Born in 1938 in Old Town in Albuquerque, Ernesto Antonio “Tony” Mares was a poet, actor, playwright, historian, professor, translator and activist. After completing a doctorate in European history at the University of New Mexico in 1973, Mares taught history, Spanish, creative writing, and American literature at Colorado College, the University of New Mexico, the University of Arkansas, New Mexico Highlands University, the University of North Texas, and elsewhere. He died on January 30, 2015.

Lola’s Last Dance was commissioned by La Companía de Teatro de Albuquerque and was produced in 1979, and was published by University of New Mexico Press in 1989. Lola, a retired prostitute in Albuquerque’s Old Town, has always lived life to the fullest.  "I always needed to be free," she says, "free to walk out into the sun.  Free to dance whenever I wanted and with whomever I wanted."  Her dreams are now filled with many lively ghosts whom she recognizes from her glorious past, such as the Banker, the Senator, and the Rag-and-Bone Man.  But there is one veiled figure whom she does not recognize…  

The play was inspired by several retired prostitutes whom Mares knew who lived in Old Town during his youth.  His other plays include:  Padre Antonio José Martinez de Taos (1983), El Corrido de Joaquin Murieta (1984), Santa Fe Spirit (1989), and Shepard de Pan Duro (1989).

His books include: The Unicorn Poem & Flowers and Songs of Sorrow West End Press); With the Eyes of a Raptor (Wings Press); and translations of Spanish poet Ángel González, (Wings Press, 2007). He co-authored, with Tomás Atencio and Miguel Montiel, Resolana: Emerging Chicano Dialogues on Community and Globalization (University of Arizona Press, 2009). His book of poetry, Conversations I Never Had With Patrociño Barela, was published in  2010 by University of New Mexico Press. Río del Corazón , his last book of poetry, was launched at the National Hispanic Cultural Center in Albuquerque April 1, 2011.

Tony Mares performed in Teatro Paraguas’ original 2009 production of Para que yo me lame Angel Gonzalez, a dramatic tribute to the poet Angel Gonzalez.  Mares worked closely with Gonzalez, a Spanish poet who taught at UNM, and translated much of his poetry.  The production was part of Teatro Paraguas’ ongoing series ¡Poesía Viva!, which celebrates Hispanic and Latino poets by presenting their works in dramatic form.