'I still really like living': Ignacio López Tarso

One of Ignacio López Tarso's greatest dreams is to commemorate his 100th birthday in two more years while still performing on stage. He turns 98 years old today, January 15, and according to his own account, his health is good and his abilities are sufficient to resume his acting activities. As a result, he hopes to soon resume a new face-to-face season of Una vida en la escena, a play that he co-wrote and performed in at the San Jerónimo Independencia Theater with his son, the actor Juan Ignacio Aranda, since 2019, before the pande.

He is not affected by the passage of time, and neither have his sense of humor nor his work ethic been diminished. And in an interview with Excelsior, he was explicit about it.

I'm very thankful for all of these years of life and completely at peace with myself because I still enjoy living. In fact, I hope to reach 100 years old in 2025, which would be a milestone worth celebrating. If I can maintain my current state, I want to keep working.

My personal needs are being met. I can remember things clearly, think clearly, and have a strong stomach.

I haven't had any issues with my heart, lungs, brain, or body as a whole; all of these organs are functioning normally. Although opportunities have been diminished to the point where making movies and almost no television is possible, I like to keep living and I will take advantage of all that is offered to me.

Together with Sergio Corona, I recently finished a chapter of Como dice el dicho, and a few months ago, I finished a chapter or two of Neighbors. Ignacio López Tarso stated in a lengthy and entertaining talk, "That is what I have done because of the television offer, which has been very little.

However, he continues to do what he does best—playing characters, telling stories, and winning the hearts of the public—without lifting a finger off the trigger. Because of this, López Tarso keeps moving while he waits for the season to resume in the theater, again with the help of producer Daniel Gómez Casanova and director Salvador Garcini.

With more than 75 years of experience in the performing arts, the actor will record a new piece for streaming that will be featured on López Tarso en tu casa presentsa from boletopolis.com. The Swan Song, Leonardo and the Flying Machine, The One with the Sad Figure, Macario, Melville in Mazatlán, Fray Servando Teresa de Mier: Confessions of a Federalist Guadalupan, and The Eagle in the Bedroom are just a few of the dramatized readings that he has been working on since the start of the pandemic and will be accessible On Demand on this platform.

My condition is good. Everything is good, including your health and spirits.

I've already planned everything out until I'm 98 years old. We will carry on doing what we have always done.

I'm going to keep working on everything that is possible and accept invitations to present the works, particularly those that are dramatized reading, which has produced positive outcomes, and to go out and travel. the virtual path should also be used going forward.

We're going to record some projects that are still unfinished, and I'm going to start a new theater season as soon as I can, possibly in the same theater in San Jerónimo, with the same company, led by Daniel Gómez Casanova, and directed by the same person, Salvador Garcini. As soon as Social Security notifies us, we plan to continue performing the play Juan Ignacio, a life in the theater, that my son and I were performing.

We recently tried it in Atizapán, where there is a fantastic theater, and it worked out well for us. We can keep dating her and prepare for the season to resume.

In the following scene, we read a play with four characters—two men and two women. There are two or three more things we want to accomplish on the virtual path.

We will read a short work by Humberto Robles, an hour and a quarter long, by the same author as Leonardo, and with this new work, we would have eight already recorded so that the public could rent any of these copies and have them for 24 or 48 hours, with the option to invite friends or family and watch them at home, on television," he said. They have already asked the author for it, but they are still awaiting delivery, so they have not yet decided on the title of the new work that he would record for streaming.

Additionally, he is negotiating to acquire the rights for the four characters he has prepared to appear together in person. Although I'm unable to reveal the name of the book or the author, everything is already set up; all that is required to obtain the rights is a payment to the authors.

By word of mouth, we already possess them and are able to finish the task. Nevertheless, we won't start practicing until after we see how the revival of A Life in the Theater goes.

If everything goes very well, we will leave it in place for however long is required; if not, we will take it out when required and have the replacement ready, "he said. In order to portray two generations of actors who share their frustrations, dreams, emotions, and expectations through what is experienced in the theater, from their coexistence both in performances and in dressing rooms, recreating, each, multiple characters, the actor will once again raise the in-person curtain this season. The project is A Life in the Theater, by David Mamet.

A play about Leonardo da Vinci's final days and his student, to whom he sows the idea that humans will someday be able to fly, Leonardo and the Flying Machine, will be presented in Moroleón, Guanajuato, on January 20. He has also announced two performances of the play on his social media platforms. BIG ROAD AHEAD Ignacio López Tarso does not confine himself to a single project and believes that there are still many texts that need to be investigated.

The Spanish Classical Theater of the Golden Age, which is theater in verse and which no longer exists, has some very beautiful things that it could do, whether from Greek theater and from the Renaissance, with Shakespeare and Molière and all those great authors, or with the modern. Hugo Argüelles, Emilio Carballido, Vicente Leero, and Rodolfo Usigli are some of the great Mexican playwrights from whom there is still much to be learned.

There is a long road ahead of me that is full of things, but I could walk it. But you need a businessman for that—someone who enjoys the theater and is willing to take a chance with his money, as there is never a guarantee of success—because that is always a risk.

You must watch for an opportunity, he said. The actor, however, is not a man who waits around; rather, he has ventured out his entire life in search of opportunities.

He experimented with being a seminarian from a young age, served in the military, and held positions as a bracero and denim salesman in the United States, as well as helping with the grape and orange harvest in California. His most recent incident involved him falling from a tall orange tree, landing on some boxes while on his back, and suffering a spinal injury that rendered him paralyzed. He spent the next year or so recovering, already in Mexico.

