November 30, 2023 to January 7, 2024
An Original Pregones/PRTT Music Theater Production
New Staging of the Acclaimed Pregones Theater Production!
Based on the life and writings of Jesús Colón
Book and Lyrics by Rosalba Rolón with Pregones Theater
Music by Desmar Guevara
Additional Music and Lyrics by Danny Rivera
Directed by Rosalba Rolón
THE RED ROSE pays tribute to Afro/Black Puerto Rican writer and activist Jesús Colón. Arriving in New York City as a stowaway youth in the winter of 1917, Colón went on to become a popular chronicler of the Puerto Rican migrant experience and one of its enduring icons. The production narrates his fateful meeting with undercover FBI agent Mildred Blauvelt, and their subsequent face-off before the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) in 1959.
Jesús Colón, c. 1973. Photo courtesy of Jesus Colon Papers / Center for Puerto Rican Studies
About the new 2023 staging:
Re-imagined for the stage at The Puerto Rican Traveling Theater, the production boasts an entirely new design, new musical arrangements and a new cast of performers.
The aesthetic focus of The Red Rose remains on the physicality of a work that eschews realistic conventions. Movement, gesture, and dialogue develop in tandem, combining literary and popular sources, HUAC transcripts and recordings, Colón’s private letters, his published articles and stories, press coverage of the Blauvelt episode, and a treasure trove of original songs.
The seeds of the production date back to 2003 when Pregones’ Associate Artistic Directors Alvan Colón Lespier and Jorge B. Merced, with Musical Director Desmar Guevara adapted the writings of Jesús Colón into the unipersonal ¡Ay Jesús! Oh Jesus! with Merced playing Colón’s literary nom de plume, the infamous Miquis Tiquis. This paved the way for Artistic Director Rosalba Rolón to further the exploration incorporating a full ensemble of actors and musicians. International Puerto Rican singing star Danny Rivera joined the team, composing the production’s main musical theme and taking on the role of Jesús Colón. The expanded production premiered on November 14, 2005 at Pregones Theater, in The Bronx, winning multiple NYC Latin critics awards. The original cast recording CD was independently released in March 2006 helmed by Danny Rivera.
Of the 2023 new and re-envisioned staging, Director Rosalba Rolón shares:
“We have dreamed of re-conceptualizing The Red Rose to fit the historic stage of The Puerto Rican Traveling Theater for some time. With this new version, we are proud to welcome new generations of Pregones’ artists and audiences to the world of Jesús Colón’s pioneering activism and writings, at a time when his work and his journey are more relevant than ever before.”
Performed in English and Spanish with titles.
Duration: 1 hour and 38minutes, including one intermission.
Special Holiday Run!
In-person performances at
THE PUERTO RICAN TRAVELING THEATER
304 W 47th St, between 8th & 9th Avenues
in Manhattan
Buy your tickets early online. Link below or at top of page.
GENERAL TICKETS: Starting at $25
Photos from The Red Rose archives:
BEST PRICES: BECOME A MEMBER and get deep savings for the entire season! When you buy a one year $45 tax-deductible membership to Pregones/PRTT you obtain 25% discount for up to two (2) tickets per event this season.
New! TICKET BUNDLES: See both of our remaining Mainstage shows and save — available now by phone only 718-585-1202. Previews Bundle $46: 1 (one) Orchestra Ticket for each of 2 (two) Spring Mainstage productions on first week of performances; two (2) tickets total. Premium Bundle $70: 1 (one) Premium Orchestra Ticket for each of 2 (two) Spring Mainstage productions on any other week of performances; two (2) tickets total. Please note: Bundles are not tax deductible. Other offers and discounts do not apply.
GROUPS of 10 or more: $20 per ticket! Phone reservations/purchases only. Some date restrictions may apply. 718-585-1202
OTHER OFFERS AND DISCOUNTS: Zip Tickets—in person purchase and proof of residence required, Seniors, Students
For more details call us at 718-585-1202
ROSALBA ROLÓN, Artistic Director of Pregones/PRTT, is an accomplished actor, director, and dramaturg specializing in the adaptation of literary and non-literary texts for stage performance with live music. Distinctions include United States Artists Fellowship, Ford Foundation Visionaries Fellowship, Doris Duke Artist Award, and Creative Capital Award (with Paul Flores and Yosvany Terry). Rolón’s numerous theater credits include We Have IRÉ with Paul Flores, Betsy! with Roadside Theater, Dancing In My Cockroach Killers with Magdalena Gómez, Harlem Hellfigthers on a Latin Beat based on the Puerto Rican presence in the all-Black 369th Regiment of the US Army, El bolero fue mi ruina adapted from a story by Manuel Ramos Otero, Quíntuples by Luis Rafael Sánchez, and many others. She is a member of The American Thatre Wing’s Tony Awards Nominating Committee.
