MI ULTIMA NOCHE CON RUBEN BLADES Comes to The One Festival

On the 24th, 28th and 30th of April, 2017 at TEATRO CÍRCULO we will meet with Yanira Montalvo, a woman who cleans floors in the World Trade Center. In order to survive her daily problems, Yanira creates a fantasy: her own love affair with her idol, singer Rubén Blades. She listens constantly to Rubén's music in her Walkman and this is the way she can forget her abusive relationship with her husband. One day, at work, Yanira has an unexpected encounter that makes her examine the reality of her life. Can she take control and stop the abuse?

MI ULTIMA NOCHE CON RUBÉN BLADES (My Last Night with Rubén Blades) will happen as part of THE ONE FESTIVAL in its 12th edition. This festival creates a platform in which the most diverse, and creative solo performers have an opportunity to showcase their talent. The play will be performed in Spanish with English translation.

The playwright Tere Martínez and the actress Edmi De Jesús (both Puerto Ricans) are long-time friends and have had many collaborations in various projects, but it wasn't until now that Edmi had the opportunity to take a play from Martínez to the stage thanks to this well-timed festival.

"Tere offered me this monologue to perform many years ago, and now I finally will be able to do it, and with Gudiño guiding me. I feel very safe with him."

The director met with the playwright to learn more about the creation of Yanira's story. Gudiño has a degree in Theatre studies from the National University of Córdoba, Argentina where he is from. MI ULTIMA NOCHE CON RUBÉN BLADES is his fourth direction credit in New York having directed several plays in Córdoba. It is the second time he directs De Jesús and very soon they will meet for a third time. He trained at the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute in NY and has been an actor in Repertorio Español for 17 years. He has been recognized with various ACE and HOLA Awards.

Tere Martínez besides being a playwright is also an educator who for the past twenty years has been a professor at Hostos Community College (CUNY) in the South Bronx. Her experience teaching a variety of writing and remedial courses has led her to the development of innovative drama-in-education techniques having a huge impact in her playwriting career. Her commitment to teaching has inspired her to write about a wide variety of social issues that include: community organizing, racial inequality, HIV awareness, and mental disorders among others. Many of her plays have been produced both in the United States and Puerto Rico by different theatre companies.

Edmi De Jesús had performed in regional plays to independent movies and nationwide commercials. She has two BA's from the University of Puerto Rico: Neoclassical Languages and Arts. She also studied at the Lee Strasberg Institute in New York and RADA in London. Besides being a film and television (SAG-AFTRA) and stage actress, she's the Artistic Director and Producer of Producciones El Barrio.

The audience will have the opportunity to know more about the life of Yanira Montalvo but only in three performances at Teatro Círculo. Edmi De Jesús finishes with, "She's a woman like any other hardworking woman in New York or in any part of the world. A woman who in spite of her circumstances teach us a lesson of strength, determination and the beauty of dreams."

IF YOU GO:

MI ÚLTIMA NOCHE CON RUBÉN BLADES by Tere Martínez

Directed by Gerardo Gudiño

With Edmi De Jesús

Produced by Producciones El Barrio

PERFORMED IN SPANISH WITH ENGLISH TRANSLATION

WHEN: APRIL, Monday 24 at 6pm / Saturday 28 at 8pm / Sunday 30 at 4pm

WHERE: Teatro Círculo 64 east 4th Street, NYC (Bowery & Second Avenue)

TICKETS: $20

RSVP: www.eventbrite.com/e/mi-ultima-noche-con-ruben-blades-tickets-32934515021

INFORMATION: www.theonefestival.com

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