A Latina finds her voice!

I had to share this. It's written by a wonderful Latina who writes a blog called: LA PARLATINA

CULTURE: Latina-enough

I started this blog because I wanted to share.

By reader response (both directly to me and on public sites), it’s clear to me that the issues and topics I write about don’t just affect me, but a much larger audience. And so…here I go…

I grew up in New York City—the melting pot of religion, culture and race—in a mostly Greek and Italian neighborhood. My friends were understandbly mostly white, given the demographic of my neighborhood. I remember going through junior high school and high school constantly “explaining” and "proving" to my classmates that even though I wasn’t rocking hoop earrings or uptown sneakers, I was, in fact, Latina. (I did, however, go through my phase of dark red lipstick. Oh, didn't we all? :)) My Spanish wasn’t great and when I did speak Spanish, my thick American accent led many “Latinos” to call me gringa. (There’s nothing wrong with being a gringa, but the pejorative tone in the use of the word, hurt me.)

Where did I belong?

I wasn't sure, but one thing I did know what that I loved our music and food. (Who doesn’t?) Those congas, timbales and sazon coursed through my veins. That I was sure of. But, in an attempt to be accepted by other “real” Latinos, I memorized lyrics to Gloria Estefan’s Mi Tierra album (which included English translations-thanks Gloria!) to try to fix my accent. It didn't work, but it did expand my vocabulary a bit. I was, honestly, ashamed. (Still one of my all-time favorite albums, by the way.)

High school was over, and I put my dark red lipstick and Gloria Estefan CD away. I went to sleep-away college about four hours away from the city. Most of the student population was from the NYC area, so really it was like a pool of New Yorkers in the sticks (as my brother likes to call upstate NY).

Same issues; different zipcode.

The Latinos at school were very tight knit. They pledged the same sororities/fraternities (I never did), went to all the Latino parties and mostly dated each other. I was never in this group. Honestly, I never searched for it, but I also never thought I'd be accepted into it. In fact, my senior year, I had a few classes with a Latina who hung out in this circle. She turned to me and asked, “Did you just transfer here? I’ve never seen you.” Her friend retorted, “That’s ‘cause she only hangs out with the gringas.”

Talk about a smack in the face. Did I have to be Carmen Miranda to prove my Latina roots? (Meanwhile, Carmen is originally from Portugal.)

All I could think was, maybe the gringas didn’t give me hard time about who I was. Ever consider that?
In the years post-graduation, I picked up a book in a Staten Island Borders Books called “Yo Soy Latina” by Linda Nieves-Powell. It was a screenplay of an off-broadway show that spoke volumes to me. I remember flipping it open to the dedication page. It read, “To all who need a voice.”

(smile)

As one of my Tazo peppermint teabags says, when you have knowledge, invite others to light their candle in it. Thanks goodness Linda did.

“Yo soy Latina! is a funny and very moving play that challenges a group of diverse Latina women to examine their identity and their connections in the contemporary landscape. The play’s premise unites these women who come to share their individual anecdotes of living Latina in contemporary America. There’s Migdalia, a Nuyorican, who experiences prejudice from her own family because of her interracial marriage; Jennifer, a young Mexican-American college student who’s discovered her Chicana rights; Alicia, a Colombian actress who struggles with what keeps her from landing Latino roles because of the “lightness” of her skin; Soledad, a Dominican mother who finds the courage to leave her machista husband in pursuit of her own dream; and Louisa, a Cuban-Irish who defends her own right to be Latina.”

Linda’s play made me laugh and cry. It assured me I was Latina and wonderful just the way I was. (Gracias, nena.) Mostly, it was comforting to know that I wasn't the only one facing these issues. I wasn't alone.

Today, I’ve improved my Spanish (for myself), consciously support Latino small businesses and films and have made my life’s work focusing on the inequalities and hardships facing my community.

This book was Linda’s declaration of independence and part of mine. Through the last few years, I’ve found my voice…really myself. I am no longer searching for who I am, who I’m supposed to be. I just am.

