Prominent Cuban Theater Actress Concepción (Concha) Ares Passes Away

The Cuban theater community mourns the loss of Concha Ares, a prominent figure in the country's theatrical scene over recent decades. Her passing was announced on Saturday evening by fellow actor Jorge Luis Guerrero via Facebook, prompting an outpouring of condolences from colleagues and friends on social media.

Guerrero shared, "Javier Martín, the son of the beloved actress Concepción Ares Fustes (Concha), informed me that she just passed away. In his words: 'She faded away slowly, died peacefully.' True to great love stories, she did not endure long without her great love, the theater director and her inseparable life partner, Elio Martín Momperliert," who passed away at the end of 2025.

Actor Nevalis Quintana Fernández was among the first to respond, sharing a heartfelt message. "In the early hours of a May Starry Night, I was surprised by a post announcing the physical departure of the actress and friend Concha Ares," wrote Quintana. He reminisced about her time at Teatro Estudio and the Hubert de Blanck Theater Company, noting her exquisite grace and Cuban essence as an actress.

A Legacy in Cuban Theater

Quintana Fernández recounted that Ares began her career in Cuban television before joining her husband at Teatro Estudio. She was one of the 12 founding members who supported Sergio Corrieri in establishing Teatro Escambray in 1968, a theater dedicated to bringing art to the rural communities of the Sierra del Escambray. Over its history, the institution premiered numerous plays, reaching over a million spectators.

Under her husband Elio Martín's direction, Ares starred in "La Vitrina" — originally premiered by Teatro Escambray in the 1970s and later revived at the Hubert de Blanck Theater in the 2000s — and "El Paraíso Recobrado," two of the most memorable productions of her career.

A Beloved Actress and Friend

At the Hubert de Blanck Theater Company, she left a lasting impression with roles such as in "El tío Francisco y las Leandras," a Cuban adaptation of the Spanish zarzuela directed by Berta Martínez. Quintana Fernández fondly recalled a scene from that play during the challenging years of the Special Period, where Ares' character, a chorus actress, humorously addressed everyday struggles like rationing, blackouts, and transportation, concluding with a line that drew laughter and applause: "And for the record, I'm not going to Mexico or Venezuela."

The irony remains that the same issues continue to inspire comedic scripts on the island today.

Colleagues and friends portrayed Ares as a generous and approachable woman. Actress Vivian Acosta, who worked with her at Teatro Escambray, bid farewell with simple words: "Sad news. We worked together at Teatro Escambray. A good actress and person." Marisela Herrera, who shared the stage with Ares at Hubert de Blanck, remembered her as "very funny, both as an actress and as a person." Actor Francisco Fonseca from the "Pinos Nuevos" Youth Theater recalled "the sweetness, simplicity, and affection she showed us young actors" during visits to Teatro Escambray and a performance in La Victoria, Isla de Pinos, where she elicited a prolonged laugh from the audience.

Other significant figures in the cultural scene, such as Miriam Socarrás, Osvaldo Doimeadios, Ana Nora Calaza, and Pepe Murrieta, also expressed their sorrow over Ares' passing.

Concha Ares' death adds to a particularly painful year for Cuban theater in 2026, following the losses of actress Adela Legrá in January, actress and playwright Cristina Rebull in February, and actress Zelma Morales in April.

Nevalis Quintana Fernández concluded his tribute with the gesture that theater reserves for its finest performers: "ETERNAL APPLAUSE."

Details regarding the location of her passing and funeral arrangements have not been disclosed. Heartfelt condolences are extended to her family, colleagues, and friends.