Showing posts with label puertorican. Show all posts
Showing posts with label puertorican. Show all posts

Thursday, March 15, 2018

Support Bx3M at Havana Film Festival



The New York Premiere of Bx3M, an award-winning coming of age film written and directed by Judith Escalona, will be at the upcoming Havana Film Festival in Manhattan. I am a producer of this film. Get your tickets now.

About

BX3M 

Judith Escalona | USA | 2016 | Fiction | 103min | NY PREMIERE 

For Maria and Mona, graduation means fulfilling a dream. For Michael, it means dashing all hope of a better future. You either make the grade or you don’t— in academics or love— and that makes all the difference.

Para María y Mona, graduarse es cumplir un sueño. Para Michael significa perder la esperanza de un futuro mejor. O pasas la prueba o no— en lo académico o en el amor— y eso hace toda la diferencia. 

AMC LOEWS 34TH ST: 4/12@ 8:30PM, Director Judith Escalona present for Q&A

UPDATE: HERE ARE A FEW SCENES OF THE NY PREMIERE. 







Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Q&A with Rocky on Broadway's Luis Salgado

The actor plays Kid Rizzo in the new production

By Ismael Nuñez




Here is the story of Rocky on Broadway, which is currently playing at the Winter Garden Theatre in New York City. Yes, it is that familiar Rocky story from the movies: "Somewhere in downtown Philadelphia, a down-and-out fighter named Rocky Balboa struggles to stay on his feet. But when the chance of a lifetime comes along, he takes his best shot at becoming a champion… and his last shot at finding first love."

The iconic underdog story Rocky has inspired an innovative new stage production, brought to life by a five-time Tony Award-winning creative team, including director Alex Timbers (Peter and the Starcatcher), songwriting team Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty (Ragtime), and book writers Thomas Meehan (The Producers) and Sylvester Stallone (Rocky, the Oscar-winning Best Picture). Rocky is a heart-stopping theatrical experience for everyone brave enough to follow their dream such as Puerto Rican actor Luis Salgado who plays the role of Kid Rizzo in the production.

Puerto Rico Sun had the pleasure of chatting with Salgado about being a Puerto Rican artist in New York, his new role in Rocky on Broadway and more.

1-Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

"I was born in Puerto Rico and my blood is Taíno. Spanish-Caribbean is my soul". Those lyrics from “The Capeman” define very well how I feel. Living in New York City, I have the chance to represent my culture and inspire many other Latinos, through the arts. It is a great time to honor and celebrate our Latino identity, and tell those stories from our own experience.

I started performing at Bellas Artes (Performing Arts Center) in San Juan, professionally directed by Ernesto Concepcion, Sr., at the age of 16-17 - when we did a play called Vida Vida. Then I had the honor of performing alongside renowned actors Angela Meyer, Lucy Boscana and many others, in a revival of Francisco Arriví's Vegigantes, the classic play about three generations of a Puerto Rican family, dealing with race. Another experience that I’ll never forget was working in the Zarzuela by Ernesto Lecuona Maria La O with Johanna Rosaly at the Paoli Hall, directed by Gilberto Valenzuela. I studied at the University of Puerto Rico for three years and then moved to NYC to pursue my dream of being on a Broadway stage.

Now I am celebrating 10 years since my very first Off-Broadway Show, Fame on 42nd St., which I did in 2004. It has been a ride, and I am thrilled to be in my third original Broadway production with a wonderful cast and inspiring creative team. We just recorded the music album for “Rocky Broadway” this past week, and that’s part of the wonderful opportunities that we get to experience and learn from being an original cast member. This album is an addition to my record collection, which also includes . In the Heights and Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, which represent my other shows on Broadway.

2. You are on Broadway and you are Latino...Are you aware that in this city there is a large Latin American community?

I am extremely aware because I love my community and try to contribute something to it with every step I take. Sometimes I get to do that by simply doing my art. Other times it is by working in the community such as on R.Evolution of Evolution through the arts. “R.Evolución Latina” is now in its sixth year of empowering local communities and our programs continue to expand.

There is also a BIG interest in the Latino community nowadays. I see it, hear it and feel it.

We have always been here, very present in society, in sports, in arts…Now because of the potential for business in the Latino market, people are paying more attention.

That is why it’s very important that we also use this time to represent our community in the best way possible and voice the things that most empower us and have the greatest potential to make positive changes and contributions in areas such as the arts, TV, news media, public service and cultural awareness.

3-For the part of Rocky on Broadway, you watched the past Rocky movies, right?


Funny enough, I have seen all Rocky movies, many times. I love the first two. I love the relationship of this character [Rocky] with himself, Adrian and his community. My favorite is perhaps Rocky 4 when he meets Drago. But overall, the musical is based on Rocky I, where he gains his self confidence and the love of his life.