If you are searching for answers in your identity, I invite you to pick up a copy of Linda’s book or see the college version of Yo Soy Latina! as it goes across the US. It will change you.

My Spanish isn’t perfect.
I wear my hair curly and straight.
I don’t have a child.
I love all Spanish music.
I hate guayava.
I only occasionally wear red lipstick.

I am Latina--take it or leave it.

AUDITIONS: YO SOY LATINA! directed by Timothy Armheim

Auditions for "YO SOY LATINA" and “THE TEMPEST”
Come and Audition for "Yo Soy Latina" by Linda Nieves-Powell. You must have most afternoons from 3PM-6PM free for rehearsals.

YO SOY LATINA by Linda Nieves Powell

Six “Latina” women of differing backgrounds meet in a classroom that becomes a forum for their life experiences, fears and dreams. This moving comedy/drama features a fascinating and diverse ensemble of Latinas and challenges perceptions of homogenization and cultural stereotypes.

March 19, 20, 21, 23 and 25

Immediately following the performance on March 25, please join us, the playwright Linda Nieves-Powell, and a panel of other Latina artists for a talk back. Light refreshments will be served.

CAST OF CHARACTERS:
Lisette Davila Rivera: 20-something wannabe actress/poet
Soledad Tejeda: Dominican; mother of three; divorced; late 30’s
Migdalia Rivera: Nuyorican; pregnant with second child; married to an African-American man; late 30’s
Jennifer Barriquena: 19 year-old Chicana college student
Alicia Blanca: Colombian; 20-something; B-List actress; the white Latina
Maria Elena Gonzalez: Panamanian; late 20’s; the black Latina
Louisa O’Brian: Cuban-Irish; corporate attorney; late 20’s
Casting Agent: Offstage character.

AUDITIONS: YO SOY LATINA! directed by Timothy Armheim

Auditions for "YO SOY LATINA" and “THE TEMPEST”
Come and Audition for "Yo Soy Latina" by Linda Nieves-Powell and "The Tempest" by William Shakespeare. You must have most afternoons from 3PM-6PM free for rehearsals.

YO SOY LATINA by Linda Nieves Powell

Six “Latina” women of differing backgrounds meet in a classroom that becomes a forum for their life experiences, fears and dreams. This moving comedy/drama features a fascinating and diverse ensemble of Latinas and challenges perceptions of homogenization and cultural stereotypes.

March 19, 20, 21, 23 and 25

Immediately following the performance on March 25, please join us, the playwright Linda Nieves-Powell, and a panel of other Latina artists for a talk back. Light refreshments will be served.

CAST OF CHARACTERS:
Lisette Davila Rivera: 20-something wannabe actress/poet
Soledad Tejeda: Dominican; mother of three; divorced; late 30’s
Migdalia Rivera: Nuyorican; pregnant with second child; married to an African-American man; late 30’s
Jennifer Barriquena: 19 year-old Chicana college student
Alicia Blanca: Colombian; 20-something; B-List actress; the white Latina
Maria Elena Gonzalez: Panamanian; late 20’s; the black Latina
Louisa O’Brian: Cuban-Irish; corporate attorney; late 20’s
Casting Agent: Offstage character.

FLUFFY FROSTED CUPCAKES - FLUFFY MARSHMALLOW LIKE FROSTING IS FUN!

It's funny, creativity will come out in the darnedest ways. When I'm not in the mood to write, direct or produce another theatrical show, I stare at my Kitchen Aid mixer and ask for inspiration. I don't know what has gotten into me lately but suddenly finding the perfect cupcake recipe has become my obsession. I don't know how this started but I'm so loving this new journey and hobby.

I made these cupcakes on Friday night (9/25/09) the next morning there were only 7 left. This cupcake is a super low cholesterol recipe. No butter, no egg yolks, just egg whites and I used only a 1/2 cup of 1% low fat milk.

