Entertainment Lucio Fernandez

fernandez performing in autobiographical show, lucio... less cuban ever

after graduating fernandez began auditioning, sending out hundreds of photos , résumés every week, while simultaneously taking classes singing, acting , dancing. began responses, , joined screen actors guild, actors equity association , american federation of television , radio artists, whom did television , radio acting, including tv commercials , small roles in movies , soap operas. 1985 1997, toured nationally , internationally productions of shows such west side story, jesus christ superstar, chorus line , guys , dolls, working alongside performers such marc anthony, shirley maclaine , gene kelly, , directors , choreographers such jerome robbins, jerry zaks, michael peters. in course of touring traveled far ecuador , mexico city.

in september 2000 fernandez , wife, megan, founded non-profit grace theatre workshop, provides free lessons in various fields of arts children. named after first home, union city s grace episcopal church s auditorium, began 7 students, of 2007 run out of jose marti freshman academy, serves approximately 120 children. in 2004 founded own film production company, melu films.

in 2001 fernandez began hosting local access show ensalada (salad), bilingual man-on-the-street show in asks people on streets of union city hard-hitting social questions life in city .

fernandez leads latin jazz band called cujazz, fernandez, enjoys producing free form poetry, says provides him way set poems music. in 2003 cujazz released independent album, volver ti, features 8 tracks of covers , originals, including besame mucho , nuestro olvido , fernandez s vocals praised hudson reporter.

in 2008 fernandez produced autobiographical stand-up comedy concert, cuban kid, focuses on experiences native of cuba growing in new jersey , dividing time performer , elected official. show written fernandez , collaborator, union city historian gerard karabin, featured musical arrangements mark goodman, , directed fernandez s wife megan. show garnered fernandez nomination 2008 mac award , won him 2009 itra award best performance theatrical (male).

in 2009, fernandez , melu films began production on vampire in union city, surrealist, 48-minute-long independent art film, , first theatrically-released film set in , shot entirely in union city. written karabin, , produced, directed , starring fernandez, film follows quest of demented man obsessed death , living dead roams union city, , based on theme big cities more conducive loneliness small towns. stars various artists union city , throughout hudson county, , utilizes several union city landmarks backdrops, such st. john s episcopal church, , hackensack reservoir no. 2. (only 1 location outside of city, property in north bergen, used cemetery scene in order avoid disturbing real cemetery.) fernandez , karabin hoped film might inspire other filmmakers consider union city shooting location. world premiere held on september 3, 2010, @ summit quadplex on summit avenue, first world premiere of film in union city. film later screened general audiences @ union city performing arts center part of union city’s celebrate art month, event fernandez helped bring about. later screened @ mexico s alberto andrade gallery expo , sweden s hellsen gallery, , aired cablevision during september 2010. made available purchase @ www.filmbaby.com , @ www.melufilms.com.

in october 2011, fernandez premiered autobiographical stage show, lucio... less cuban ever, @ laurie beechman theater in manhattan. previous show, cuban kid, less cuban ever focuses on fernandez s life cuban-american, , experience of being raised in united states while maintaining roots in country, consists of fernandez s signature comedy antics, interaction audience members , singing show tunes rather standup comedy. co-written fernandez , karabin, directed noted cabaret director lenny watts, , includes dancers , eight-piece band of broadway veterans led mark goodman, broadway veteran met fernandez in 1996 during run in west side story. show sold out original 4 engagements, , required fifth show added.

in 2013 fernandez starred in play till death, dark comedy began writing in 1985 while student @ rutgers. story inspired latin lover philanderers knew growing up, , asks question, if met perfect woman, woman of dreams, woman had ever wanted couldn t find, , interested in seeing suffer? fernandez plays tony, desperately delusional , suicidal man, tormented nightmares , memories of women past. co-star, ruth kavanagh, played multi-faceted, ghost-like perfect woman volunteers him kill himself, despite persistent failed attempts so. world premiere held @ producers club theatre in manhattan on november 20, 2013.

fernandez produces own tv show on cablevision , comcast, live on stage, promotes local artists in north hudson county area, , produces entertainment newspaper called sunlight news.