’ve been to, and we’ve had some great speakers. The students – even the ones who had to be there for class – all really seemed to be drawn into the world she painted... She truly was phenomenal and very kind and gracious."

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More rave reviews

"Just letting you know what a wonderful visit we had with Quiara. She was incredibly giving of her time with students and at the reception and her thoughts and energy were really well received at all 3 events she participated in (master class with theatre and creative writing students based on Emancipated Stories project, reception with donors, students and guests, and her evening talk. Book sales/signing went terrific as well – I think she may have signed 50 or so books!"

-Western Kentucky University

"Quiara delivered insightful and thought-provoking content that resonated well with the audience. Her stories and perspectives added depth to the discussion and kept the audience engaged throughout the event. Quiara's authenticity and passion were evident in her delivery. She spoke from the heart, sharing personal anecdotes and experiences that added authenticity to her message and connected with the audience on a deeper level. The interactive Q&A session allowed attendees to further engage with Quiara and delve deeper into the topics discussed. Her thoughtful responses to questions showcased her expertise and provided valuable insights for the audience. Overall, the speaking event was a resounding success, leaving attendees feeling inspired and empowered to make a positive difference in their organizations and communities. Highly recommend Quiara as a speaker for your next event."

-Radius Global

"It was a terrific day. The students were deeply engaged. They loved meeting Quiara and getting a copy of her signed memoir. The reception was very well attended. It felt festive, a true community. We are grateful to Quiara for spending time in conversation with students and other members of our community. The main event was outstanding. We had a strong turnout (over 100 people) and there was quite a buzz afterward about how rewarding the evening was. It felt intimate, like we were sitting in the living room listening to a great conversation."

-A Community College

"'Thank you for being real' ... 'Like you, I also have my own 'broken language (…) But your writing resonated with me and has inspired me to embrace this unique brokenness in my tongue. For that, I thank you' ... 'Having you come to Deerfield was incredible and I can’t thank you enough for coming! ... 'I will be forever grateful for the way your book made me feel and how you allowed me to have something to relate to.'"

-Students of Deerfield Academy

"The event was a huge success. The students really enjoyed Quiara's session."

-Deerfield Academy

"Working with you all and with Quiara was fantastic. She was engaging, generous, and kind – in addition to the wonderful qualities and gifts that make her so successful as an artist.  We had a very good experience."

-Bryn Mawr College

"Quiara Hudes played an essential role in our convention this year, providing creative inspiration and the motivation to keep on building bridges in communities through the arts. She and her team were great to work with."

-Americans for the Arts
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Virt. Interview clip - ‘My Broken Language’ and the power of representation | Washington Post Live [1:14] - Get Sharable Link
Talks & Conversations with Quiara Alegría Hudes
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Many Selves: LatinX Identity and Belonging

Pulitzer-winning playwright, author, and Tony-winning musician QUIARA ALEGRÍA HUDES often considers how one's intersectional identities shape who one is, how they work, and how they interact with others. Hudes, a bicultural artist, explores a new kind of American identity in the space between many s ...

Pulitzer-winning playwright, author, and Tony-winning musician QUIARA ALEGRÍA HUDES often considers how one's intersectional identities shape who one is, how they work, and how they interact with others. Hudes, a bicultural artist, explores a new kind of American identity in the space between many selves. In this engaging conversation, Hudes reflects on how we can build community and belonging while embracing our various and rich identities.

Author Talk: ‘My Broken Language’

In Pulitzer-winning playwright, author, and Tony-winning musician QUIARA ALEGRÍA HUDES' My Broken Language: A Memoir, she explores the nuances of her upbringing in a Philadelphia barrio surrounded by a loving Puerto Rican family while forging a literary path all her own. Hudes grew up in a marvelous ...

In Pulitzer-winning playwright, author, and Tony-winning musician QUIARA ALEGRÍA HUDES' My Broken Language: A Memoir, she explores the nuances of her upbringing in a Philadelphia barrio surrounded by a loving Puerto Rican family while forging a literary path all her own. Hudes grew up in a marvelously diverse setting – a childhood and adolescence where many nationalities and religious practices intersected. She now seeks to live out ideals of seeing everyone, hearing everyone, and including everyone at the table of learning. In this conversation inspired by My Broken Language, Hudes discusses finding her voice and staying true to herself while following her creative dreams.

Women Making History: Building Community Across Generations

QUIARA ALEGRÍA HUDES celebrates her community through a multigenerational lens - honoring her past, embracing the present, and looking to the future. Hudes absorbed the stories of her second-grade educated grandmother, the spiritual teachings of her priestess mother, and the shrewd advice of her po ...

QUIARA ALEGRÍA HUDES celebrates her community through a multigenerational lens - honoring her past, embracing the present, and looking to the future.

Hudes absorbed the stories of her second-grade educated grandmother, the spiritual teachings of her priestess mother, and the shrewd advice of her powerful female mentors, and forged a literary path all her own. In her work, she has delved into the female body and spirit while in her life she has balanced changing diapers, building a marriage, service to the community, and leadership at the top of her field.

(Re)Claiming Your Seat at The Table: Interactive Theater & Writing Workshop

Pulitzer-winning playwright, author, and Tony-winning musician QUIARA ALEGRÍA HUDES leads interactive workshops in theater-making and writing. Either focusing on the creative work of writing or the creative work of making a better world as a writer and advocate, Hudes engages audiences in reflection ...

