Dates by Christopher Cuevas

CHRISTOPHER CUEVAS (he/him – Author and STEP UP Resident Artist). Christopher is an actor and educator. He studied at the Center for Training and Fine Arts (C.A.B.A.). He graduated from the Drama Department at the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras campus, with a concentration in Acting, and is currently doing his M.F.A. at Pace University’s The Actor Studio. In Puerto Rico he belonged to the Traveling Theater directed by Dean Zayas and Jacqueline Duprey, appearing in several productions such as The Crucible, Lady Nitwit, The Balcony, and Los Menecmos, among others. He has also taken pantomime and body movement workshops with Luis Oliva, vocal technique by Lessac with Ángel Amaro and Jaqueline Duprey, Meisner under the guidance of Eileen Navarro, character creation and voice in Stella Adler. His most recent works include Miguel Will’s production of Teatro Círculo’s Cinco Hijas Feas del Teatro Latino Festival, and several improvisations “shows” with Teatro 220 along with Teatro LaTea and Dr. Dr. and Mr. Mr. where he won best actor at the Fuerza Fest LGBTQ Festival. His most recent work is Tartufo with the theater touch company based in New York.

LEONARDO “LEO” JOSE SANCHEZ (he/they) is a bilingual and multifaceted artist, born and raised in the countryside of Puerto Rico, now based in NYC. He graduated from the University of Puerto Rico at Río Piedras with a BA in Drama and also obtained independent studies in Acting at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York. Their training has also been shaped by Improv Theatre, having studied and worked with the Puerto Rican League of Theatrical Improvisation, directed by Janibeth Santiago, and by Playwriting, which has allowed them to travel to countries such as Cuba, and Ecuador, representing their country. Some of his credits include La armonía de las esferas, Desde Nuestra Trinchera, Lucas and S.O.S.

YAN CARLOS RAMOS is a multifaceted bilingual actor from Puerto Rico. His training includes BA in Drama from the University of Puerto Rico; studies in acting, directing and movement from the Taller Malayerba in Quito Ecuador; and a direction workshop with Puerto Rican director Heriberto Feliciano. As a proud member of the theatrical collective La Bicicleta Inc., Yan had the opportunity to participate in the Puerto Rican and International Theatre Festival in the plays: Así no era, A veces pienso mañana and Ofel by professor and playwright Sylvia Bofill. Yan wants to thank his family and friends for their love and support on his NY theatre debut.

MARLON FERNANDO is a Latin Artist born and raised in Cali, Colombia, where he graduated from Naar Landaeta TV and Film acting school, where he started building his craft as an artist, El Estudio de Actores de Cali. In Bogota he did a 2-year conservatory for Professional Actors directed by Victoria Hernandez, trained by Alfonso Ortiz, Tao Sierra, Jacqueline Henríquez, Alejandra Borrero and Juan Pablo Félix. His experience as a performer included Musicals such as High School the Musical, Trakamandaka, El Pais de los Juguetes, Peter Pan, Nuestra Señora de los Remedios, Romeo Y Julieta, Y Dios creo a La Mujer, Electra, and Diamante Oriental. Stand-up comedy at Casino Hollywood. TV and Film: Tu Voz Stereo, short films Clase 2000’  American façade and La sucursal del Cielo. Salsa Group Performer and Drag Queen Performer as Leona. Winner of the Drag Race Factor Queens NYC 2014.

FRANCISCO J. RIVERA RODRIGUEZ (he/they – Director) is a spirit living a human experience, a Queer Puerto Rican theater maker, which endgame with their artistic work-and vision-is a recurrent invitation to heal by experiencing a theatrical psychospiritual creation of untold stories. Recent directing credits: Passage by Christopher Chen (The New School, CoPa), The Mourners by Rivka Rivera (The Space at Irondale), The Clone/December/Family (NYU/AOP), Blood on these hands by Luis Herrera (The Tank). Recent Assistant Director credits: The Vicksburg Project (Mabou Mines). Recent Stage Manager/Assistant Director credits: La Golondrina (Repertorio Español), Fuente Ovejuna (Teatro Círculo), La vida es sueño (Teatro Círculo; Alcalá & Almagro, Spain), Mercado Libre (Boundless Theater Company). MFA in Directing (The New School, CoPa). BA in Drama (Universidad de Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras). franciscoprdirecting.com

KIARA MENDEZ (she/her – Assistant Director) is an actress, drama therapist, theater maker, a dreamer and queer human. Born and raised in Puerto Rico, Méndez hopes to support and uplift those around her by offering a brave space where even the impossible is possible. Recent acting credits: Electra, dir. Adrienne Williams; Abre Tus Ojos, dir. Miguel Rosa; Desde Nuestra Trinchera, dir. La Casa Collective; Recomposed, dir. Miguel Rosa; Everybody, dir. Paul Takacs. She earned a BFA in Acting from Marymount Manhattan College and an MA in Drama Therapy from New York University.

Pregones /PRTT’s STEP UP Artist Residency Program provides emerging and early career artists the opportunity to develop their original work at our venues. Residencies are selected on the basis of artistic merit and/or promise. All requests are BY INVITATION ONLY and must be in tune with our organization’s mission and longstanding commitment to provide stability and professional development to underrepresented artists.

Our STEP UP program accepts applications from individual emerging artists looking to develop new works; advance existing works to the next stage in production; showcase and/or engage a live audience. Selected artists receive a $2,500 project support fee to be used in any way they deem necessary, toward the development of their work at Pregones/PRTT.

PLEASE NOTE: The use of face masks is optional and strongly recommended. Masks should fit snuggly against the sides of the face and fully cover the nose and mouth.

This program is also made possible, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, in partnership with the City Council, and the New York State Council on the Arts, with the support of the Governor’s Office and the New York State Legislature. For a full list of our funders, visit www.pregonesprtt.org.

Pregones Theater
575 Walton Avenue (b/w 149th & 150th Streets)
The Bronx, NY 10451

Trains # 2, 4, 5 to 149th Street & Grand Concourse

For more information call us at 718-585-1202