The frosting, when it's first made is soft and pliable. Very easy to spread and you don't have to be a cake decorator because it creates a natural swirl when you put it on. When it sits in the air for a while, it turns into a marshmallow consistency. The kids will love this texture. It's funny to bite into. Sprinkles will stick and stay easily. Most decorations will sit well on this frosting.

For the cake I used a white cake recipe. Wasn't wowed by the cake recipe from the Kitchen Aid recipe booklet. But it could be that I need to test my oven's temperature. I left the cake in for 20 minutes at 350 degrees and it was too dry. Maybe I need to bring it down to 325 instead. So I won't share the cake recipe because it's still a work in progress, but I will share the FLUFFY FROSTING which is also known as 7 minute frosting or Marshmallow-like Frosting.

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/2 salt
1/2 cup of water
1 1/2 tablespoon of light corn syrup
2 egg whites
1 1/2 teaspoons of vanilla ( I used Madagascar Vanilla and a teaspoon of Orange extract)

Place sugar, cream of tartar, salt and water, and corn syrup in saucepan. Cook and stir over medium heat until the sugar is completely dissolved, forming a syrup. This doesn't take long to happen. Maybe 1-2 minutes.

Place egg whites in mixer bowl. Use a wire whisk to whip. Whip super fast for about 45 seconds (I used the Kitchen Aid mixer and instructions and quite honestly the whipping took more than a minute for me.) or until whites begin to hold shape. Continue mixing and pour in hot syrup into the egg whites in a fine stream and whip for another 1 to 1 1/2 minutes. (This took longer for me as well). I added a hint of orange gel food coloring to give it a cool light orange sheen. You can't see it in the picture but in person it looks like a like a cool silvery orange. Add vanilla (I added a teaspoon of orange extract as well) and whip about 5 minutes longer or until frosting loses its gloss and stands in stiff peaks. Frost cake immediately.

Oh yes, the sprinkles I bought at Marshalls.

The recipe says that it yields 12-16 servings. Not true. I not only frosted 24 cupcakes but I had enough frosting leftover to frost 12 more cupcakes if not more. I froze the remaining frosting and I have no idea if it's going to keep.

Have fun decorating. For me this was the best part! Well, the taste is cool too. It will make you feel like a kid again! It can get a little sticky so make sure you have a enough wet napkins around.

Per serving: About 109 calories. 27 g of carbs. 0 g of fat. o mg chol (yay!) and 101 mg sodium.

Epistles 2009 @ The Ultimate Latina Theater Festival

We're busy with our COLLEGE TOUR schedule, touring the country and we're working on a lot of great new shows. So stay tuned and in the meantime visit our COMING SOON page to find out what's coming up soon!

For a recap of the 2009 Ultimate Latina Theater Festival click here.

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EPISTLES 2009



Enjoy the free videos from the EPISTLES 2009 presentation at the 2009 Ultimate Latina Theater Festival @ The Nuyorican Poet's Cafe. Epistles is conceived by Linda Nieves-Powell. Produced by Linda Nieves-Powell and Jenny Saldana. Hosted by Jenny Saldana.

HD quality version is available on www.youtube.com/latinoflavored. Please note: several videos contain two performances. (Michele Carlo and Gabrielle Rivera), (Mercedes Vaquez and Stella Santamaria) and (Angelique Rodriguez and Stella Santamaria).

Click link to go directly to YOUTUBE video of readers in order of appearance: Maria Palacios, Rhina Valentin, Luna Silvestre, Michele Carlo, Gabrielle Rivera, Daphne Sicre, Jani Rosado, Robert Waddell, Mercedes Vasquez, Stella Santamaria, Amaris Castillo, Katrina Ruiz, Lenina Nadal, Eva Stapleton, Michelle Navarette, Sujeiry Gonzalez, Bobby DeJesus, Angelique Rodriguez, Stella Santamaria (2) and Mia Hernandez.

Also, the following writers submitted letters but did not perform:

Eunice Levis read by Luna Silvestre

Ximena Sosa read by Mercedes Vasquez

Maria Miranda read by Eva Stapleton

Alvaro Saar read by Michelle Navarette

Our deepest apologies go out to the following readers whose letters were not filmed in their entirety due to technical problems at the cafe.

