Brownsville Bred ...Growing Up Elaine
An autobiographical account of a Latina's Coming of Age in East New York's Brownsville Brooklyn Projects.
Crime, Drugs and Poverty mix with the joys of Family, Hope, Salsa and the Birth of Rap!
Crime, Drugs and Poverty mix with the joys of Family, Hope, Salsa and the Birth of Rap!
"Making it Possible"
This show was made possible by the growth and experience provided at The Wynn Handman Studios, by the leadership of the incomparable WYNN HANDMAN. After two years of scene study with this master, In September 2008, he allowed me to start working on each scene I wrote in class. Putting it on it's feet. His encouragement made me need to have the next scene ready by next class. The words poured onto the page and my heart followed on his stage. Wynn Handman Studios remains the trial stage before each new Brownsville Bred run. " When Wynn told me, I have the right to be persistent,it was the best thing that I had ever heard and so I continue my journey to make Brownsville Bred worthy of that statement.
To Wynn: You are an Inspirational Acting Teacher and Leader. Thank you for making me an ACTOR. Thank you for allowing me the privilege of developing this piece with you, and for helping me to name my show. Applause by the hands of Wynn Handman, is like winning 8 Oscars, 2 Tonys and 1 Golden Globe…in the same year.
To My fellow WYNNers: The camaraderie we have together is what set this story FREE. Your words of encouragement were what fueled me to write every next scene. Because I trust so much in your judgment, I never talked myself off this beautiful ledge.
Special Thanks to My Director (The One Festival/April 2009) Paul J. Michael: Thank you for helping me tell this story and bring my craft to a new level. Your respect, talent and friendship are my treasures. You helped me weave the Latino male perspective throughout my piece.
Special Thanks To My One-Act Festival Director (March 2009), and coach (Brownsville Bred, Novemeber Nuyorican Poets Cafe 2009 run) fellow WYNNer, Heather Girardi : I asked you to be my Director because you laugh and cry without abandon and always brought out the positive. While performing excerpts in our acting class; your familiar laughter in the dark audience, helped me know what worked best. Your curiosity encouraged my writing process, helping launch my memory and exploration.
This show was made possible by the growth and experience provided at The Wynn Handman Studios, by the leadership of the incomparable WYNN HANDMAN. After two years of scene study with this master, In September 2008, he allowed me to start working on each scene I wrote in class. Putting it on it's feet. His encouragement made me need to have the next scene ready by next class. The words poured onto the page and my heart followed on his stage. Wynn Handman Studios remains the trial stage before each new Brownsville Bred run. " When Wynn told me, I have the right to be persistent,it was the best thing that I had ever heard and so I continue my journey to make Brownsville Bred worthy of that statement.
To Wynn: You are an Inspirational Acting Teacher and Leader. Thank you for making me an ACTOR. Thank you for allowing me the privilege of developing this piece with you, and for helping me to name my show. Applause by the hands of Wynn Handman, is like winning 8 Oscars, 2 Tonys and 1 Golden Globe…in the same year.
To My fellow WYNNers: The camaraderie we have together is what set this story FREE. Your words of encouragement were what fueled me to write every next scene. Because I trust so much in your judgment, I never talked myself off this beautiful ledge.
Special Thanks to My Director (The One Festival/April 2009) Paul J. Michael: Thank you for helping me tell this story and bring my craft to a new level. Your respect, talent and friendship are my treasures. You helped me weave the Latino male perspective throughout my piece.
Special Thanks To My One-Act Festival Director (March 2009), and coach (Brownsville Bred, Novemeber Nuyorican Poets Cafe 2009 run) fellow WYNNer, Heather Girardi : I asked you to be my Director because you laugh and cry without abandon and always brought out the positive. While performing excerpts in our acting class; your familiar laughter in the dark audience, helped me know what worked best. Your curiosity encouraged my writing process, helping launch my memory and exploration.
To My Technical Team, Patrick Woodall and Joie Bauer. Two amazingly talented Actors and crew. Thank You for being behind the scenes and supporting me throughout my entire career with Brownsville Bred. It's not a one woman show, it's a team effort and there is no team I'd rather have!
To Ruth Otero: Your One Woman Show (LOSING MY RELIGION) gave me the incredible wish of someday writing and performing my own show. Later Ruth's One Woman Show workshop via Double Jointed Productions, provided the tools that helped words on a page transform to-- the postcard-- the press release-- the festival submissions, and finally show day.
To Ruth Otero: Your One Woman Show (LOSING MY RELIGION) gave me the incredible wish of someday writing and performing my own show. Later Ruth's One Woman Show workshop via Double Jointed Productions, provided the tools that helped words on a page transform to-- the postcard-- the press release-- the festival submissions, and finally show day.