The complete works of Xavier Villaurrutia were contained in a book that came into his possession during this time in his life. In 1948, he would later become known as the instructor of the acting class at the Academy of Dramatic Art of the National Institute of Fine Arts, which is now INBAL, of which he was a member. As the playwright was the one who encouraged him to take on a new stage name, his education with him would go further.

Due to his readings in the seminar about Saint Paul, who was formerly known as Saulo de Tarso, he substituted "López Tarso" for the last name "López López," removing the former from his name. Since then, his name has become internationally recognized thanks to his portrayals in theater, film, and television.

I adore every single character I've ever played on stage, in a movie, or on television because they're all such good actors. more so for some people than others.

My favorites in film are a few. 54 films have been produced by me over the course of my life.

I have ten or twelve favorites among them, including Rosa Blanca, El hombre de papel, The Golden Rooster, Macario, Cri Cri, and numerous others. In the theater, it is difficult to forget a performance of Oedipus Rex, Cyrano de Bergerac, or one of my most recent interpretations of The Father, for instance.

All of Ral Araiza's excellent television productions, such as Senda de gloria, La tormenta, and El carruaje, which featured very informative and helpful details about Mexican history, came to mind, he recalled. THE APPLAUSE, HIS GREATEST AWARD Over the course of his career, Ignacio López Tarso has won numerous accolades, including Ignacio López Tarso is the father of the actor Juan Ignacio Aranda and Susana López Aranda, the author of the book Let's talk about theater, who examined the first 65 years of his father's career in said publication.

His wife Clara Aranda, with whom he spent about 50 years of his life, and who passed away in 2000 from pulmonary emphysema, is the mother of his three children in addition to Gabriela López. Additionally, the actor is related to the Mexican jazz drummer and composer Antonio Sánchez, who recorded the drums for the soundtrack of the Alejandro González Iárritu film Birdman, and the actress and singer Sofa Montao, who is currently performing with the Corteo company, a Cirque du Soleil production.

He disallowed the continuation of such a plan with regard to the tribute in Santa Clara del Cobre, Michoacán, where he would dedicate a statue of Pito Pérez, the main character of The useless life of Pito Pérez, which would occur in 2022 and was postponed to protect his health. In Michoacán, there have been numerous political issues, and the social situation is also somewhat complicated.

We decided to postpone the ceremony until further notice because the governor, who was planning to attend the unveiling of the statue of Pito Pérez and participate in the ceremony, decided to cancel. The Governor has not informed us that it might happen soon; we have not received any notification.

He stated, "We are awaiting the decision of the government of Michoacán. In addition to receiving the 2019 Honorary Ambassador of the Cultural Capital of America and Living Cultural Heritage of Mexico City, the 1973 Ariel award for Best Male Performance in White Rose (1961), the golden gate awards from the San Francisco International Film Festival in 1960 for Best Actor for Macario, and the El hombre de papel Golden Gate Award in 1963. These awards come on top of the 2007 Ariel de Oro award for his extensive career.

In addition, he received the 2013 National Science and Arts Award in the category of Fine Arts as well as Doctor Honoris Causa degrees from the Autonomous University of Nuevo León and the University of Guadalajara, respectively. One starts off always keeping in mind that one must succeed, and that leads one to greater knowledge in front of the public and, ultimately, to fame.

Knowing that you are moving in that direction, that each piece of work you produce is superior to the last, that an increasing number of people are coming to see you, and that the public is showing increasing enthusiasm for you is magnificent. The actor will receive this as a great reward.

The money the producer, the businessman, gives you is merely a reward; however, what truly makes you happy and fills your heart with pleasure is the public's acclaim. Other than that, there is no better situation for the actor.

It's pleasing and lovely to see that. get a prolonged standing ovation where people keep applauding you.

That is extremely thrilling, and on occasion it makes me cry with happiness and satisfaction that you are rewarded in this way. You must leave after that, she emphasized.

The following is his legacy in terms of guidance for aspiring actors. There is no alternative to working hard in class and remembering that actors are not created in classrooms, no matter how excellent they may be, but only on stages, in front of audiences, "he said.

Furthermore, despite the fact that his life story would make a fantastic bioseries script, he has no interest in doing so. Up until this point, he would always respond "no, thank you very much.".

I hardly believe it will be successful, but it could be. Writing requires communicating with the person who is writing, providing them with information and dates, and then being content to feed your ego by listening to what they have to say about you.

No, I've never found it attractive, and I don't like it. He experienced mild covid symptoms in September, which he referred to as "a bad flu," and spent five days in the hospital in May 2022 for a diagnosis of bacterial pneumonia. However, there were no aftereffects from either condition.

He is therefore prepared to take the stage and celebrate his 98th birthday this Sunday with his family and close friends. Regarding that, there are no issues.

In addition to my children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, I will also invite my extended family—which includes my cousins, nephews, and the occasional friend—as well as one or two other guests, including my businessman and director. I'll prepare a meal, we'll have a few drinks, and I'll chat with everyone.

My great-grandchildren in San Luis Potos as well as a boy and a girl who reside in Mexicali are among the relatives I'm hoping to see. You are the one I am waiting for because you are so far away.

We'll have a gathering of about 20 to 30 people in my home, all members of my family, where we'll eat and relax for a while. The intention is to reach and pass 100 (years), let's see if I get there, and keep living, "she said.

The most recent news is available at the following link: cva.

The Swan Song, Leonardo and the Flying Machine, The One with the Sad Figure, Macario, Melville in Mazatlán, Fray Servando Teresa de Mier: Confessions of a Federalist Guadalupan, and The Eagle in the Bedroom are just a few of the dramatized readings that he has been working on since the start of the pandemic and will be accessible On Demand on this platform.