Michelle Navarette

Sujeiry Gonzalez

Bobby DeJesus

Angelique Rodriguez

Eve Reyes

Stay tuned for the 2010 Epistles event!

Cupcakes and Drama - October 29th and 30th

Secret to GLOW IN THE DARK CAKE on LAST CAKE STANDING

I like everyone else went bonkers when the Superhero Cake glowed in the dark. Here is a thread that gives you the answer. Apparently it's as simple as using TONIC water in the piping gel.

GLOW IN THE DARK CAKE and CAKECENTRAL

FAN MAIL

We have all heard the phrase `the grass is greener on the other side' and this journey is the perfect answer back to that statement, for it proves that we shouldn't always be wishing for something we don't quite understand, because once we have it we may realize it is far from desired…

There I was a week ago. I was thinking of what I would have changed if I had been given the chance to change it now. No, because back then it was a test. It was the fork in the road you stop at before you keep going ahead. The one side that leads you to where you are supposed to go and the one side you thought that would. Of course I thought I took the one side that would. I mean was I suppose to be here, or was I suppose to be here a long time ago or should I even be here at all?…that was the question I kept asking myself until I found the answer in front of me.
I purchased your book because it was simply titled, “Freestyle.” I always loved freestyle. It is the type of music that would always bring me back in time. A time where my younger than life mom would go from heartache to dance club with the beat of each tune. It was the type of music that helped me get into my skinny jeans and sometimes right out of them, too. I could always count on Judy, Cynthia, C-Bank and Chrissy Ieece to mend my heart right back into place. Along with a bottled scent of Eternity to burn away the sweat and pain away. It was probably the most liberated time in my life, even though I thought my mother constricted my life so much back then. I wasn’t scared of anything back then. I felt I could do anything, unstoppable and my Latina culture supported that ideal. It was the strength that I held onto all my life and it is what I am made of.

Then somewhere between what I wanted, what I was looking for, what I needed, and what I aspired to be, I changed. I changed into someone who was more conscience of what I really wanted and needed. I left a lot behind, but I gained so much in the process. Everything at a cost, a sacrifice, and so many mistakes in between that sometimes I didn’t even remember that person who was so young at heart anymore. I had changed and evolved into someone new. I am still me roots and all. I am just at an improved state of mind from where I was back then and now I have a real understanding of unconditional love.
When I saw your book, I thought it would bring me back to that free spirited place in time where tenements and bodegas and freestyle music blared everywhere. It did but it also did something else. It sat there by my nightstand next to the popular Twilght saga series and my trusty bible. I am a multi reader, and an occasional freelance writer for local print so my home has ten completely filled bookcases filled with my personal literary collection. It is not unusual to find yourself in my home as you would find yourself in let’s say, “Barnes & Noble,” reading, browsing the latest subscription of over fifteen magazines, and sipping on green tea or yes, a mean “café con leche.”

I stared at your book for weeks. In those weeks I was having my usual midyear what am I doing with my life crisis. The time of the year I always question and regroup the next year of my life. Everything is so seriously important right now with this economy that it makes you question if you are doing everything you can to stabilize yourself now and in the future. The pressure piles so high that sometimes you find yourself looking back in time around the corners of your mind thumbing through a collection of tunes, say “Freestyle?” Even if it is just to escape and to remember where you came from in order to find clues to where you are going. A place where you had so much less and survived so much more that it reminds you how really special that time was and how quickly it past.

