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PANDORA's

PANDORA’S

About Me

WWW.PANDORASHOW.COM

A show created and produced by Sister Outsider Entertainment Incubated at Chica Luna Productions. For more information, please go to: www.pandorashow.com .

“Your silence will not protect you…” — Audre Lorde

PANDORA'S

PANDORA’S is a multi media theater show that integrates theater and film vignettes to create a series of ten dramatized monologues that provide voice to the Latina/o LGBTQI experience

PANDORA’S seeks to stage one lens on the queer Latina/o experience which is not represented in popular culture. In order to reach a broad audience, we have expanded our show to even include a Filipino, bringing our shared colonial history with Spain to the stage. Artists have been commissioned from both coasts (New York and California) who wrote about their various Latino identities (Chicano, Afro-Caribbean, South American, Central American, light-skinned Latinas, being a Filipino that is always confused for Latina, ages, Latinas across socio-economic and national boundaries, etc.). Each monologue deals with a specific queer identity such as Bisexual, Lesbian, Questioning, Intersex and Transgender (Male to Female and Female to Male).

PANDORA’S TRAILER
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PANDORA’S will premiere on July 2-July 6, 2008 at Theatre Row on 42nd Street, at the heart of New York’s theater district. Each night we will be entertaining 100 audience members— over 600 people will see this show. And we are organizing an exhaustive media and outreach campaign for this show that will travel this show across the country.

BUY TICKETS HERE!

Along with the theater project, an Ending Homo-Hatred Outreach Toolkit will be distributed to audience members during the show. The Toolkit will be in the form of a booklet and will consist of methodologies for combating internal and external homophobia, organizations that can be excellent resources for outreach and other information, a list of articles/essays, books, etc., and workshops that can be attended in order to gain more information. Everyday people and organizations will be able to use this toolkit to create a space for artistic freedom and justice for LGBTQI communities of color.

THE MONOLOGUE

BE ALL YOU CAN BE Written by Deyanira García and Sofía Quintero
Performed by Julia Ahumada Grob
On the eve before she is to report for a second tour in Iraq, a Dominican army sergeant decides to go AWOL.

CHEWY - n-- JOCELYN 4EVA Written by Lissette J. Norman
Performed by Dominique Andriese
A runaway teen must choose between the homophobia of her Dominican homeland or that of the streets of New York City.

CIORA Written by Sandra Alvarez and Aurora Guerrero
Performed by Desiree Cobb
A Colombian woman struggles to redefine familia as she prepares her body for motherhood.

CONFIDENTIALITY Written by Jasmine Colón
Performed by Sherette Gregg
When the parents of a teenage patient threaten to send her to "ex-gay" reparative therapy, her counselor finds herself caught between her professional code of ethics and the truth of her own experience.

DON'T KNOCK IT 'TIL YOU TRY IT Written by Desi Moreno Penson
Performed by Desi Moreno Penson
A conservative woman in her 40s finally gives in to her husband's demand for a threesome.

ID, Please! Written by Tina Bartolome
Performed by Daphne Lopez
An underage Filipina always confused for Chicana tries to enter the nightclub only to discover that her closeted aunt is working the door.

PASSING Written by Janis Astor del Valle
Performed by Janis Astor del Valle
A Puerto Rican transgender male in transition has second thoughts about going through sex reassignment surgery.

PATRíA Written by Julia Carias and Elisha Miranda
Performed by Karen J. Robles
Patría is given an ultimatum; either get married or get deported to Honduras.

THE BORDER MADE ME GAY Written by Fernanda Coppel
Performed by Carina Gregorio
On her 21st birthday, a college student yearns for the mother who returned to Mexico without her.

TWENTY-FOUR Written by Aurora Guerrero
Performed by Claudia Acosta
Just as she is set to marry her boyfriend of thirteen years, Chela reflects on her life prior to him.

PERFORMERS

Claudia Acosta:
Claudia Acosta is a bilingual actor, director, and playwright. Most recently she performed in 365 DAYS/ 365 PLAYS with Ma-Yi Theater Company. Ms Acosta is a founding company member of Teatro de la Rosa and was director for their award-winning teen troupe 1440 EXPERIENCE. In 2007, she was Interim Artistic Director for Cara Mia Theater Company. Her original works have been produced in Texas by Young Audiences, Teatro de la Rosa and Sound Culture. Claudia will be joining Lincoln Center Institute this fall. Ms. Acosta has also a guest artist for the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra as narrator for the bilingual presentation of Peter and the Wolf.

Dominique Andriese:
Dominique's career in front of the camera began at the age of seven when she played MC LYTE as a child in the music video LIGHT AS A ROCK. Recently, she was casted in The VAPORS directed by Furqaan Clover, where she plays Sylvia Rhone. Dominique is well-versed behind and in front of the scenes, ensuring her ability to preserve and cultivate her longevity in this industry.

