“BROWNSVILLE BRED…Growing Up Elaine” – A New York Latina’s Memoir and Coming of Age Story set in the 1980’s Brownsville Brooklyn Projects

Elaine Del Valle proudly announces the production of her multiple festival and award winning one-woman show, “BROWNSVILLE BRED” playing at The NUYORICAN POETS CAFÉ (236 East 3rd Street) in New York City Mondays in November (November 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30) @ 7:30 pm.

The autobiographical show takes the audience through an “emotional rollercoaster” that is uplifting, heartbreaking and powerful as they witness Del Valle recreate life in the tough projects of 1980’s Brownsville, Brooklyn NY. Amongst eight other characters, Del Valle narrates as herself from ages 11 to 17.  Del Valle’s loving father, another empathetic character, leaves the family of five as he falls from stature as a talented musician to a defeated heroine addict.  Not unlike most impoverished families, Elaine’s mother emerges as the loveable spirit that holds the family together and guides them to a hopeful future.  Crime, Drugs and Poverty mix with the Joys of Family, Hope, Salsa and the Birth of Rap, as Del Valle’s innocence recounts a journey to womanhood, a neighborhoods crack & crime epidemic, Salsa rumbas, and her love of Run DMC, which often times help her verbalize a unique struggle and triumph that has audiences cheering and laughing through their tears while swaying to urban rhythms.

“We’re very excited that Elaine Del Valle’s BROWNSVILLE BRED will be staged at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe in November.  This award-winning play echoes the Nuyorican’s ongoing mission to champion ground-breaking and ambitious new work by artists from a wide spectrum of disciplines and backgrounds.  Elaine brings to the Cafe a vibrant mix of talent and experience that will enhance our November programming schedule,” says Daniel Gallant Executive Director at the Café.

Brownsville Bred (directed by Paul J. Michael) recently won the 2009 Teatro La Tea’s One Festival in New York City, playing to sell-out crowds.  Preceding her latest win, Del Valle (as directed by Heather Girardi) debuted BROWNSVILLE BRED which swept awards at The Network’s ONE-ACT Festival, including for BEST ACTRESS, BEST SHOW, BEST SCRIPT, and BEST DIRECTION

“She puts you right there,” says legendary director and founder of THE AMERICAN PLACE THEATER, Wynn Handman.  Mr. Handman, who nurtured the development of BROWNSVILLE BRED in his acting studios, also had a hand in other notable one person shows, including Lemon Anderson’s COUNTY OF KINGS and John Leguizamo’s MAMBO MOUTH.

“Elaine Del Valle is a Tour De Force, singing, dancing, rapping and living her way into the hearts of audiences from all walks of life.”

Also in November, Del Valle’s production company is set to premiere its first short film, JACK & JILL, at NY’s TRIBECA CINEMAS as part of the Big Apple Film Festival.

“BROWSVILLE BRED” plays the NUYORICAN POETS CAFE (235 East 3rd Street, NYC) Every Monday in November beginning November 2nd, and ending November 30th 2009. General Admission Tickets are $15 and are available at the theatre box office or online at www.NUYORICAN.org  Discount Tickets are $10 and available to Entertainment Professionals, Students, Seniors, and with Flyers or Promotional Codes.  Run time is 70 minutes (with one ten-minute intermission).
To learn more about “BROWNSVILLE BRED” visit www.BrownsvilleBred.com

Press Contact: (516) 729-8200  elaineinc@aol.com

• Lark Play Development Center’s U.S. / MÉXICO PLAYWRIGHT EXCHANGE – NOVEMBER 21 – 23 – NYC
• Juliet V. Garcia, the president of University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College, has been named one of TIME Magazine’s Ten Best College Presidents of 2009
• “In the Heights” takes the stage in St. Louis
• A ‘Precious’ opportunity for young nuyorican actress – Stephanie Andujar
• Teatro Pregones marks 30 years with new musical, ‘Aloha Boricua’ – Bronx, NYC
• Tony-winner ‘In the Heights’ is overplotted, but powerhouse music, dance compensate – Tampa Review
• Euripides’ Medea, With a Latina Twist – Breath of Fire Latina Theater Ensemble presents the world premiere of The Medea Complex, Oct. 30 – LA
• ‘Semblanza Latinoamericana,’ October 17 and 18 Only at Los Angeles Theatre Center
• From Hollywood To The Great White Way: April Lee Hernandez-Castillo Continues To Raise Awareness About Violence Within Latino Communities
• From Mexico to NYC stage – For director and choreographer Edgardo Lar, the challenges he faced were many when staging a musical in Spanish about a 16th-century French massacre with a cast of 25 high school and college students from Mexico. – “Anjou, A Tale of Horror”
• Actress Ruby Nelda Perez returns to Jump-Start Theater in November in a new play by Rodrigo Duarte-Clark titled “El Fin del Mundo Motel.” – San Antonio
• El Teatro de Los Oprimidos – Olga García Echeverría
• Husband and Wife Team Keep Native Traditions Alive – Beatriz Ortega Ruiz y Mario Augustin Gaspar Rodriguez create using a pre-Hispanic technique called pasta de caña de maiz & maque, an indigenous form of lacquer ware that already had a long tradition when the Spaniards arrived 500 years ago.
• UTB-TSC has received nearly $500,000 in federal dollars to extend postbaccalaureate educational opportunities for Hispanic students, U.S. Rep. Solomon P. Ortiz, D-Corpus Christi announced Monday.
• When the Border Lands on Your Front Door – “Visitors Guide to Arivaca” is a powerful, emotional and thought-provoking play at the Alexandria Hotel – LA
• The Latino Theater Company Announces Third Annual Gala at the Los Angeles Theatre Center on October 3. Hilda Solis, Castulo de la Rocha, and Jimmy Smits to Receive Honors
• Ganas Clothing is ready for the world – The T-shirts, tank tops and hooded sweaters with these colorful images are the creations of state Rep. Eddie Lucio III, D-San Benito, and his business partners, Ruben Gallegos and Edward Rodriguez – Texas
• Armando Molina, co-artistic Director for Company of Angels, directs this September the nationally significant production of “Visitors Guide to Arivaca (Map Not to Scale) ” written by Evangeline Ordaz and produced by Marlene Forte and Xavi Moreno for Company of Angels. The play runs September 11 through October 4th at the Alexandria Hotel, dowtown LA.
• Kenny Lopez makes a 67 market jump from KVEO-23 in Brownsville to KTXL-40 in Sacramento as a general assignment reporter.
• With Culture Clash, nothing is sacred except satire – Latino troupe prepares to celebrate its 25th anniversary, putting a modern slant on the ancient comedy of Aristophanes.