So finally, I pick up your book!!! and I couldn’t put down for fear I might not find why I am so drawn to Idalis. Then as she finds the true meaning in what is important I start to see that I have, can, and will fine my way into what is ahead for me, too. The way she learns to jump in and learns to save herself. She was finally true to herself, and sometimes that is the hardest thing to do. Hard because of the fear and the ideal fact that now there is much more at state. The way Idalis went to look back, I told you I recently went back to the Bronx, how ironic, the same block where I grew up and all. The very next day there was a drive by shooting near the same place I was driving around at 2 am in the morning. I mean technology has increase the ability to look back, and the ways in which we can look back are endless… remember how Idalis Google her way there? In the end she realized she wanted what she already had experienced and loved all along. She was looking for what supported her new self, her new changes, her new improvements, and her overall new foundation. Different paths or people choices just means, things would have been different but that does not mean or guarantee that they would have been better. Places stay the same but people change, we all do. We become the mothers and the fathers and sometimes both. We evolve as the earth and universe continues to sing the way it did long before we came and long after we are gone.

The same day I finished your book, I saw the “Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” that night. The movie nearly three hours long, touched on this very meaning. How it feels to be young and get older, how everything in the universe has a place in which we are where we are suppose to be in order for things to happen the way they should. All these mythologies remind me of one of my favorite series, “LOST.” I am not sure if you’re a fan, but it does go back and forth in time a lot in order to appreciate the present purpose of our life. The fact that our lives move so quickly ahead the opportunity to really influence someone at the perfect time only comes up occasionally. I feel you did that for me in your book. I felt obligated to share that with you in this way. Whether it is to inspire you to once again inspire others, or if just maybe to pay it forward to day in your life at this moment as you continue through your next project. I hope I did this for you.
By the way, I don’t know why but for me the concept went perfect with the movie I viewed after. It was those signs that reminded me it is normal and fine to start over anytime and in any way we can in order to find what makes us happy. We can’t have regret or resent for our fate and the cards that we are dealt, it is time wasted and never found. We must learn to let it go and move on, and jump in to save ourselves. Thank you for accepting my friend request, I hope we can become good literary friends. Please feel free to contact me if I can be of any assistance to you with your stage production of, “Freestyle,” in NY or Orlando, Florida or any future literary endeavor. Good Luck to you and all your future projects.

Charries Semidey-Salazar

FAN MAIL

Good evening, I just read Yo Soy Latina! and loved it. It was a gift from a very close friend who thought I would enjoy it and of course, he was right.

A few close friends have wondered how I can be so accepted in many cultural situations and my response has always been the same; be yourself, be latina, be sensitive to other cultures, be open to different ways of thinking, and get out of the "hood" and expand your horizons. Many of these adjectives were prevalent in your play. I particulary enjoyed Alicia's character because I think many of us fall into that category of trying too hard to fit into a white world, even if it means changing something really great about yourself. Once you recognize what you've done, you're so pissed that you ensure you're never in that position again. I truly identified with Migdalia and Soledad. I was a renegade in my family by marrying a black man in the mid eighties. My family migrated from Puerto Rico in the 1950's and were very closed minded when it came to other races and cultures. I too helped change my family's opinion about black people, because I married a black man in the mid 19!

80's. We kept the lines of communication open and it was a bit of a struggle but I can honestly say they were genuinely accepting of him.

Soledad is who I was about 5 years ago. I am middle-aged with a teen daughter yet to raise, and I ended a 12 year relationship because of what Soledad talked about. I feel fabulous, still a little scared and it seems I still have a little renegade in me.


I am from Chicago and wondered if you have conducted the play here. If so where. I currently attend a community college with a nice sized Latino student body and I know of another Chicago Community College that has an even larger Latino base and finally Northeastern Illinois University has a very large latino student body. I am saying all of this to say, what would it take to bring your play here? I believe that Chicago Latinos would benefit greatly from your play. Especially since I believe that Chicago is still one of those metropolitan cities that covertly supports segregation, biases and racism.

Finally, we will be in New York the 14th through the 23rd and I wondered if Yo Soy Latina will be playing locally.

Continued success, I am very proud of your youth and what you have and will continue to accomplish.

Apologies for such a long email.

Sisters at heart,
Shirley R.

P.S. I have made a pact that every time I hear latinos talk negatively about other Latinos I will make every effort to speak up in a positive way.

The Occupational Hazards of Helping Others

Dear Whomever Wants to Read This:

I was inspired recently to write about The Occupational Hazards of Helping Others.

