THE PUERTO RICAN TRAVELING THEATRE
PRESENTS
LATINA POETS FESTIVAL 2007
--Celebration of its 40th Anniversary--
For the first time in its 40 year history, the Puerto Rican Traveling Theatre will be presenting twelve of the hottest, cutting edge Latina poets and performers in an exciting festival at its permanent theater, 304 West 47th Street, in the heart of Broadway, beginning Thursday, March 8, 2007 at 8 p.m.
SANDRA MARÍA ESTEVES, the revered Puerto Rican poet often referred to as the ‘Godmother of Nuyorican Letters’, MARIPOSA, one of the most dynamic, young poets of the New York Latino scene, as well as all time favorites LA BRUJA, the powerhouse performer PATTY DUKES, the popular poet and play wright LINDA NIEVES POWELL, and the fiery PRISIONERA have joined the roster of poets who will be participating for 8 performances at the Puerto Rican Traveling Theatre. Adding their talent to this special theatrical event will be veterans such as CARMEN D. LUCCA, DRA. MYRNA NIEVES and the popular RHINA VALENTIN, along with the highly regarded poet CARMEN VALLE and the award winning LOURDES VAZQUEZ.
MIRIAM COLÓN VALLE, Founder of the theater, will be the Director and Producer, JACK LANDRON will co-produce, SOLEDAD ROMERO will be Literary Advisor. MS. ROMERO and JAZMIN CARATINI will interpret some of the poems.
Throughout the years, the Puerto Rican Traveling Theater has established a consistent record as a professional, bilingual theater company which has added diversity and quality productions to the New York theatrical landscape. The company, founded by the Puerto Rican actress Miriam Colón, has been an Actors Equity company since 1967, and has become a mecca for Hispanic and mainstream audiences who enjoy high quality, professional bilingual productions.
Opening night for the LATINA POETS FESTIVAL 2007 will be on Thursday, March 8, 2007 at 8:00 p.m. Performances also on Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m. Sunday performances will be at 3:00 p.m. only. This limited engagement production will run only till Sunday, March 18 at the Puerto Rican Traveling Theatre, 304 West 47th Street, between 8th and 9th Avenues. Admission is $20 or $15 for properly identified students or senior citizens. Reservations: 212-354-1293.
The Puerto Rican Traveling Theatre’s Mainstage presentations are possible thanks to the generosity of the New York State Council on the Arts, New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, Manhattan Borough President Scott M. Stringer, Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrión, Jr., Shubert Foundation, National Endowmend for the Arts, American Express, American Theatre Wing, Carnegie Corporation of New York, TIAA-CREF, Edith C. Blum Foundation, New York City Council, Hispanic Federation, JPMorgan Chase, and individual supporters. The Puerto Rican Traveling Theatre is grateful to their Media Sponsor:
Urban Latino Magazine.
For Press or Sponsorship Information:
[URBAN LATINO LOGO]
Jorge Cano Moreno 212-681-2493 (jcmoreno@urbanlatino.com)
Nicole Richardson 212-681-2494 (mrichardson@urbanlatino.com)
www.urbanlatino.com
The theater has introduced the American public to the best of Latino playwrights from the United States and from around the Hispanic world through bilingual productions of their work. Some of them are:
THE OXCART by René Marqués (Puerto Rico)
THE PASSION OF ANTÍGONA PÉREZ by Luis Rafael Sánchez (Puerto Rico)
THE MASSES ARE ASSES by Pedro Pietri (New York)
ORINOCO and A ROSE OF TWO AROMAS by Emilio Carballido (Mexico)
O.K. by Isaac Chocrón (Venezuela)
HISTORIAS PARA SER CONTADAS by Osvaldo Dragún (Argentina)
THE MAN AND THE FLY by José Riubal (Spain)
DEATH AND THE MAIDEN by Ariel Dorfman (Chile)
THE ORTIZ SISTERS OF MOTT HAVEN by Carlos J. Serrano (New York)
LOS BIG NAMES, a co-production with Jamie Cesa, written by and starring multiple award-winner MARGA GOMEZ
The Puerto Rican Traveling Theatre stands as a pioneer in making the performing arts accessible to the community and to minority women, providing them with opportunities as playwrights, directors, designers, actors, as well as technical and administrative staff. The scope of the programs include: MAINSTAGE PRODUCTIONS at the theater at 304 West 47th Street, ANNUAL SUMMER TOUR bringing fully-staged, free of charge productions to the neighborhoods each summer, RAÚL JULIÁ TRAINING UNIT, and the PLAYWRIGHTS UNIT, under the direction of Allen Davis III.
Analysis of the works and themes of these poets have appeared in various magazines and newspapers such as:
“LA BRUJA (Caridad De La Luz)’s art doesn’t stop at just imitating life; [she] goes on to celebrate the rich, though not always pretty, layers of it. She reaches out with a positive message without preaching.”
SHOUT MAGAZINE
SANDRA MARÍA ESTEVES, poet and artist, considered the ‘Godmother of Nuyorican Letters’ by many spoken word artists,…is one of the most respected poets writing in the early twenty-first century. An original vanguard member of the Nuyorican Poetry movement, Estevez is also…among the first Latinas to publish full volumes in English.
LOUIS REYES RIVERA, THE OXFORD ENCYCLOPEDIA OF LATINOS & LATINAS, VOL. 2
“[LINDA NIEVES POWELL’s] passion for keeping the culture alive is evident in her work. She writes about many Latino issues – with her most passionate issue of all being racism within the Latino community.”
VIVA/DAILY NEWS
“LOURDES VASQUEZ’s poems resound with humor and grief, turn catastrophe into renewal, and playfully explore what happens in a world where the relationship between humans and beasts is still intact. At times hard and edgy, this poetry is never cold. It is instead vibrantly alive, flowing in a confluence of desire and anger, passion, and cold appraisal.”
BESTIARY: SELECTED POEMS 1986-1997
