Jade Esteban Estrada shows his 'True Colors'

Comedy Central star brings 'hilarious' and 'poignant' gay history show to the 14th Annual True Colors Conference
Jade Esteban Estrada debuts solo show at Central Connecticut State University

Jade Esteban Estrada plays six pivotal characters the highly acclaimed solo musical ICONS: The Lesbian and Gay History of the World at the 14th Annual True Colors Conference Mar 24. Photo by PETER DIANTONI.

March 14, 2007 - New York, N.Y. - What do Sappho, Michelangelo, Oscar, Gertrude, Sylvia and Ellen all have in common? They're all coming to Central Connecticut State University - at the same time! The 14th Annual True Colors Conference: Family Matters A - Z is proud to announce the CCSU debut performance of ICONS: The Lesbian and Gay History of the World, Vol. 1, a solo musical written and performed by nationally-acclaimed solo theatre artist Jade Esteban Estrada (2005 Performance Artist of the Year) at 9:00 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. Saturday, March 24, 2007. The performance will be held at the Student Center at Central Connecticut University located at 1615 Stanley Street in New Britain, Connecticut. The event is wheelchair accessible and appropriate for ages 13 and up. Show duration is 45 minutes with no intermission. The celebrated actor will sign autographs immediately after the show. For information log onto www.getjaded.com or www.ourtruecolors.org.

Beauty. Art. Flamboyance. Love. Struggle. Fame. The man The Advocate and Out Magazine call "the first gay Latin star" celebrated the world premiere of ICONS at the 2002 Columbus National Gay and Lesbian Theatre Festival in Columbus Ohio. In the show, Estrada portrays Sappho, Michelangelo, Oscar Wilde, Gertrude Stein, Sylvia Rivera and Ellen DeGeneres.

"'ICONS' is part history lesson, part musical, part politics and ALL entertainment," states Jennifer Chung of the San Diego Daily Transcript. Tom Sime of the Dallas Morning News calls it, "funny and irreverent…a feel-good session for gay people."

ICONS: The Lesbian and Gay History of the World, Vol. 2 debuted at the CNGLTF in 2004 winning the Audience Favorite Award in Solo Performance. In the sequel Estrada portrays Alexander the Great, Queen Christina of Sweden, Susan B. Anthony, Billie Jean King, Harvey Milk and 9/11 hero Mark Bingham.

ICONS: The Lesbian and Gay History of the World, Vol. 3 debuted at the CNGLTF in 2006 and won the Best Solo Performance and Best Original Music awards. In the last segment of the trilogy, Estrada took on the roles of biblical Naomi, King James, Bessie Smith, Greg Louganis and Mary Cheney, the lesbian daughter of U.S. Vice-President Dick Cheney.

"Jade Esteban Estrada is a brilliant young writer and performer. It was an honor to experience the ministry of this modern pioneer of the gay movement, "states Rev.Troy Perry, Founder of the Worldwide Metropolitan Community Church.

"I've seen Jade Esteban on stage four times before, but when I saw him portraying Mary Cheney, I realized he wasn't only celebrating gay icons. He was using irony to tell us that not all of our gay icons are people that we love or respect. It was incredibly clever," stated Thaddius Novack, Creative Director of Jersey City Lesbian and Gay Outreach.

"What he is doing is important for our LGBTQ youth to experience. I was certainly educated tonight," stated Doreen DeJesus, Communications Director for Brooklyn Pride.

Formally the choreographer to television personality Charo and a scratch vocalist for the Back Street Boys, Estrada came to international attention when Out Magazine christened him, "the first gay Latin star" in 2000. Estrada released his debut CD "Angel" (Vicarious) in 2001 and in 2002 took part in the "Being Out Rocks" (Centaur) CD compilation in honor of National Coming Out Day for the Human Rights Campaign.

In October 2006, Kentucky Governor Ernie Fletcher paid tribute to Estrada by commissioning him the title of "Kentucky Colonel," the highest honor awarded by the Commonwealth of Kentucky that acknowledges outstanding ambassadors of goodwill and fellowship around the world. The Texas native joined other honorary colonels which include Winston Churchill, Ronald Reagan, Bob Hope, Joan Crawford, Johnny Depp, Muhammad Ali and Pope John Paul II.

Estrada's television credits include appearances on the Emmy-nominated "In the Life TV" on PBS, "Friday Night Lights" on NBC and "The Graham Norton Effect" on Comedy Central. His popular Latin dance music can be heard on the Golden Globe and Emmy award-winning police drama, "The Shield" on the FX Network.

"Most performers would be happy to have a fraction of Jade Esteban Estrada's career," states Marty Rosen of the Louisville Courier-Journal. Hector Saldana of the San Antonio Express-News calls him "a show biz messiah." Roy Proctor of the Richmond Times-Dispatch calls him "a master entertainer."

Estrada has toured the U.S. with his five other solo shows which include "It's Too Late...It's Already In Me," "Tortilla Heaven," "Pico de Gallo" and "Gay Christian, Gay Muslim, Gay Jew."

Estrada will speak at the international "Behind the Rainbow" Queer Studies Easter Symposium in Mexico City on April 11, 2007 and will also be the headlining act for the Transgender 2007, the annual conference of the International Foundation for Gender Education in Philadelphia on April 13, 2007.

True Colors, Inc. Sexual Minority Youth and Family Services is a non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization that combats homophobia, gender bias, and racism. They provide support, education, and advocacy to those responsible for the health, education, and well-being of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Intersex Youth and Families.

For further information or to request high resolution artwork or an interview, please contact Greta Golding at vicariouspr@aol.com, call 646-342-8647 or visit www.getjaded.com.

"Long before Estrada wraps himself with a rainbow-colored flag at the show's end, he's proven that he's a master entertainer with a message to convey."
RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH

"Without a doubt, the best entertainment dollars I spent this year went to ICONS: The Lesbian and Gay History of the World, Vol. 1 with Jade Esteban Estrada."
TAMPA BAY GAZETTE

"Catch ICONS as soon as you can, or you will surely live to regret it."
CURVE MAGAZINE

"Estrada is a drama queen with a lesson plan."
KNOXVILLE METRO PULSE

"Estrada's bug-eyed portrayal of Gertrude Stein is brilliant."
STYLE WEEKLY

Upcoming Performances:
Mar 22 - Bethlehem, PA
Mar 24 - New Britain, CT
Mar 24 - New York, NY
Mar 26 - Bowling Green, OH
Mar 27 - Cincinnati, OH
Mar 31 - Corpus Christi, TX
Apr 4 - San Antonio, TX
Apr 11 - Mexico City, MEXICO
Apr 13 - Philadelphia, PA
Apr 16 - Muncie, IN
Apr 22 - San Antonio, TX
April 24 - Emporia, KS
May 8 - Houston, TX
May 10 - Miami, FL
May 18 - Yakima, WA
May 27 - Moscow, RUSSIA
Jun 8 - San Antonio, TX
Jun 9 - Austin, TX
Jun 14 - Wilmington, DE
Aug 4 - Fire Island, NY
Aug 30-Sept 2 - New Orleans, LA
Sept 18 - Chicago, IL
Oct 3 - Houston, TX
Nov 1 - Prescott, AZ
Nov 14 - San Antonio, TX

www.GetJaded.com

Vicarious Productions produces the nationally touring production of ICONS: The Lesbian and Gay History of the World, Vol. 1 starring Comedy Central star Jade Esteban Estrada.

Vicarious New York
100 West 45th Street
New York, New York 10036
Press Contact: Greta Golding

This release was published on openPR.