By Matt Barbot
Directed by Victoria Pérez
Lissette DeJesús-YESICA
Alejandro Gabriel Gómez-Joe
Rolando E. Gómez-EL CHUPACABRA/JUNIOR
Smirna Mercedes-PATRICIA
Dan Torres-ALEX/EL COQUÍ
Matthew Wilson-COOL NEW COQUÍ
Alex, a comic book artist whose ideas might be “too Puerto Rican,” has begun secretly dressing up as his creation: El Coquí Espectacular, defender of Nuyoricans in all five boroughs! When his brother Joe is fired from a project for not being Puerto Rican enough, the two, with the help of a young photographer named Yesica, hatch a plan: to debut El Coquí at the Puerto Rican Day Parade and prove themselves to the world. El Coquí Espectacular and the Bottle of Doom examines the ways in which we define our heritage and ourselves.
Written by Matt Barbot
Directed by Victoria Pérez
Starring
Dan Torres
Alejandro Gabriel Gómez
Rolando E. Gómez
Lissette DeJesus
Smirna Mercedes
SEPTEMBER 4 – OCTOBER 6
The music, the story…all of the classic elements that make up one of the most beloved musicals of all-time: WEST SIDE STORY. MusicalFare’s production will be re-imagined for its intimate space, enabling audiences to experience the show as if seeing it for the very first time. This WEST SIDE STORY will return it to its core as a young, desperate love story with its heart based in the streets.
“The Raices Theatre ensemble knows it has something special for its audience.”
“The energy is contagious”
“The music – whether salsa, merengue, rap or a wedding tango – ties the nine one-acts into a fluid production. Each new scene arrives as smoothly as the turning of a page, our characters taking us from childhood fears to adult anxiety, embracing traditions and defying social expectations.”
“The eight-member cast performs together like they have lived in the same room for a month, switching roles with the slightest change of accessory and daring us to keep up.”
“Rolando E. Gomez adds something special to every scene he is in.”
“Maria Perez-Gomez… gets stage time as a grounding force in several of the pieces.”
“a remarkable example of how much actors can convey by their performances even if you don’t understand anything they are saying – we are looking at you, Smirna Mercedes.”
READ THE FULL BUFFALO NEWS REVIEW HERE
“the singing, acting, and overall energy will leave you either feeling proud that you are Latin or wishing you were.”
“there’s a special quality of “la familia” that this particularly tight ensemble exudes.”
“this musical edition reminded me again of how “romance” (whether translated as romantic love or high adventure) is so much more compelling in a romance language (e.g. French, Italian, or Spanish).”
This year we wrote 9 new 10 minute musicals! All musicals are culturally specific about the Latino experience. WEPA!
April 19-May 5
Written, directed and performed by members of the Raíces ensemble.
Starring
Steve Brachmann
Lissette DeJesús
Alejandro Gabriel Gómez
Rolando E. Gómez
Alexia Guzmán
Smirna Mercedes-Pérez
Maria Pérez-Gómez
Victoria Pérez
Written by
Anthony Alcocer
Lissette DeJesús
Alejandro Gabriel Gómez
Rolando Martín Gómez
Alexia Guzmán
Dewel Pérez
Maria Pérez-Gómez
Victoria Pérez
Directed by
Ingrid Córdova
Lissette DeJesús
Maria Pérez-Gómez
Victoria Pérez
Music Composed by
Adrian Güadalupe
Blaise Mercedes
Dewel Pérez
Lilliangina Quiñones
Sara Rodríguez
Moshe Shulman
Daniel Williams
Artistic Direction: Victoria Pérez
Music Director: Kevin Doyle
Band:
Kevin Doyle-Keyboard
Rafael J. Pérez-Guitar, percussion
Sara Rodríguez-Guitar, flute, percussion
Program is funded by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature; administered by Arts Services Initiative of Western New York and New York Creative Opportunity Fund (A Statewide Theatre Regrant Program)
Raíces presenta una LECTURA de
JULIETA TIENE LA CULPA
de Bárbara Colio
dirigida por Sheila M. López
Una célebre historia de amor, tres musas clásicas y tres mujeres modernas.
Tres corazones ardiendo. Señales de humo y signos de incendio.
Una gran enigma: ¡¿Qué paso con el amor a una misma?!
Con actuaciones de
Valentina Marulanda Ospina
Victoria Pérez
Eva Santos García
Narración por Sheila M. López
Domingo 14 de Abril
6PM
Manny Fried Playhouse
255 Great Arrow Ave. Third Floor
Buffalo, NY 14207
This year we wrote 9 new 10 minute musicals! All musicals are culturally specific about the Latino experience. WEPA!
April 19-May 5
Written, directed and performed by members of the Raíces ensemble.