Janis Astor Del Valle:
JANIS ASTOR del VALLE, Bronx-born, Puerto Rican, holds an MFA in Film from Columbia University and a BA in Theatre from Marymount Manhattan College. Janis received the Zaki Gordon Award for Excellence in Screenwriting for her feature, WHERE THE SENORITAS ARE, which she adapted from her full-length play of the same title. She earned thesis honors for her short, A SOUTH BRONX TALE, which has screened at numerous festivals and is now distributed by Iron Rod Motion Pictures. Her plays and poetry are published in five anthologies, including ACTION: THE NUYORICAN POETS' CAFE THEATRE FESTIVAL and PURO TEATRO.

Desiree Cobb:
Desiree Cobb is a New York City born and raised actor who relishes the challenges she faces balancing a freelance career as a Producer behind the scenes while pursuing quality roles. She plans to add writer to her credits within the next year as she puts the finishing touches on a semi-autobiographical one-woman piece. She has studied acting at The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC; with Rose Arrick and Austin Pendleton at HB Studio in NYC; with Dian Ainslee in NYC and Doug Warhit in Los Angeles. Recent projects include the films, FORGOTTEN VOICES, BLIND DATE and TEMPTED, and a theatrical turn in the 3rd Annual Latino Playwrights Festival, SONGS FROM COCONUT HILL.

Sherrette Gregg:
Sherette Gregg is a graduate of The Harlem Theater Company and has studied at The Elizabeth Browning Studio and with the acclaimed theater Director, Susana Tubert. Sherette has appeared in numerous stage productions including the Imagen award-winning play YO SOY LATINA. She has also appeared in numerous independent films and commercials.

Carina Gregorio:
Carina Gregorio has worked in theater since she was 13 in Brazil. She has a BA in Communications from Tecnologico de Monterrey, Mexico and also a Diploma in Acting from the American Musical and Drama Academy in New York. As an actress she performed at productions in Monterrey: LA CAGE AUX FOLLES (Ms. Renouir), THE BOURGEOIS GENTLEMAN (Nicolaza), EXTREMETIES (Terry). Carina is excited to make her New York debut with PANDORA’S.

Julia Grob:
Julia Ahumada Grob is writer, performer, and educator of Chilean and Jewish heritage. Her one-woman show He(R)evolution premiered in 2006 at Chashama in New York and has since toured nationally and internationally. In the summer of 2007, Julia was hand-picked by Kevin Spacey as an emerging actress under 25 for the inaugural class of the Old Vic's New Voices program, and has performed at the Atlantic Theater, The Culture Project, Rites and Reason Theater (Providence, RI), The Providence Black Repertory Theater, The National Black Theater of Harlem, and The Players Theater. Additionally, Julia has been a featured artist in LATINA Magazine (August 2006).

Daphne Lopez:
Daphne most recently appeared in Oneheart Productions' showcase of original one-acts in BLOOD SISTERS as Sister Jane Mooney. From San Francisco to New York she attended the American Conservatory Theater, studied with Rob Reece of the Actors Studio and with Maggie Flannigan.

Desi Moreno-Penson:
A 2007 Princess Grace Award finalist as well as a two-time recipient of the BRIO (Bronx Recognizes Its Own) Playwriting Fellowship, Desi is a playwright/actor based in New York. Her play, DEVIL LAND premiered at the 4th Annual Summer Play Festival last July/August. She is currently developing a new play, GHOST LIGHT, which will be produced by The Immediate Theatre Company. She is represented by Bret Adams, Ltd.

Karen Robles:
Karen J. Robles has been acting for over 12 years. She studied acting with Susan Rybin Acting Academy, The Puerto Rican Traveling Theater training Unit, and HB Studios. Karen received her BS in Communications from the City College of New York. As an actor she has performed in theater productions such as SAN SAVADOR AFTER THE ECLIPSE (Torno Productions), LA LUNA ME ESTA MIRANDA, a bilingual Children’s play (IATI Theater), DEATH IN THE FAMILY (ArtGroup) and CROSSOVER MUSICAL (True Voices Theater). Her credits on short and feature films includes ZUMBIE, WHERE GOD LEFT HIS SHOES with John Leguziamo, and THE SUN BEARES, a sci-fi feature currently in post-production.