Besides my passion for boxing and theater, this show speaks to me closely because my wife Denisse has also been a major inspiration in my life, to dare to go beyond and pursue my dreams with her endless support. She came all the way from Puerto Rico with me and now we have made our dreams come true, one step at a time.

4-In this play you act, dance, and sing. You really had to do a lot of training, practicing?

The last 10 years I have been madly in love with musical theater, so every show has brought the challenge of this combination. I have always had a new positive challenge in every project. I find that being in the arts is the best way to not only train my body, but also my mind, education and spirit.

5-Puerto Rico has produced many gifted boxers. Take any lessons from any of them?

I wish! It would be a great honor to train or do a full training camp with one of the great champions of my island. Perhaps with Miguel Cotto. To be by his corner when entering the ring, that would be a dream. I am very passionate about boxing in my daily life, far beyond this show. I find the discipline and mental challenge of a boxer, one of the greatest of all.

6-A lot of gifted Puerto Rican actors/actresses made a name for themselves on Broadway: Rita Moreno, Chita Rivera, Jose Ferrer, Raul Julia, Miriam Colon, Benicio Del Toro. How do you feel about that?

I have huge respect and admiration for them all. For sure Raul Juliá has always inspired me. Somehow, I realized that he was 24 when he moved to NYC. I was 21, so it sort of inspired me to have three years of studying as my main plan, before pursuing bigger endeavors. I studied non-stop for a year an half, and then got my first musical after performing at places like Madison Square Garden with such Latin music stars as Thalia and Paulina Rubio and traveling to Japan as a guest dance/choreographer artist. I knew quick that NYC was home, that I wanted a life in the theater here. Great leaders like Miriam Colon (and the work she has done at the Puerto Rican Traveling Theater), as well a Rita Moreno, Chita Rivera and the legacy of José Ferrer have created a road map and opened doors for me and my generation.

I also love the story of the underdogs, and there are so many not so famous names that have also inspired me such as Puerto Rican dancer Carlos Sierra, who I saw perform in the Broadway show Swing with the great Maria Torres, who I later worked with in my first Broadway-bound show Mambo Kings. Also Julio Monge, who I saw many times in videos doing Fosse, and whose footsteps I followed in re-creating his role in the musical The Capeman for the concert version staged by the Public Theater at Central Park a few years ago. I even got to take workshops with him before I moved to NYC. All of these people have a part of my heart and a part of my history.

7-Do you feel their presence is with you when performing?

Yes and yes!! When doing “In the Heights” at the Richard Rodgers Theater, I had stories of Raul Julia in my mind during intermissions. I remember telling myself: "I am performing where Raul Juliá performed.”


8-So after Broadway what’s next? Movies, television, telenovelas or another Broadway show?

I love Broadway and there is so much more for me to accomplish here, in the many fields that I love and admire – as producer, choreographer and mainly, as an actor. But I have been able to experience film in projects like Enchanted and Step up to the Streets. I would love to do more film as well. I love all the arts, but among all the forms, musical theater thrills me. To be in front of an audience and get their honest reactions live every night, eight shows a week, while being challenged with dancing, singing and acting night after night is fascinating to me.

9-Any message you’d like to say to the Puerto Rican community here in New York City?

"Si yo no hubiera nacido en la tierra en que nací, estaría arrepentido de no haber nacido allí”. Even when I discover a strong connection with many places in Latin America and admire our collective history as Latinos, I find myself having a very unique human experience thanks to the vulnerable heart and warmth that comes from my island, my people, my family, my pasteles and coquito. Thank you to all of the people who with pride and respect, honor who we are as Boricuas, as Latinos.
Make the Taíno blood always shine throughout the world!


###

Salgado's Broadway credits have included: Women on the Verge…and In the Heights. Pre-Broadway: Mambo Kings (Frankie Suarez). Off-Broadway: Fame on 42nd Street (Ensemble, Joe Vegas u/s). Other: The Capeman (Public Theater). Film: Across the Universe, Enchanted, Step Up 2: The Streets, Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights. For more information about Salgado, visit www.luissalgado.com.

(video courtesy of Luis Salgado/YouTube)

Ismael Nuñez is a contributing writer to Puerto Rico Sun. He is a resident of East Harlem.

Monday, February 17, 2014

Julia and Me


"yo soy la vida, la fuerza, la mujer". ("I am life, and strength, and I am woman.") -- Julia de Burgos

(photo by Milagros Gonzalez)



Sunday, April 01, 2012

Puerto Rican Culinary Arts

Featured community event

Do you love your rice and beans? Are you passionate about your Puerto Rican food? Check out this event that puts a spotlight on Puerto Rican Culinary Arts.