Why is it that when relationships in this business don’t work out, people want to sling you through the mud and destroy your name and reputation? I can think of a few answers to that but choose not to, play psychoanalyst at this time. Listen, it’s no surprise that with as many people as I have met, and I’ve met a lot, that not all are going to like me, get me or are meant to share in my journey. I’ve said it before and I’ve said it again: I am not here to win a popularity contest or make friends but if we become friends, great. And lord knows, this is too much work for it to be a game for me. I really love what I do because in the process of doing it, there’s this side effect of empowering others. That’s the part I love. Because when you empower others, their joy somehow ignites more inspiration in the empowerer and others--it’s contagious and in a beautiful way changes everything around you for the better. I know that my purpose is to write, direct and produce stories, ideas that empower Latinos. So why am I writing this?

Yesterday, as I was reading the status updates, I stumbled on one very angry person’s blog who has accused me of stealing an idea from her. Specifically, the EPISTLES idea. Normally I would not give this negativity a second thought but I’m going to be honest here, even through the thick skin, I feel I’ve developed over time, this one really penetrated me in a way that I feel a need to write about it.

I met this person a few years ago, an inspiring writer who actually came to seek me. She was a fan, she came to a show of mine and said she wanted to talk to me because she had an idea about starting a workshop. Here’s my problem. And I’m going to be honest, it was and sometimes still is (in certain situations) my biggest problem: I always want to help without giving thought about what I have to sacrifice in terms of time and energy. I don’t know if being a Virgo has anything to do with this, because Virgos are natural teachers, but I’m going to say that I’m learning to let go of the need to help or work with everyone because of situations like this. So she wanted guidance and I was there to give her what she needed – validation. For me, it was another way of networking with a great Latina artist. However, I know most of the time, aspiring artists need validation and opportunities more than anything and they usually look for them in someone who is paving the way. A few weeks later she invites me to a birthday party. I didn’t attend because I felt I didn’t know her that well but I sent her lovely daughter a monetary birthday gift anyway. (BTW, I get invited to a lot of places and am asked to donate a lot of money to causes and quite honestly, I have to take myself off the list now because it’s gotten really bad.)

Anyway, she told me that this relationship with me is similar to the one in THE ALCHEMIST. Teacher and student. I was in ways showing her the ropes, just because that’s what I do and enjoy doing. I was trying to find a way to fit her restless energy into Latino Flavored Productions Inc. She’s an angry writer with a lot of passion and I thought that would translate well on camera or as a radio show. It didn’t work though. My idea was to have a show that focused on inspiring motivational tips on writing. Her intention was to use four letter words in a show that was meant to empower writers. Hey, no one loves the word motherfucker more than me, but fuck and motherfucker and any variation of the word, did not have a place in this show. Her blog says I was controlling her words. No, I was structuring a show. I didn’t want a fuckfest of words in this format. Because as you read the words now, doesn’t it just change the feeling of the writing? It becomes negative. So this idea did not work out. At all. One day I get an email that she no longer is interested in doing the show. Okay, fine. I knew it was going there. So why the need to say I bounced?

Beware that when “some” aspiring artists are beginning to fly and they are critiqued, they will retreat and damn you for not giving them the much-needed validation they need to face the fear.

Long story short, not everyone is meant to be on my journey. And I have to tell you, when they find that out, they get really mean. They want you to fail miserably. How delusional of her to write in her blog that when she felt she surpassed my success that that made her powerful. That in a nutshell told me everything. I’m not going to apologize for not finding room in my agenda for those I don’t have anything in common with or share the same goals and intent with. No, I won’t do that. Everyone should be mature enough to accept that we are not all supposed to travel on the same road.

It’s okay for you not to get along with everyone or realize that there is a dead end in certain relationships. I have found that when two people in the community are not getting along people say, “Oh come on, you are Latino you have to support one another.” It’s not an obligation to stay in a relationship that doesn’t grow or work. Some people are meant to be together and some are not, it’s that simple. For reasons we cannot control.