Creative Team

* Executive Producer: Sister Outsider Entertainment
* Producers: Elisha Miranda, Julia Carias, Alexander Ramirez and Sofia Quintero
* Associate Producers: Alfredo Linares
* Artistic Director/Theater Director: Elisha Miranda
* Dramaturg: Sofia Quintero
* Films Director: Aurora Guerrero
* Films Cinematographer: Maritza Alvarez
* Films Co-Producers: Womyn Image Makers & Sister Outsider Entertainment
* Films Editor: Jasmine Colon
* Films Production Assistant/Intern: Ingrid Montanez
* General Manager: Julia Carias
* Business Manager: Alexander Ramirez
* Company Manager: Jasmine Colon
* Assistant Director/Production Assistant: Fernanda Coppel
* Set Designer: Cece Carpio
* Publicist: Melissa Quinones
* Still Photos: Karly Beaumont
* Intern: Courtney Aucone
* Intern: Jhomaira Polanco
* Website & Logo: Urban Envy, Visual Artist

WWW.PANDORASHOW.COM

My Interests

WRITERS

Sandra Alvarez is a key writer for PANDORA’S. She was born and raised in northern California to immigrant Colombian parents. A current doctoral student in politics at the University of California at Santa Cruz, Sandra's research is focused on human rights and social movements in Colombia and the US. She co-directed the thirteenth UC Santa Cruz Women of Color Film and Arts Festival, and is fiercely committed to activism, organizing, building relationships and cultural politics.

Janis Astor del Valle is a key writer for PANDORA’S. The Bronx-born Puerto Rican holds an MFA in Film from Columbia University and a BA in Theatre from Marymount Manhattan College. While at Columbia, Janis received the Zaki Gordon Award for Excellence in Screenwriting for her feature, WHERE THE SEÑORITAS ARE, which she adapted from her full-length play of the same title. She earned thesis honors for her short, A SOUTH BRONX TALE, which has screened at numerous festivals and is now distributed by Iron Rod Motion Pictures. Janis's plays and poetry are published in five anthologies, including ACTION: THE NUYORICAN POETS' CAFE THEATRE FESTIVAL and PURO TEATRO.

Tina Bartolome is a key writer for PANDORA’S. She has over ten years of experience in working with youth of color, educators, organizers and artists in the San Francisco Bay Area on a wide range of community and social justice issues. Tina is a writer, videomaker and performer that is committed to producing stories that reflect the authentic voices of marginalized communities. She is a San Francisco native, as well as a daughter of Filipino and Swiss immigrants. Tina hold a BA in Ethnic Studies form San Francisco State University, and will be attending the University of Indiana to receive her MFA in the fall of 2008.

Julia Carias is the General Manager and a key writer for PANDORA’S. Julia is also a current partner at Sister Outsider Entertainment, and serves as the Director of Operations and Production. She was born and raised in Honduras and came to the United States at the age of nine. In 1997, Julia attended the renowned American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City where she studied Acting. She has her BA in Communications from the College of Mount Saint Vincent, where she received the "Marjorie Connelly Award" for outstanding academic achievement. Julia has also produced for film, television and broadband. She has also been involved in the operations of many small businesses and organizations.

Jasmine Colon is a key writer and the Company Manager for Pandora’s. She is a Puerto Rican lesbian born and raised in the Bronx. In 2007, she graduated City College of New York (CCNY) with a BFA in Film and Video Production. While at CCNY she began production of STRUGGLE, a work-in progress documentary about her own mother dying of Scleroderma. Her short film EL CUCO was awarded "Best Experimental Short" at the 2007 REEL SISTERS FILM FESTIVAL. She has also been an Assistant Editor at Swandive Films for a television talks show series called EN LA ESCENA, and for NYCTV where her segments have appeared on both NYCTV and NBC.

Feranda Coppel is a key writer as well as a production assistant for PANDORA’S. She was born in Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico and moved to San Diego, California at age three with her mother and older sister. She received her BA from UC Santa Cruz in literature with a concentration in Spanish and Latin American literature and now attends the graduate school writing program at NYU’s Tisch School of Arts. She has written two plays, ESPERANZA and VUELA, which where produced on the UCSC campus.

Deyanira Garcia created PROSAS del Ropero in 2004 after returning from military training, where she was getting ready to go to Kuwait, when her company was de-activated. Soon after that, her commitment with the military was over and she was honorably discharged as a Sergeant. Feeling upset over the “Don’t Ask Don’t tell” military policy which is so discriminatory--she created PROSAS del Ropero. After years of feeling invisible as a Dominican lesbian and a horrible event that occurred during her childhood, she began to put her heart on paper and tell her story. Thus evolved Sargenta G— a performer, writer and activist.

Aurora Guerrero is both the Film Director for PANDORA’S short films shorts and a key writer. She was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area by Mexican immigrant parents. She received her BA in Psychology and Chicano Studies from UC Berkeley and then obtained an MFA in film directing at Cal Arts. Aurora has directed award- winning short films including PURA LENGUA which premiered in the 2005 Sundance Film Festival, and VIERNES GIRL, the winner of the 2005 HBO/New York International Latino Film Festival short film competition. Aurora was also featured in Filmmaker Magazine as a Filmmaker to Watch and her feature film MOSQUITA Y MARI was accepted as a Tribeca All Access Fellow (2006), a National Association of Latino Independent Producers Fellow (2006) and is being produced by SALTY FEATURES. She is a founding member of the filmmaking collective- WOMYN IMAGEMAKERS based in Los Angeles, CA.