“El amor entra por la cocina: Cooking and Cultural Identity amongst Puerto Rican Women Living in New York”
A multi-media presentation based on a research project about culinary traditions of the Puerto Rican Diaspora conducted by Dr. Nilsa Rodríguez-Jaca in 2010. She interviewed over twenty senior women of our community who have lived in New York City for at least two decades and recovered their stories about food consumption and sharing, and also how this has helped them to maintain a sense of community and cultural identity for over sixty years. Guests Deborah Quiñones (the Coquito Contessa) and Chef Julio Rodríguez will also share their culinary experiences. FREE

Puerto Rican Culinary Arts
Thursday, April 4th – 6-8:00 p.m.
Hunter College, 68th & Lexington Avenue
Centro Conference Room 1442
East Building, 14th Floor
If you have any questions or wish to RSVP contact Evelyn Collazo at evelyn.collazo@hunter.cuny.edu or call 212-396-6545.

Sunday, July 27, 2008

Ay Bendito, Cotto lost!

Featured story

Margarito stops Cotto in 11th, takes crown

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Antonio Margarito stopped Miguel Cotto in the 11th round Saturday night, blemishing Cotto's unbeaten record and claiming the WBA 147-pound title with one last incredible barrage of punches.
Margarito, the Mexican star so often ducked by the division's best fighters in recent years, dropped the Puerto Rican champion twice in the 11th round to win his third title belt.

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

On Latino Policy

The National Institute for Latino Policy recently provided some interesting information on Puerto Ricans stateside and how the stateside population continues to outnumber those living on the island.

Here's an excerpt of an entry from the Institute July 14 bi-monthly newsletter, edited by Angelo Falcon:

Puerto Rican Population Stateside
Continues to Exceed that of Puerto Rico


In 2004, the Atlas of Stateside Puerto Ricans documented for the first time the stateside Puerto Rican population exceeded that of Puerto Rico in 2003 by 163,246. The latest statistics from the Census Bureau, from the 2006 American Community Survey (ACS), estimates that this gap has grown: in 2006 there were 3,987,947 Puerto Ricans living stateside compared to 3,745,007 in Puerto Rico, meaning that there are 242,940 more Puerto Ricans stateside than in Puerto Rico. Does this development have implications for the politics and policy issues of the Puerto Rican community as a whole?




Interesting question. What do PRSUN readers think?

Anyway, if you are interested in Puerto Rican and Latino policy issues, the Institute's bi-monthly e-newsletter is a wonderful resource. It regularly features items related to Puerto Ricans.

Go to www.latinopolicy.org to subscribe.

By the way, the National Institute for Latino Policy was formerly known as the Institute for Puerto Rican Policy. It changed its name as a way of better representing policy issues impacting Latinos.

The National Institute for Latino Policy is a independent nonprofit and nonpartisan policy center established in 1982 to address Latino issues.

Saturday, July 12, 2008

Meetup

Featured site



This Meetup group is dedicated to promoting and celebrating Puerto Rican culture in New York City. The group's next meetup is
a CopaCabana dance cruise.

Tuesday, July 08, 2008

Puerto Rican Music Roots & Beyond Project


From left, Leticia Rodriguez, executive director of La Casa de la Herencia Cultural Puertorriqueña, Inc., and Hector Ortega, a class participant, at a July 6 event in NYC's East Harlem that focused on Puerto Rican roots music.

La Casa as well as El Centro de Estudios Puertorriqueños at Hunter College is working with William Cepeda, a renowned composer, trombonist, educator, producer and artist, on a project titled “Puerto Rican Music Roots and Beyond.” The New York State Music fund and the National Endowment for the Arts is helping to fund the project.
The goal is to promote Puerto Rico’s musical heritage to a wide audience throughout New York State, Puerto Rico, and elsewhere. The project will document four genres (Bomba, Plena, Danza, and Musica Jibara) by recording the concerts and other project activities to be used in the creation of DVDs and CDs for educational and commercial release. La Casa is located at 1230 Fifth Avenue, Suite 458. It is a nonprofit, cultural and educational institution. For more information, visit http://www.lacasapr.org/-- Ismael Nuñez

(photo by Ismael Nuñez)

Sunday, July 06, 2008

Puerto Rican Film Series in Chicago


Film

The Institute of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture (IPRAC) announces the
Puerto Rican Film Series 2008, kicking off with FLAGS OF STEEL Saturday July 12


Bring blankets, folding chairs and picnic baskets and enjoy a film under the stars!

Starting Saturday, July 12 and continuing every other Saturday, IPRAC presents the Puerto Rican Film Series, an outdoor film festival featuring the film work of new and established Puerto Rican directors, producers and actors. In its fifth year, the series has become in a Chicago summer favorite. The Puerto Rican Film Series is the only Puerto Rican/Latino film program in the park system gathering visitors from Chicago and the Midwest counting in average 300 attendants per screening. Families with their pets, couples and friends can bring their picnic baskets, folding chairs, blankets and enjoy a film under the stars at the beautiful grounds of the Humboldt Park Boat House. FREE parking, admission, popcorn, raffles and a night of culture and entertainment.

