Pancho, who is currently playing the part of the Romaguera family father in the Cuban production of Aire Frío, by late playwright Virgilio Piñera, and directed by Carlos Celdrán, is recognized for his extensive career on stage, for which he has been given the top prize for his life's work, annually presented by the Culture Ministry and the National Performing Arts Council.
The Villanueva awards given by specialized critics to the best show staged in 2011 went to Murmullos en el páramo, designed and performed by Mexican actress Mercedes Hernández, and to El paquete by Deborah Hunt from New Zealand, two shows seen at the Magdalenas Sin Fronteras Festival in central Villa Clara in early 2011. Also awarded were The Society, by the Norwegian Company Jo Stromgen; Coincidencias, by the Finish group Blakpox; André y Dorine, by Spanish Kulunka Teatro; and El trompo metálico, brought to Havana's Theater Festival by playwright and director, Argentina's Heidi Steinhardt.
The Cuban productions El dragón de oro, by German Roland Schimmelpfennig, staged by Cuba's Teatro de la Luna ensemble; Cubalandia, by El Ciervo Encantado group and Jerry viene del zoo, by Estudio Teatral Vivarta, based on the play by US writer Edward Albee, were given the prizes in the category of best Cuban shows. The play Reir es cosa muy seria (Laughing is a very serious thing) took the prize home in the category of comedy.
In theater for children the Villanueva award went to the musical Canción para estar contigo, by Teatro de las Estaciones and Danza Espiral from Matanzas, starring composer and opera singer Bárbara Llanes.
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