Going back to the reason I started writing this: there are people that use your success as the barometer for their success. I use no one in that way because success comes in varying forms. I don’t want to be like anyone else because that limits me from my own success. She wrote she’s surpassed my success, I’m quite sure she hasn’t grossed over a million dollars considering her need to own a letter idea. What success is she talking about? The one in her head? And as far as Epistle ideas go, they have been around forever. No one owns the right to letter writing. So when Jenny Saldana and I were looking for a new show, I tapped into what I had been learning in a recent English Literature class this past spring, since we did not want to host a poetry or spoken word event. We love poetry, but we didn’t want to produce that type of event this year.

So, why do I feel the need to write this, because as I learned in Epistles, it’s a great way to purge bullshit in your life. The world is full of beautiful people and as she wrote BAD PEOPLE.

It’s funny how she didn’t use my name but used the same references she had so often spoken to me about. This will be her response to this blog: If she didn’t steal the idea then how does she know I’m talking about her? Here is my response: “It’s obvious fool.”

Here’s the other thing I learned: There is always going to be a group of folks that don’t like you regardless of how much you explain yourself. You can jump hoops for these people. And they will continue hating you for the sake of hating you.

I have since removed this person off my Facebook Friends and Myspace Friends. I don’t care to know what she does or doesn’t do. But since she’s all in my business, I figured I’d write A LETTER TO A FRUSTRATED ARTIST who feels the need to bring a sistah down based on assumptions and false accusations.

And for those who want to work for me or with me, don’t get angry or hurt when I ask for a contract. Friendships and business do not mix at all. Sometimes you get lucky and find really good souls. But just the nature of business can change that in an instant. And I find it’s harder for women than men just because men tell it like it is. Women don’t always say what they mean. So please be clear, frank and honest! And if a friendship develops, then that’s icing on the cake.


Sincerely,

An artist, entrepreneur, motivator and potential friend

ULTIMATE LATINAS on BRONXNET

Open Friday 5-29-09 with Rhina Valentin

Where Iris Chacon is Smarter than Shakespeare

FROM BORICUANEWS.COM

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.

Click here to read other articles by Robert Waddell

The ULTIMATE promo video is here!

The Ultimate Latina Theater Festival from EKG Films on Vimeo.

The 2009 Ultimate Latina Theater Festival

My favorite time of the year is approaching and I love the Ultimate Latina Theater Festival line up this year. This year it will take place at the Nuyorican Poet's Cafe!

June 4th - 7pm

"PLEASE HOLD" written and directed by Jenny Saldana

From the caller who doesn't understand the concept of "lather, rinse and repeat" to the wife who calls the sex line to get advice for her husband; PLEASE HOLD is a hysterical behind the scenes look at the world of customer service call centers and the people who work in them.



June 5th - 7pm



"BROWN GIRLS CHRONICLES" written and directed by Yolanda Nieves

The play tells the tale of women who are the daughters of Puerto Rican immigrants that arrived in Chicago during the 1950’s and 1960’s. None of the women reflected in the play have ever lived on the island of Puerto Rico. Directly taken from interviews with second generation Puerto Rican women, The Brown Girls’ Chronicles: Puerto Rican Women & Resilience has a specific intent: to center the voices of Puerto Rican women who lived in Humboldt Park in a way that has never been done before while adapting Ntozake Shange’s concept of the choreopoem in a new fashion. The lived experiences of the women are detailed in the compilation of poetry, choral poems, chants, and monologues that reveal the women’s relationship to the self, family, men, their bodies and sexuality, their struggles with spirituality, and the way they resist invisibility.



June 6th - 7pm

"21" written by Mimi Lee and directed by Tiffany Vega

Looey, a college senior is so tired of finals, softball practice and rules that she just wants to quit school to hang out with her new loser boyfriend. When the ghost of Roberto Clemente visits her she learns a lesson or two about life, death and quitting.



June 7th - 3pm

"THE JEDI PAPI CHULO AND THE POWER PANSA" written by Vanessa Benitez and Ura Yoana Sanchez. Directed by Lisandra Sanchez-Payan.

