Life is absurd. It’s a divine comedy that makes absolute sense and non-sense at the same time. That’s what makes life fun and fundamentally unstable and challenging. In honor of this psychotic tumbleweed of an existence, FUNDarte, the University of Miami Ring Theatre, and the Department of Modern Languages and Literature present the First International Festival of Virgilio Piñera’s Theater.

Since it is the first festival, there’s not much comparison to last year’s event. However, if you are a fan of FUNDarte and the fantastic productions the organization brings to Miami, such as “Caligula” by Teatro El Publico and “The Secret History of Love” by Sean Dorsey Dance, you’ll want to make plans to catch this festival.

Absurd Celebration.

The festival honors one Cuba’s most important, irreverent and in-your-face playwrights, Virgilio Piñera, and will feature five of his original works. The power of Piñera’s work emerges from his radical, rebellious personality and quest to smash the barriers to artistic freedom and, by extension, personal salvation.

For more information, descriptions of the plays and schedule of performances, visit http://fundarte.us/fundarte_event.php?id=153.

All performances are at UM’s Jerry Herman Ring Theatre, 1312 Miller Dr., Coral Gables. Friday and Saturday shows are at 8 p.m.; Sunday shows are at 5 p.m. Tickets are $20 for general admission and $15 for students and seniors. There is also a discounted Festival Package that includes admission to all five plays. Festival Packages are $75 for general admission and $60 for students and seniors. To buy tickets, or for more information, call the box office at 305-284-3355 or visit www.miami.edu/ring.