Starring
Alexia Guzmán
Steve Brachmann
Lissette DeJesús
Alejandro Gabriel Gómez
Rolando E. Gómez
Smirna Mercedes-Pérez
Maria Pérez-Gómez
Victoria Pérez
Written by
Anthony Alcocer
Lissette DeJesús
Alejandro Gabriel Gómez
Rolando Martín Gómez
Alexia Guzmán
Dewel Pérez
Maria Pérez-Gómez
Victoria Pérez
Directed by
Ingrid Córdova
Lissette DeJesús
Maria Pérez-Gómez
Victoria Pérez
Music Composed by
Adrian Güadalupe
Blaise Mercedes
Dewel Pérez
Lilliangina Quiñones
Sara Rodríguez
Moshe Shulman
Daniel Williams
Artistic Direction: Victoria Pérez
Music Director: Kevin Doyle
Band:
Kevin Doyle-Keyboard
Rafael J. Pérez-Guitar, percussion
Sara Rodríguez-Guitar, flute, percussion
Program is funded by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature; administered by Arts Services Initiative of Western New York and New York Creative Opportunity Fund (A Statewide Theatre Regrant Program)
Rolando Martín Gómez
Rolando Gómez (Nino) Among Rolando’s credits are Man of La Mancha, Romeo and Juliet, Blood Wedding, Riff Raff, References to Salvador Dali Makes Me Hot, A Streetcar Named Desire, Four Guys Named José and a Woman Named Maria, The Last Days of Judas Iscariot, Death and the Maiden, In the Heights, Happiest Song Plays Last, Mariela in the Dessert, The Motherfu**ker with the Hat, Taming of the Shrew and Golden Boy. Rolando is the co-founder of Raíces Theater Company. He has performed throughout the U.S., Latin American and Spain, including performing for the internationally renowned Spanish Repertory Theater in NYC. He is a graduate of Buffalo State College with a B.A. in Theater and the Canada’s national voice intensive. He has credits in films such as The Purge, West Herr and the voice for the Paradise Fall exhibition at the Buffalo Zoo. He would like to express his deepest gratitude to Marco Rodriguez, for his relentless pursuit of excellence and deepest love for his culture.
Alejandro Gabriel Gómez
Alejandro Gabriel Gómez (Sergio) is an aspiring actor from Buffalo, New York. In 2014, he was one of 30 high school students selected to attend the New York Summer School of the Arts. He is also the youngest ensemble member of Raíces Theatre Company, and was recently seen as part of the ensemble in Second Generation Theatre’s Big Fish. He is now attending Buffalo State College as a theatre major, with a minor in Spanish language and literature. Alejandro feels extremely blessed to be a part of a necessary piece of drama, and hopes that the production will create a discussion about masculinity, male relationships, and how our perception of each can affect how we love ourselves and others. He’d like to thank everyone involved for pouring their hearts out into such a beautiful production.
Jordan Rosas
Jordan Rosas (Dennis) is proud to play his first Latinx role in his Raíces debut! After studying theatre at UB, he moved to Los Angeles, where he recently starred in Romeo and Juliet. The son of the first hispanic mayor in NYS history (Dunkirk’s Willie Rosas), Jordan remains active in the WNY community. Buffalo theatre credits: Tiny, Forum (Lancaster Opera House), Biloxi Blues (Desiderio’s). Film credits include: Rainbow Bridge Motel (iTunes), Mercy (Netflix), John Doe (current).
Victor Morales
Victor Morales (Aurelio) is excited to be involved in his second Raices Theatre production. He was last seen in Death and the Maiden (Gerardo Escobar). Victor is no stranger to the WNY stages his long list of credits include: A Few Good Men (Col. Nathan Jessep), One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest (Chief Bromden), Of Mice and Men (Lennie), Fiddler on the Roof (Tevye), Guys and Dolls (Big Jule) and Jesus Christ Superstar (Caiaphas). In his almost 60 productions, Lennie tops his favorite roles, with, Tevye and On the Waterfront (Johnny Friendly), which he received an Artvoice Artie Award for “Best Supporting Actor” tied for his second favorite roles. He has also been seen on several local stages; New Phoenix Theatre, Subversive Theatre, American Repertory Theatre and the Kavinoky Theatre to name a few. Lifesaving thanks to ECMC Kidney, Roswell Park Multiple Myeloma and BMT Departments.
Dewel Pérez
Dewel Pérez (Balaguer) or Dee as he prefers people to call him is a half Dominican half Puerto Rican actor enamored with telling our stories through theater. He believes that theater brings the realness of the latino experience to life to a diverse audience that might not know about them. Dee has being involved in many plays as an actor, sound designer, graphic designer, stage manager and spot light operator. He thanks Raices Theatre Company (where he is one of the founding ensemble members) for the opportunity to play Dr. Joaquin Balaguer as envisioned by the author of Barcelo on the Rocks, Marco Antonio Rodriguez.
Jake Hayes
Jake Hayes (Jaston) is hyped to make his Raíces Debut! Recent credits include; Curtain Up Productions: The Little Mermaid (Sebastian),Beauty and the Beast (Beast), Musical Fare: Evita (Ensemble),The Subversive Theater Collective: UrineTown (Robby the Stock Fish),O’Connell & Company: Act of God (Michael) ,Little shop of Horrors (Audrey II) Art Park: The Oddessy the Musical (Telemachus) , Buffalo Boys Productions: Once In My Lifetime (Ty) Jake would like to thank his friends and family for their support., Love you Gma.
English Version World-Premiere
Barceló on the Rocks
After receiving unexpected news, Nino Antonio Cruz, a Dominican man living in New York City’s Washington Heights neighborhood with his two sons, is forced to confront his mortality and the dark secrets that have plagued his family for generations which are intrinsically tied to the Caribbean island’s political history.
Written by Marco Antonio Rodríguez
Directed by Victoria Pérez
Starring
Alejandro Gabriel Gómez
Rolando Martín Gómez
Jake Hayes
Victor Morales
Dewel Pérez
Jordan Rosas
We’ve gotten some wonderful reviews! Read them below.
Buffalo News Review
Buffalo Rising Review
La Lupe: My Life, My Destiny recounts the meteoric rise and fall of one of Latin America’s most iconic singers; La Lupe. In this play with music we are invited to share La Lupe’s memories as she proves her life’s work to her college professor. It is a story about perseverance, tragedy and ultimately survival.
Written by Carmen Rivera
Directed by Victoria Pérez
Starring Melinda Capeles as La Lupe
With:
Steve Brachmann
Rolando Martín Gómez
Smirna Mercedes Pérez
Dewel Pérez
María Pérez-Gómez