DESMAR GUEVARA, Resident Composer and Musical Director of Pregones/PRTT, is a recognized champion of new music idioms in Latin jazz, a composer of experimental and non-traditional music for live theater and film, and an in-demand pianist with numerous concert, touring, and recording credits. He has composed, arranged, and music directed dozens of ensemble theater productions of varying scale, from chamber to Off-Broadway. He is founding director of chamber jazz ensemble Taller Sicá, founding member of Afro Puerto Rican ensemble Viento de Agua, and has collaborated with many musical luminaries including Tito Puente, Celia Cruz, Tito Nieves, Xiomara Fortuna, Andy Montañez, Soledad Bravo, and Danny Rivera. Recent premieres include Grados Inefables, which delves into the esoteric symbolism and philosophies of Freemasonry, co-commissioned by arts presenters in New York, Colorado, and California.
PRODUCTION CREDITS:
An original Pregones/PRTT Music Theater Production
Book & Lyrics by Rosalba Rolón
Music by Desmar Guevara
Additional Music & Lyrics by Danny Rivera
Featuring: John Cencio Burgos, José Joaquín García, Anna Malavé, Mario Mattei, Claudia Ramos Jordán, Jenyvette Vega.
Musicians: Pregones Musical Ensemble led by Desmar Guevara
Set Design by Raúl Abrego
Lighting Design by Lucrecia Briceño
Projections by Eamonn Farrell
Costume Design by Harry Nadal
Sound Design By Eduardo Resendiz
Assistant Director, Movement Coach, Choreography Yaraní Del Valle
Associate Lighting Designer Emmanuel Delgado
Stage Manager Majo Ferrucho
Audio Engineer Assistant Danny Hernández
Artwork Jeison Rivera
Production Assistant Luissana Carreño
Production Manager Jessica Moya
Directed By Rosalba Rolón
ACTORS’ EQUITY ASSOCIATION – THE ACTORS AND STAGE MANAGERS EMPLOYED IN THIS PRODUCTION ARE MEMBERS OF ACTORS’ EQUITY ASSOCIATION, THE UNION OF PROFESSIONAL ACTORS AND STAGE MANAGERS IN THE UNITED STATES. THIS THEATER OPERATES UNDER AN ACTORS’ EQUITY ASSOCIATION OFF-BROADWAY NYC-LOA.
Pregones/Puerto Rican Traveling Theater (aka Pregones/PRTT) is a multigenerational performing ensemble, multidiscipline arts presenter, and owner/steward of bilingual arts facilities in The Bronx and Manhattan. Our mission is to champion a Puerto Rican/Latinx cultural legacy of universal value through creation and performance of original plays and musicals, exchange and partnership with other artists of merit, and engagement of diverse audiences.
PLEASE NOTE: Face masks are suggested but not required for this event. By purchasing a ticket or asking for entry to our events, you agree to abide by this rule.
If you have a sore throat, are feeling sick in any other way, or have been recently exposed to COVID-19, we kindly ask that you stay home. We will gladly exchange your tickets to a different date, pending availability.
Pregones/PRTT’s Mainstage is generously funded by Ford Foundation, Howard Gilman Foundation, Shubert Foundation, and Scherman Foundation. Programs also made possible with public funds from the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency; New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, in partnership with the City Council; and New York State Council on the Arts, with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature. For a full list of our funders, please visit www.pregonesprtt.org
Puerto Rican Traveling Theater
304 W 47th St (b/w 8th & 9th Avenues)
New York, NY 1036
Trains # 1, C, E to 50th Street
For more information call us at 718-585-1202
GET TICKETS!
Event Details
Location
The Puerto Rican Traveling Theater
304 W 47th St, New York, NY 10036Date & Time
November 30, 2023 to
January 7, 2024
Thu-Fri @ 8:00PM
Sat @ 3:00PM & 8:00PM
Sun @ 3:00PMCollaborators
Book and Lyrics by
Rosalba RolónMusic by
Desmar GuevaraAdditional Music and Lyrics by
Danny RiveraDirected by
Rosalba RolónFeaturing
John Cencio Burgos
José Joaquín García
Anna Malavé
Mario Mattei
Claudia Ramos Jordán
Jenyvette VegaStage Manager
Majo FerruchoSet Design
Raul AbregoCostume Design
Harry NadalLighting Design
Lucrecia BriceñoAssistant Lighting Design
Emanuel DelgadoProjections
Eamonn FarrellGraphic Design
Jeison RiveraSound Design
Eduardo ResendizProduction Manager
Jessica MoyaProduction Assistant
Luissana CareñoAssitant Director &
Movement Coach
Yaraní Del Valle
ACTORS’ EQUITY ASSOCIATION – The actors and stage managers employed in this production are members of actors’ equity association, the union of professional actors and stage managers in the United States. This Theater operates under an Actors’ Equity Association Off-Broadway NYC-LOA.