 Ultimate Latina Theatre Festival
Where Iris Chacon is Smarter than Shakespeare
By Robert Waddell, May 9, 2009
In the Punk Rock ethos, the philosophy of Do-it-Yourself with A Positive Mental Attitude has reigned true especially when record companies wouldn’t record a band, many artists pressed, presented and promoted their own work.
The same philosophy rings true with the upcoming The Ultimate Latina Theatre Festival this June at the Nuyorican Poets Café. Created by ultimate Latina playwright Linda Nieves-Powell, this ten day festival, in its second year, showcases original work creating a platform where Latina thespians can thrive.
“I wanted to create an entire festival that’s very Latina empowering,” said Nieves-Powell, author of “Yo Soy Latina.”
Featured during the festival run is the play “21” when a young girl is fed up with life, she’s visited by the ghost of Roberto Clemente. Another night offers “Ultimate Latinas Out Loud: Epistles,” letters of personal and intimate thought. One of the fun sounding plays is “The Jedi Papi Chulo and the Power Pansa” written by Vanessa Benitez. “Brown Girls Chronicles” tells the migratory story of Boricuas who came to Chicago in the 1950s and 60s. The play “Please Hold” by Jenny Saldana tells the behind-the-scenes look at customer call centers.
 “We’re showcasing our work,” said Saldana. “This festival is only going to get bigger and better. And give people (Latina artists) a chance to be seen and heard.”
Saldana once worked at a call center for 10 years and used her experiences and stories she’d heard to write her play about an angry Latina.
“I wanted to give a place, a feeling,” said Nieves-Powell. “Without judgment or competition to showcase work; I want us all to work together under one roof. This makes a huge statement.”
If there is a unifying theme to this festival, it’s that actors and playwrights can learn to create, cast and promote their own work and each other’s work. Nieves-Powell said that it’s about taking a risk and the evolution within the creative process. “Latina actors need to try something new, experiment, test things,” she said.
Nieves-Powell created an evening of Epistles and asked for submissions. She thought she’d get some poetry. Amazed, Nieves-Powell received an avalanche of soul purging confessions.
 The plays and theatre pieces are written, acted and directed by women of the theatre while giving their Latina point-of-view spin. Probably the most adventurous sounding title is “Sexy Shakespeare” where women will perform the Bard in between burlesque numbers. This must be where “the plays the thing” meets Gypsy Rose Lee, or for here, Iris Chacon.
“It’s a great process to see my ideas go from my heart and head to come to reality,” said Antonia Marrero, an actor who conceptualized and performs in “Sexy Shakespeare.”
Marrero said that she had so many ideas about a large scale full production, which would bring her love of Shakespeare and her love of burlesque together, however in collaboration with Nieves-Powell, Saldano and director Eva Stapleton, Marrero was able to create a meaningful and manageable work.
The Ultimate Latina Theatre Festival makes serious attempts at involving committed actors and dramatists while having fun, exploring and creating a new venue for Latinas. This “collective voice” of Latinas are almost always ignored or stereotypically portrayed in the mass media, but here, some serious fun potentially can happen, where these Latinas can present a humorous, provocative and glam-filled showcase, not only of Latina talent but of their diverse, profound and new ideas. Cleverness and intelligence solidifies what looks to be an eventful ten days of intelligent fun.
 This is a Festival that’s not afraid to be down right steamy sexy celebrating the allure and power of Latina women. No one is ashamed or hiding anything. There’s even a play written by Nieves-Powell titled “Sex, Lies and Adam and Eve” which may just prove the point. Just watch the festival’s promo video on line and that alone will make you jump up and bum rush the door at the Nuyorican.
Ms. Powell is known as a playwright who writes about Latina issues but in “Sex, Lies and Adam and Eve” she attempts to do something new, exploring territory that is universal.
“We’re trying something new,” said Nieves-Powell, “…to give an opportunity, this is boot camp for Latina artists.”
The Ultimate Latina Theatre Festival runs June 4th to June 14th at the Nuyorican Poets Café, 236 East 3rd street. For more information log onto: http://vimeo.com/4556284 or Nuyorican.org.
This story was developed through the Education Beat Writing Fellowship at the New York Community Alliance. |
