The Comedia Nacional was founded on April 21, 1947. In the early 1940s, in an effort to promote and consolidate cultural expression in the country, the Uruguayan government began establishing an institutional framework for artistic activities. In 1946, Héctor Laborde, the manager of the
Official Service for Broadcasting, Performances and Entertainment, proposed the idea of creating a state-owned theater company, but the proposed bill was left unaddressed. At the same time, during the administration of Intendant
Andrés Martínez Trueba, the
Intendancy of Montevideo established the Commission of Municipal Theaters, chaired by playwright and politician Justino Zavala Muniz, to advise on the management and administration of municipal theaters. The goal was to foster national culture and artistic production, as at that time the city had numerous movie theaters but few permanent theater venues. The commission's responsibility was to establish a national, stable theater company. In the months following its creation, auditions for actors were held, and on October 2, 1947, the company's first production,
El león ciego (The Blind Lion) by
Ernesto Herrera, premiered at the
Solís Theatre. == References ==