To Sonny Townsend: Thank You for helping me to create the video portion of Brownsville Bred. An insight into todays Brownsville, helps me accomplish the mission of truth. Before each show I see the footage you shot and I think of the responsibility I look forward to, representing a place that seems to house the forgotten and overlooked
Special Thanks also to Champion Hamilton, of Champion Eye Media, the official photographer of BROWNSVILLE BRED. Thank you for your support and faith. Your brilliant capture evokes immediate response and representation. Most pictures are worth a thousand words. Yours represent my life, the history of my ancestry, a neighborhood and an era.
To My Husband Al: Thank you for your example of work ethic and for always reaching for the improbable best. Watching your success showed me anything is POSSIBLE. Thank You for sacrificing days and nights so that I may realize this dream, and release my story to the world. Where others trek experience in darkness to hide a shame, you clear a visionary's path where pride is found and hearts can shine. I SHINE because of You. Oh, how I love you!
To My Sister Ana and Brothers Ben and Danny: Through your protection and strength, I walked through Brownsville with less fear, and a feeling of belonging. I am so lucky to have, and to trust in, such a close and loving family. You all lead lives that make me so proud.
To Mami: Finding Mami in my character work has helped me to get to know you even better; and to know you better is to love you more. You are and have always been a Wonderful, loving Mother, and a caring person. Thank You for reading me Cinderella 5,289 times (and yes you can play that number tomorrow), and for always managing to find the money to buy me those Barbie Dolls I loved so much.
To the teachers of P.S. 284, in Brownsville Brooklyn, NY; My Grade school experience gave me a surrounding of decency and well meaning. Thank you for driving from your nice homes in Suburbia to teach kids like me, that there is a world outside of Brownsville. Thanks to the foundations and organizations that provide gifts at Christmas time to under privileged kids at P.S. 284. Although I thought the volleyball was a funny looking basketball, I knew someone was thinking of me and hoping to make me smile... It still makes me smile today.
Finally to my Father: Here it is Papi! My Painting of the Puerto Rican Flag on the Living Room Wall: I see the colors, I hear the salsa music, I taste the food and I feel the pride.
For More Info On Brownsville click here- WARNING- Adult Content
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brownsville,_Brooklyn
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCOTHjiWAkI&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJWp3c2l2YA
To My Sister Ana and Brothers Ben and Danny: Through your protection and strength, I walked through Brownsville with less fear, and a feeling of belonging. I am so lucky to have, and to trust in, such a close and loving family. You all lead lives that make me so proud.
To Mami: Finding Mami in my character work has helped me to get to know you even better; and to know you better is to love you more. You are and have always been a Wonderful, loving Mother, and a caring person. Thank You for reading me Cinderella 5,289 times (and yes you can play that number tomorrow), and for always managing to find the money to buy me those Barbie Dolls I loved so much.
To the teachers of P.S. 284, in Brownsville Brooklyn, NY; My Grade school experience gave me a surrounding of decency and well meaning. Thank you for driving from your nice homes in Suburbia to teach kids like me, that there is a world outside of Brownsville. Thanks to the foundations and organizations that provide gifts at Christmas time to under privileged kids at P.S. 284. Although I thought the volleyball was a funny looking basketball, I knew someone was thinking of me and hoping to make me smile... It still makes me smile today.
Finally to my Father: Here it is Papi! My Painting of the Puerto Rican Flag on the Living Room Wall: I see the colors, I hear the salsa music, I taste the food and I feel the pride.
For More Info On Brownsville click here- WARNING- Adult Content
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brownsville,_Brooklyn
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCOTHjiWAkI&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJWp3c2l2YA
This autobiographical dramatic comedy 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.
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 family's struggle, 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.
THE NY DAILY NEWS calls it POWERFUL and names it in their TOP TEN PICKS!
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 family's struggle, 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.
THE NY DAILY NEWS calls it POWERFUL and names it in their TOP TEN PICKS!
A One Woman Show
Written, Performed & Lived by:
Elaine Del Valle
WINNER March 2009 "ONE ACT" FESTIVAL
WINNER BEST ACTRESS
WINNER BEST SCRIPT
WINNER BEST SHOW
WINNER April 2009 Teatro LA TEA's
"THE ONE" FESTIVAL
Written, Performed & Lived by:
Elaine Del Valle
WINNER March 2009 "ONE ACT" FESTIVAL
WINNER BEST ACTRESS
WINNER BEST SCRIPT
WINNER BEST SHOW
WINNER April 2009 Teatro LA TEA's
"THE ONE" FESTIVAL
CREDITS (The BROWNSVILLE BRED Team)
WYNN HANDMAN- Mentor, Acting Coach
PAUL J. MICHAEL- Director, The ONE Festival
HEATHER GIRARDI- Director, The Networks ONE-ACT Festival,
Coach, November 2009 The Nuyorican Poets Cafe
CHAMPION HAMILTON- Official Photographer
PATRICK WOODALL- Stage Manager, Sound
JOIE BAUER- Lighting, Sound
SONNY TOWNSEND- Brownsville Footage Provider
DEL VALLE PRODUCTIONS, INC- Producer
AL ESKANAZY- Producer
ELAINE DEL VALLE- Writer