Career 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.

politics

in 1990s, while fernandez offering free performance classes neighborhood children, became friends local civic leader brian p. stack. though politics not lifelong vocation fernandez, , had not supported particular politician, came admire stack s commitment betterment of city , interest in fernandez s initiatives, stack 1 fernandez says return phone calls.

fernandez (at podium) @ dedication ceremony of historical marker william ranney @ location in union city ranney s home once stood, 1 of many such markers fernandez has been instrumental in creating. on fernandez s right shoulder frequent collaborator, city historian gerard karabin.

in 2000s, fernandez appointed trustee of union city board of education, , past president of union city day care center board of trustees. served on union city redevelopment board, , union city public library friends. in 2003, fernandez made deputy director of union city s department of public affairs, first formal position in assisting assist stack cultural , artistic endeavors in city.

in late january 2004 fernandez named commissioner of union city housing authority, job says took because allow him liaise seniors , veterans, , address needs. when asked questions raised why performer trade accept political position, fernandez responded, me interconnected. culture drives everything, , know culture. in 2006, elected commissioner of public affairs.

the hudson reporter has credited him being instrumental in reviving arts in union city during time commissioner. in june 2010, tie union city s 85th anniversary, fernandez , karabin published union city in pictures, photo book documenting home town s various locations. same year fernandez involved in creation of union city plaza of arts on bergenline avenue between 30th , 31st streets, opened in december 2010 venue artists congregate , showcase work. location, sees copious traffic , midtown manhattan, chosen in order showcase city in positive light commuters, , plaza represent fine arts alongside adjacent pietro di donato plaza , celia cruz plaza, represent literature , music, respectively.

fernandez oversaw construction , curating of william v. musto cultural center, opened in 2011, , karabin, spearheaded program has dedicated several historic markers around city, fernandez hopes used tour guide.

in 2012, fernandez, wanting increase city s honoring of local artists, produced first-ever union city artist awards, annual red carpet event honors multiple artists in visual , performing arts, , others contribute city s culture.