This year the Puerto Rican Film Series kick off Saturday July 12 with a film program by Chicago filmmakers featuring “Flags of Steel” by Mildred Amador and the short film “Between Western and California” by Nick Medina, Darrell Robbins and Amir George. “Flags of Steel” is a historical recount of the Puerto Rican community in Chicago. The documentary recognizes first Europeans settlers and recounts the on-going transformation of this community. The film documents the design, engineering and fabrication of the neighborhood gateways while paying homage to many Puerto Ricans who migrated to the Midwest to work in the steel mill industry.

The Puerto Rican Film Series also presents titles such as “Mambo to Hip Hop” by Luis Chaluisan (Sat. July 26), “Ocho Puertas” by Paloma Suau (Sat. Aug. 9), and “Los Peloteros” by Jack Delano (Sat. Aug. 23). The film program appeal different audiences and films are subtitled when in Spanish.

The series is presented by Institute of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture (IPRAC) in collaboration with the Chicago Park District, Division Street Business Development Association and the Chicago Children’s Museum.

The series will run from July 12 to August 23 at dusk (approximate 7:30 to 8 p.m.) at the Humboldt Park Boat House, 1359 N. Sacramento (Humboldt Blvd), Chicago, IL.

For more information, call IPRAC’s program office 773-486-8345 or email: JorgeFelix@iprac.org. The website is www.iprac.org.

source: Puerto Rican Cultural Center (PRCC) press release

(Photo courtesy of www.prcc-chgo.org/paseo_boricua.htm)

Saturday, July 05, 2008


IMG_8624
Originally uploaded by clarisel.
Featured photo from the Puerto Rico Sun photo group at flickr by Clarisel

On a wall in New York City's gentrifying El Barrio

Friday, July 04, 2008

Puerto Rican Music Roots and Beyond

Community Calendar



Concert featuring William Cepeda and his group Afro-Rican Jazz

The “King of Plena,” Angel Luis Torruellas, salsero Michael Stuart and more

This Brooklyn concert will focus on the Puerto Rican folkloric genre of Plena, both traditional and contemporary.

Saturday, July 5 at 7 p.m.

The concert is part of the All Celebrate Brooklyn series of summer performances at the Prospect Park Bandshell. The entrance to the Prospect Park Bandshell is located at Prospect Park West & 9th Street in Park Slope. Free though there is a $3 suggested donation at the gate.

For more information,
http://www.briconline.org/celebrate/070508.asp

Thursday, July 03, 2008

Featured site: Sazon Boricua

Sofrito al estilo puertorriqueño

If you are interested in recipes or information related to Puerto Rican food, here's a site for you: www.sazonboricua.com.

I just visited Sazon Boricua for the first time today. Boricua Jeannette Quiñones (aka fruttadi on flickr.com and a member of the Puerto Rico Sun photo group) runs Sazon Boricua. Her current entry features Puerto Rican-style sofrito.

I am adding a link to the site in this blog as well. Apoya lo nuestro.

Photo "Sofrito al estilo puertorriqueño" by fruttadi

Wednesday, July 02, 2008

Do You Believe Puerto Ricans are Happiest?

Did you know that Puerto Rico has been ranked among the top 10 happiest countries in the world? I'm wondering whether you agree that Puerto Rico is one of the happiest countries. Do you think people in Puerto Rico are really so happy and why?

Anyway, the top most happiest country in the world title goes to Denmark. But boricuas on the island are happy too if you believe this report. Puerto Rico is supposedly the second happiest country.

Featured story

Denmark 'happiest' country in the world

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Denmark is the world's most content nation, according to a new study on global wellbeing, but the good news is, despite the credit crunch and rising fuel and food prices, all of us are getting happier.
Denmark's prosperity and democratic systems are seen as key to its contentment.
Researchers at the University of Michigan said Denmark's prosperity, stability and democratic government placed the country at the top of the rankings, with Colombia, Canada, Puerto Rico and Iceland all in the top 10.
The United States -- the world's richest nation -- ranked 16th among 97 countries, while Britain was placed 21st.
For more, go to
http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/07/02/nations.happiness/index.html?eref=time_health

Here's a related press release from Science Daily:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080630130129.htm

So, what do you think? Do you believe people in Puerto Rico are really among the happiest in the world?

New: PRSUN Flags Line Stamp

Support PRSUN



You can use this stamp to send your mail via the U.S. Postal Service. This is a way not only to support the Puerto Rico Sun project, but to show some boricua pride every time you send a letter. This Zazzle custom stamp features a photo by Clarisel Gonzalez titled "Flags Line."

UPDATE: New customized designs have been added. I plan to offer a variety of postage designs, so visit my store at www.zazzle.com/prsuncom. Thanks.