Kate del Castillo, Miriam Colon & Angelica Vale Among First Stars of Off-Broadway's LOS MONOLOGOS DE LA VAGINA

The producers of Los Monólogos de la Vagina, Eve Ensler's groundbreaking show, have announced the stars joining the show for the first four weeks at New York's Westside Theatre (407 West 43rd Street).

May 6 - May 11: Miriam Colón, Kate del Castillo, and Angélica Vale
May 14 - June 1: Kate del Castillo, Angélica María, and Angélica Vale

The show returns in a new form next month when the first New York City revival opens for a Spanish language engagement at its original off-Broadway home. Los Monólogos de la Vagina will begin performances at the Westside Theatre on May 6. Opening night is May 18. Mexican director Jaime Matarredona helms the production. This will mark the first time that a mainstream off-Broadway theatre has hosted a commercial Spanish language play for an ongoing run.

MIRIAM COLÓN. Founder and Artistic Director of the Puerto Rican Traveling Theatre, Ms. Colòn Valle is a pioneer of the Latino theater and was the first Puerto Rican accepted at the famed Actors' Studio. Her work in TV, film and theater has included projects with Raul Julia, Marlon Brando, Billy Bob Thornton, Al Pacino, John Sayles, and Sally Field. Her stage credits include performances at the Guthrie, the Milwaukee Rep, and the Mark Taper Forum. She is the recipient of many awards including seven Honoris Causa Doctorates, the international Lorca Award, the Obie Award for Sustained Performance, a Special Recognition from the Office of the President of the United States, Lifetime Achievement Awards by the National Association of Latino Arts & Culture (NALAC) and by the international San Juan Cinema Fest in Puerto Rico.

KATE DEL CASTILLO is a leading actor in Mexico and the United States. Castillo first captured American audiences with her award-winning performance in the hit Fox Searchlight/Weinstein movie "Under the Same Moon," which was then the highest-grossing Spanish-language theatrical release in U.S. history. This year, the bilingual actress has five movies set for release, including Guillermo del Toro's "The Book of Life" and the eagerly anticipated "The 33," based on the true story of the 33 Chilean miners trapped underground. Kate recently starred in the series "La Reina del Sur" (Queen of the South) and her novel "Tuya" is in its third printing. Kate is a spokesperson for PETA.

ANGÉLICA MARÍA is one of Latin America's biggest stars. She began her career at age five. At 17, she recorded her first album, which earned her the title of "The Sweetheart of Mexico." She has toured extensively all over the globe and received more than 200 awards worldwide. After a 64 year long career, 63 albums, 25 Telenovelas, 61 films and 17 plays, she's still doing what she loves the most, being on stage. She will join her daughter Angélica Vale on stage in the show with Kate del Castillo.

ANGÉLICA VALE is one of the most respected and loved artists in Latin America. She began her career doing theatre at the age of two. She has 30 plays, seven films, 20 albums, more than 250 television shows, and 12 telenovelas including her biggest hit, "La fea mas bella", (the Mexican "Ugly Betty") to her credit. She has performed all over Latin America and the United States. She is thrilled to join her mother Angélica María on stage, along with Kate del Castillo. Ms. Vale is also thrilled to be performing this show during her pregnancy.

Morris Gilbert and Federico González Compeán are the producers of the long-running Mexico City production of Los Monólogos de la Vagina and two of the most prominent and prolific producers of Spanish language theatre in the world. The Mexico City production is now in its 14th year. They said, "We are proud to be presenting this show in Spanish at The Westside Theatre, one of New York City's most prestigious and mainstream off-Broadway houses. It is a breakthrough that we hope will open the door for a world of possibilities, both for Spanish language theatre and for the Spanish-speaking population living in the USA."

The production will be modeled after the current Mexico City production. Los Monólogos de la Vagina will be performed by a revolving cast and a portion of each ticket sold will go directly to benefit V-Day, the global activist movement founded by Eve Ensler whose mission is to end violence against women.

Further casting will be announced.

The original Obie Award-winning production of The Vagina Monologues played 1381 performances at The Westside Theatre from 1999 to 2003. The show became a global phenomenon with productions in over 140 countries and in over 48 languages. A television version featuring Ensler was produced for HBO in 2002. Ensler and others launched V-Day, a global non-profit movement that has raised over $100 million for women's anti-violence groups through benefit performances of The Vagina Monologues and other artistic works.

Actors who have performed in The Vagina Monologues in productions and at events around the world include Brooke Shields, Cate Blanchett, Claire Danes, Cynthia Nixon, Glenn Close, Goldie Hawn, Jane Fonda, Jennifer Hudson, Kate Winslet, Kerry Washington, Lily Tomlin, Lucy Lawless, Marisa Tomei, Meryl Streep, Oprah Winfrey, Queen Latifah, Rosario Dawson, Rosie Perez, Salma Hayek, Susan Sarandon, Susie Essman, Thandie Newton, Viola Davis, Whoopi Goldberg and Winona Ryder.

Photo by © RD / Cortes / Retna Digital

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