After Thirteen Years, 'First Gay Latin Star' Returns To Fire Island

July 25, 2007 - New York, N.Y. - What do Sappho, Michelangelo, Oscar, Gertrude, Sylvia and Ellen all have in common? They're all coming to Cherry Grove - at the same time! Vicarious Productions is proud to announce the Fire Island 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 7:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. Saturday, August 4, 2007. The performance will be held at Cherry Grove Community House in Fire Island, New York. The event is wheelchair accessible and appropriate for ages 13 and up. Admission is $20 for members/$25 for non-members. The celebrated actor will sign autographs immediately after the show. For reservations and information log onto www.getjaded.com or www.artsprojectcherrygrove.com.

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." Lisa Gauthier of Nuvo in Indianapolis stated, "I'm not gay...but I loved these shows."

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.

Estrada debuted his first solo show “It’s Too Late…It’s Already In Me…” at the Festival de Libre Enganche in 1997 and a decade later has been compared to Ruth Draper, Lily Tomlin and other luminaries in the field of solo theatre. Estrada’s last visit to Fire Island was to work on the 1995 film “Stonewall” directed by the late Nigel Finch.

"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.

“Jade Esteban Estrada is not an icon by accident,” warns Nicholas Snow of Notes from Hollywood.

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, 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. He has recently returned to work on NBC’s second season of “Friday Night Lights.”

"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’s other solo shows include “Gay Christian, Gay Muslim, Gay Jew,” “Pico de Gallo,” and “Tortilla Heaven.”

Estrada will begin work on the new film “Callous” directed by Joey Lanai in October 2007.

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.

Vicarious Productions produces the shows of national touring artist Jade Esteban Estrada of Comedy Central.

Adam Salazar
Vicarious New York
646-342-8647
www.getjaded.com

This release was published on openPR.