GROWING UP GONZALES Extends At Jan Hus Playhouse Thru 3/31

The Off-Broadway production, "Growing Up Gonzales," written and directed by Felix Rojas, performed by Andres Chulisi Rodriguez, has been extended through March 31, 2012 at The Jan Hus Playhouse, 351 E 74th Street between 1st & 2nd Avenues.  The original run was Jan. 26 to Feb. 25 (15 shows).  Added dates are March 1 to 31 (15 performances).

DESCRIPTION
A bittersweet comedy of two brothers growing up in the Puerto Rican section of the Bronx, whose coming of age is marked by the untimely death of their father. One actor plays both parts. It is filled with the hearty characters, flavors and textures of The Bronx in the 70's and displays a very witty understanding of life.

BACKGROUND
The piece was offered April 17 to June 12, 2011 at the Sixth Street Playhouse in Alphabet City to full houses, but little notice. This "sleeper" play has been moved to the Jan Hus Playhouse as a co-production of Reel Players and Poets Club, Inc. and Toptia Productions. The play started as a standup routine and transformed into a theatrical two-character play which is performed by one actor.

WHO'S WHO
Playwright/director Felix Rojas grew up in the Bronx and started his theatrical career at Syracuse University as prop master for the play "Short Eyes" by Miguel Pinero. He was introduced to Marvin (Pancho) Felix Camillo, Artistic Director of The Family Repertory Company, which was devoted to English language plays by Hispanic writers and toured with English-language plays to Spain and Cuba. Camillo took him into his troupe both as a playwright and stage manager. The company, begun in 1972, made history as the theatrical home of Miguel Pinero ("Short Eyes"), Juan Shamsu Alam (poet, playwright and screenwriter) and Mos Def (rapper). The Nuyorican Poets Cafe is an offshoot. (Miguel Algarin worked with The Family Repertory before spinning off to form his own company).

The Family Repertory produced Rojas' plays "Hotel Presidential" and "From the Mind of Cheo." (Cheo means Junior. Gilbert Price, known for Broadway's "Timbuktoo," played the lead.)  Rojas worked with the troupe as a writer, director and production manager until "Pancho" Camillo's untimely death. Rojas has also worked with The Henry Street Settlement, The Puerto Rican Traveling Theater, Intar, Pregones (in The Bronx) and The Public Theater. His produced plays also include "Mandance" and "The Ricanciliation." He participated in the writing workshop directed by Allan Davis at Puerto Rican Traveling Theater.

Rojas took a self-imposed furlough from theater for about a decade. During this period, he was director of a Boys an Girls Club Orlando and New Rochelle and following that, worked in homeless outreach for the last five years.  He is re-entering theater with this play. His last production was "Mandance" (1998) at the Village Theater on Lafayette Street, next to the Astor Place Theater.  He has two sons, age 21 and 23.

Actor Andres Chulisi Rodriquez is a comedian, poet, musical comedy performer and solo performer. He appeared in the musicals "Llorona" and "Home Is Where The Heart Is" (Teatro La Tea) and the Off Broadway productions "Bangi" (Clemente Soto Velez) and "Life's a Drag" (Clemente Soto Velez).  His solo show, "Making Of A Wo-man," directed by Dudley Findley Junior, was particularly successful, performing at Nuyorican Poets Cafe. His poetry is published in an anthology called "Mariposas" through Floricanto press. His future projects include another one man show and two self published novels, "Diamonds Into Coal" and "Season's Change." Rodriguez was writer, producer and director of the comedy troupe "Lose Control," which was a steady attraction from 2004 to 2009 at Broadway Comedy Club.  He offers frequent programs in writing and comedy for "at risk" youth.  With his raspy voice and "roughneck" look, he is sometimes compared to Rick Aviles (d. 1995; one of the most famous Puerto Rican comedians of our time whose films were, ironically, never comedies).

PRESENTER
"Growing Up Gonzales" is presented by Reel Players and Poets Club, Inc. and Toptia Productions. The former is is a nonprofit production company that Rojas originally founded in Fishkill, NY to present plays at Duchess Community College involving its handicapped students. It has also produced shows in Greenwich Village and in The Bronx. The latter is an independent production company making its first foray into Off-Broadway theater.

SCHEDULE:
Was January 26 to February 25, 2012, EXTENDED THROUGH MARCH 31
The Jan Hus Playhouse, 351 E 74th Street between 1st & 2nd Avenues
Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 PM
Tickets $32.50 general admission, $24.50 students and seniors
Box office: 866-811-4111, www.growingupgonzales.com
Show's website: www.growingupgonzales.com
Running time: 1:30.