Elisha Miranda is the Artistic Director, Theater Director, and a key writer for PANDORA’S. She is a published novelist (THE SISTA HOOD: ON THE MIC, JUICY MANGOS) and essayist who also writes under her pen name E-Fierce. Elisha has been a recipient of many awards for her film directing and screenwriting including: Tribeca All Access Fellow (2005) and a National Association of Latino Independent Producers Fellow (2005) for her feature film OUTSIDE THE WALL, and a Student Academy Award Internship at Columbia University. Her short films CORPORATE DAWGZ, won an Angelus Award, and BLIND DATE won Best Short at the Los Angeles Short Film Festival. Hispanic Magazine named her one of “The Emerging Latina Voices in Filmmaking.” She is a Co-Writer of SANGRIA STREET, an original television web series premiering in October of 2008. She holds a BA in Ethnic Studies and English from UC Berkeley and an MFA in film directing and screenwriting from Columbia University. Elisha is a bi-queer Puerto Rican that hails from the “Mission District of San Francisco, California—but has called New York her home since 1998. She is the CEO of Sister Outsider Entertainment, and a Co-Founder of Chica Luna Productions.

Desi Moreno-Penson is a key writer and performer for PANDORA’S. She is a 2007 Princess Grace Award finalist as well as a two-time recipient of the BRIO (Bronx Recognizes Its Own) Playwriting Fellowship. Desi is a playwright/actor based in New York. Her play, DEVIL LAND premiered at the 4th Annual Summer Play Festival last July/August. Currently, she is developing a new play, GHOST LIGHT, which will be produced by The Immediate Theatre Company and she is represented by Bret Adams, Ltd.

Lissette J. Norman is a key writer for PANDORA’S. She is the author of the children's book, MY FEET ARE LAUGHING. Her work appears in the anthologies: Bum Rush The Page: A Def Poetry Jam and Role Call: A Generational Anthology of Social & Political Black Literature & Art, Mosaic Literary Magazine, African Voices, Long Shot and Drum Voices Revue. She won the Lee & Low Books' "2003 New Voices Honor Award." Lissette received her BA in English at SUNY-Binghamton.

Sofia Quintero is the dramaturg and a key writer for PANDORA’S. She is a published novelist (DIVAS DON’T YIELD) and essayist who also writes under the name Black Artemis (EXPLICIT CONTENT, BURN & PICTURE ME ROLLIN’). Her essays have been published in such diverse venues as Ms., BLU, Fuego, 360hiphop.com, politicallyblack.com and migente.com. Sofia and her work have also appeared in major publications like the New York Post, the New York Daily News, the New York Times, Latina, and Upscale. She is a Co-Writer of Sangria Street, an original television web series premiering in October of 2008. She holds a BA in Sociology-History from Columbia University and an MPA in Public Policy from Columbia University. Sofia was born and raised in the Bronx to Puerto Rican and Dominican parents. She is the President of Sister Outsider Entertainment and a Co-Founder of Chica Luna Productions.



I'd like to meet:

Interesting people who care about making a change in the world. People who are willing to stick by their cultural grounds. Loving, charming, honesty, all of the above.

Music:

Open to all kinds of music

Books:

To many...

Heroes:

Audre Lorde, Cherrie Morgae, Pat Parker, June Jordan, Angela Davis, the sistas who struggle in their craft and to let their voices be heard...

My Blog

SPONSORS

SPONSORS                   TAX-DEDUCTIBLE DONATION TO PANDORA'SIf you would like to make a tax-deductible donation to Pandora'sPlease make the...
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BECOME A SPONSOR of Pandoras: home of Torta, Pata y Jotas...

We invite sponsorship from organizations and businesses interested in human rights and the freedom of artistic expression. This is also an opportunity to expand your business and/or organization visi...
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PANDORAS Fundraising Cabret April 30, 2008

Tired of watching the L-Word and not seeing yourself? Well, Join us for the Pandora's Fundraising Cabaret. Come discover your inner Torta, Pata y Jota with a sneak peek of the soon to be Off-Broadwa...
Posted by PANDORA's on Mon, 03 Mar 2008 10:08:00 PST

QBC PRESENTS "CHRISTOPHER STREET" mini-teen gay series

Come support this great event presented by our ally Queer Black Cinemas, please spread the word! More information and Contact is below...Queer Black CinemaPresentsCHRISTOPHER STREETAmerica's Newest Ga...
Posted by PANDORA's on Fri, 08 Jun 2007 07:38:00 PST