The Jedi Papi Chulo and The Power Pansa is an award winning* original one-act play by Ura Yoana Sanchez and Vanessa Benitez. The play tells the story of Lucas, an insecure bakery worker who attains a very unique power from a magical source. The play shows the power a charming man can have over two intelligent but very different women. (* 3rd place winner of TEATRO LA TEA's 1st annual bilingual playwrights festival)


June 11th - 7pm

"ULTIMATE LATINAS OUT LOUD: EPISTLES" conceived by Linda Nieves-Powell

e·pis·tle

1. a long formal letter that often serves to instruct (formal)
2. a literary work in the form of a letter


June 12th - 7pm

"SEXY SHAKESPEARE" conceived by Jenny Saldana and Antonia Marrero and directed by Eva Stapleton

Sexy Shakespeare s an hour long production consisting of several Shakespearean scenes intertwined with burlesque dance. The intention of the production is to entertain and to create Shakespearean scenes with an all female cast. In Shakespearean times, all roles were played by men. Now, in the new millennium it will be introduced with this sexy twist.



June 13th - 7pm

"SEX, LIES and ADAM & EVE" by Mimi Lee directed by Mercedes Vasquez.

Three funny, sexy and honest vignettes explore the ramifications of Adam and Eve's descent in modern relationships.


June 14th - 3pm
Closing Event – "GRACIAS MUJERES" produced by Latino Flavored Productions Inc. and Revolucion Latina. Tickets and event info will be available shortly.

MTV TRUE LIFE I'm Nuyorican is off the air!

See what your voice can do!

The Signal

YO SOY LATINA! is still empowering women after 8 years!

The Signal

FAN MAIL

Evelynmariagonzalez rated it: @@@@@
03/19/09

Read in January, 2009
Evelynmariagonzalez rated it:
03/19/09
Read in January, 2009

I absolutely loved this book for the following reasons: 1) Contemporary, fresh and emotionally engaging; 2) I love Nieves-Powells' Puerto Rican woman twist on the classic Thelma and Louise; 3) Nieves-Powell's "beats" in the novel and witty, laugh out loud dialogue kept me happy for days. Finally, her story is very well developed -- touching on some rather universal themes, while keeping it real. (The power of women coming together, career vs. motherhood tug -- that does not tug at the usual "whiny" dialogue we hear from women not accustomed to seeing how indeed you can reconcile or HAVE to reconcile both because of economic circumstances, and the old matter of families, mothers and husbands. ) I hope this Puerto Rican sister is working on her next book!...less

Nuyoricans Against MTV's True Life

Nuyoricans Against MTV's True Life

Judy Torres to read from the novel FREE STYLE - 3/20

GREAT NEWS!
Judy Torres, the Queen of Free Style will be joining us at Cemi Underground, 1799 Lexington Avenue at 112th Street on March 20th 2009. She will be reading from my book FREE STYLE!

Hoop Dreams!

Staten Island resident has 'Hoop' dreams

by Rob Bailey

Thursday March 12, 2009, 1:00 AM

Linda Nieves-Powell explores whether hoop earrings are "sexy, trashy or empowering" in her new short documentary "The Bigger the Hoop."

Leave it to the gals at my corner bodega to boil a pop culture conundrum down to its purest point. Cashier 1: Huh? Girl, those hoops are hoochie. Cashier 2: No, these hoops are me.

It should come as no surprise that New Springville renaissance woman Linda Nieves-Powell is weighing in on the topic via her new short documentary "The Bigger the Hoop." (Watch it now at Cinedulce.com.)

The writer-turned-filmmaker says her new "baby" explores whether hoop earrings are "sexy, trashy or empowering."

Alert Islanders will remember Nieves-Powell from the 2001 off-Broadway run of "Yo Soy Latina!," her witty fact-based play about Latinas in contempo America. The ensemble piece has since toured the country.

Her first novel, the disarming "Free Style," was published to nationwide critical acclaim in 2008.