Pulitzer-winning playwright, author, and Tony-winning musician QUIARA ALEGRÍA HUDES leads interactive workshops in theater-making and writing. Either focusing on the creative work of writing or the creative work of making a better world as a writer and advocate, Hudes engages audiences in reflection, listening, and performing. Hudes inspires viewers to tell their unique personal stories and defines the undefinable next wave of American art.

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Speaker News

Quiara Alegría Hudes received handwritten rave reviews from the students of Deerfield Academy

Pulitzer-winning playwright and Tony-winning musician QUIARA ALEGRÍA HUDES joined Deerfield Academy for their annual author series, making an impact on students and faculty through a meaningful discussion of her Pulitzer Prize-winning play, Water by the Spoonful, and renowned memoir, My Broken Language: a Memoir. She spoke to a crowd of seven hundred high schoolers and faculty, sharing reflections on her work both as a writer and theater-maker. The audience was thrilled to engage with the Tony Award-winning cultural leader. Students from Deerfield Academy shared handwritten thank-you notes affirming the impact of Hudes’ visit.

Reflecting on Hudes’ keynote address and moderated Q&A conversation, Deerfield Academy administrators say, “The event was a huge success. The students really enjoyed Quiara’s session.” Student letters to the changemaker write, “Thank you for being real… your writing resonated with mem and has enspired me to embrace [my identity]. For that, I thank you… Having you come to Deerfield was incredible and I can’t thank you enough for coming!... I will be forever grateful for the way your book made me feel and how you allowed me to have something to relate to.”

Watch Quiara Alegría Hudes in discussion on The Washington Post >>

Watch Quiara Alegría Hudes’ keynote at Yale University >>

'In the Heights' screenwriter and playwright Quiara Alegría Hudes shares untold stories about the hit Broadway show and film

Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright and Tony Award-winning musician QUIARA ALEGRÍA HUDES wrote the In the Heights franchise, showcasing diversity on stage and screen. Hudes is not only the scriptwriter for the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical and screenwriter for the major motion picture adaptation, but she has also released an eponymous book showing audiences a peek behind the curtain: In the Heights: Finding Home.

In the Heights: Finding Home is a New York Times bestseller co-authored with Lin Manuel Miranda and Jeremy Carter. Showcasing Hudes’ talent in creating the beloved story, the book offers fans an intimate look at the decades-long creative life of In the Heights. Offering unforgettable stories and deeper analysis of the impact of the film and play on LatinX representation on Broadway and Hollywood, Hudes’ In the Heights is an important collaborative work distilling the fruits of a broad cultural shift in the U.S. theater and arts world.

Watch Quiara Alegría Hudes in discussion with Playbill here >>

Watch Quiara Alegría Hudes in discussion with Random House Publishers here >>

Quiara Alegría Hudes’ heartwarming memoir, ‘My Broken Language,’ showcases the creative power of diversity

Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright and Tony Award-winning musician QUIARA ALEGRÍA HUDES’ book My Broken Language: A Memoir is a coming-of-age story set against the backdrop of an ailing Philadelphia barrio, with her sprawling Puerto Rican family as a collective muse. My Broken Language was named named “One of the Best Books of the Year” by NPR, the New York Public Library, BookPage, and BookRiot. Weaving together Hudes’s love of books with the stories of her family, the lessons of North Philly with those of Yale, her book and talks are an inspired exploration of home, memory, and belonging.

Watch Quiara Alegría Hudes in discussion with Random House here >>

Watch Quiara Alegría Hudes’ keynote at Yale University >>

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Books by Quiara Alegría Hudes
In the Heights: Finding Home

In the Heights: Finding Home

My Broken Language: A Memoir

My Broken Language: A Memoir

The Happiest Song Plays Last

The Happiest Song Plays Last

Elliot, A Soldier's Fugue

Elliot, A Soldier's Fugue

Water by the Spoonful

Water by the Spoonful

Welcome To My Neighborhood! A Barrio ABC

Welcome To My Neighborhood! A Barrio ABC

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Press & Media
A Family’s Story Spans a Trilogy, and Beyond - The New York Times
Family Bonds, Music Play Together in Quiara Alegria Hudes’s ‘Water by the Spoonful’ - The Washington Post
Quiara Alegría Hudes Rewrites the American Landscape - The New Yorker
Pulitzer Prize Winner Quiara Alegría Hudes Writing Life Is a Carnival Film - Playbill
Quiara Alegría ’99 discusses art and disruption - Yale News
The women of 'In the Heights’ on the importance of authentic Latinx representation on the big screen - MSNBC
How Lin-Manuel Miranda And Quiara Alegría Hudes Assert Dignity With 'In The Heights' - NPR
Quiara Alegría Hudes Wants ‘In The Heights’ To Become ‘The Gateway’ To Many More Latinx Stories - Huffington Post
"In the Heights" reclaims Latina beauty and honors its roots - Salon
Pulitzer Prize-Winning Playwright Quiara Alegría Hudes on Her Perfect Place to Be Alone - Jezebel
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Ideas for the Meeting Planner
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Biography

Quiara Alegría Hudes is the Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright of "Water By the Spoonful"; author of a memoir, My Broken Language; and screenwriter for the major motion picture In the Heights. Previously, she wrote the book (aka script) for the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical and Hollywood blockbuster In the Heights and authored other plays and musicals that have been produced around the world. Her notable essays include "High Tide of Heartbreak" in American Theater Magazine and "Corey Couldn’t Take It Anymore" in The Cut. In opposition of the carceral state, Hudes and her cousin founded Emancipated Stories, a platform where people behind bars can share one page of their life story with the world. As a barrio feminist and joyous mischief maker, Quiara y su hermana created the Latinx Casting Manifesto. 

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