Hermanas Stars Former Miss Universe & Duncan at FringeNYC

Changuitos Productions and Michael Cassara Productions will present Monica Yudovich's Hermanas in this year's New York International Fringe Festival, currently celebrating its 10th year. The show will be performed at Classic Stage Company (136 E. 13th St.) from August 12th through August 27th.

Hermanas is "a new comedy about Jewish Mexican-American sisters, or 'hermanas,' living in Texas. Just when 22 year-old Lisette Hermán chooses stability, instability crashes into her life in the form of a rebellious sister, a dyslexic Latin Lover, a Hispanic-obsessed farm girl, an intriguing new neighbor and the most outrageous mother of all madres. Hermanas explores relationships, independence, and the often hilarious complications sparked by the blending of languages and cultures," state production notes.

This past November, Hermanas was selected as a finalist in the 2005 MetLife Foundation Nuestras Voces (Our Voices) National Playwriting Competition co-sponsored by Repertorio Español in New York City. The competition's mission is to seek plays that focus on the Hispanic experience in the U.S. Hermanas was invited to have a second reading at the 92nd Street Y's Makor as part of the Feria Artistica, a festival showcasing the art and culture of Latin Jews.

The cast features Denise Quiñones, Miss Universe 2001, Ryan Duncan, the original Juan of off-Broadway's Altar Boyz, Kathryn Kates ("the babka lady" from TV's "Seinfeld") Paolo Andino, Adriana Gaviria, Bridget Moloney, and playwright Yudovich.

Yale graduate Claudia Zelevansky directs with Robin Vest designing set and Chloe Chapin designing costumes.

Playwright/actress Yudovich wrote Hermanas "because she was tired of explaining why she speaks Spanish and Yiddish. She also wanted to debunk the stereotype of how Latinos and Jews should look and sound. Her Mexican parents taught her and her Texas-born siblings to speak Spanish as well as Yiddish, even though the outside world spoke English with a thick Southern drawl.

The show will play: Saturday, August 12 at 4:45, Sunday, August 13 at 7:15, Thursday, August 24 at 6:15, Friday, August 25 at 10, and Sunday, August 27 at noon.

Running time is approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes with intermission.  Tickets are available beginning July 30th.  Visit www.Fringenyc.org (convenience charge applies), call 212 279 4488 in the New York area or outside New York, 1-888-FringeNYC.  Visit www.hermanastheplay.com for more information on the play.