How did you decide to write/perform BROWNSVILLE BRED?
As an actor, I have long admired the one person show format...It was always a dream of mine to trust that I was at a level to carry a performance that required so much from one person.
Writing the show was another story-- I had been writing journal entries for many years, since I was eleven. Trying to write rap songs and thought myself as a potential star rapper...thinking my words about becoming a superhero in the projects could make a difference. At about 13, my "friends" told me, that they didn’t want to hear my dumb raps anymore, so I moved on.
As a teen I was encouraged by my teachers to write in a journal, and I would write poems and just words which proved to be a wonderful outlet for me...In my writing I felt there was a gift. I felt profound, and not just able to express but able to convey.
Throughout the years I was embarrassed of where I came from...the devastating circumstances (welfare, poverty, drugs, AIDS, uneducated parents)---all things that would make so many hesitant to want to get to know me. I would readily lie than admit to the devastation. But later (about three years ago) when I came to the Wynn Handman studios I found a place where I was safe to be anything… even me.
After two years of studying with Wynn, some of my classmates and I developed a writers group. Their curiosity sharpened my story. Then I put some of my journal words "ON THEIR FEET" (as we say in class)... and to my amazement-- Wynn Loved it! I felt inspired by the encouragement of this master and my fellow classmates. Within three months I had finished writing BROWNSVILLE BRED and while Wynn changed only one thing--A SINGLE LINE (he had me start with a line, I previously placed in the 4th minute)...then the whole thing just felt right-- I had to write it--It poured through me--It wrote itself.
As a Hispanic growing up in a predominately African American ghetto, and who currently resides in a predominately Caucasian suburb, I had often felt the Latino experience was misunderstood...I felt a need to enlighten people and say HEY I'M THAT PERSON, SEE, THIS IS ME, THIS IS WHAT LATINO IS. What Brownsville Bred does is present characters; you can’t help but identify with and grow to love. I am someone, with means, who has done important things for many others and who has made a difference in this world and community that we all share...I was able to do those things, not in spite of where I came from, BUT BECAUSE of where I came from. It was my answer to snap judgments and limitations people place on others. Watching people, like my mother, be dismissed or underestimated is no longer acceptable to me. I wanted to tell the true story, and let people into our lives, so that they can better understand our experience, in hopes that the better understanding would prove to impact, not just how they saw me and my family, but everyone under that same umbrella of circumstance.
Amongst other characters in the piece, I narrate as myself from ages 11 to 17. I felt strongly about speaking through this voice and in street slang, because the voice of poor youth is too often ignored. "My science teacher say, that WATER is the most deceiving thing on earf. You look at it, and it looks all calm and pretty, but underneath there's so much goin’ on. You can’t judge it." In editing my play I realized, that was the recurring theme in BROWNSVILLE BRED…You Can't Judge a Book by its cover—and I feel that each scene honors this notion.
About your audience--you had your stepdaughter there--Does who you have watching change your performance and/or change how you feel about it? How did you feel after Monday's performance?
The performance Monday, November 16th felt great. The show always feels best when playing to a sold out crowd. I loved the fact that there were people of all ages, ethnicities and backgrounds under one roof.
My entire family has seen my performance multiple times. My step daughter, sister, niece, and husband (he never misses a show) were all there that night. When I am performing, I do not think about one person in particular, but I feel that the audience is a whole, because together, they’ve laughed, cried and listened in total silence.
The last part of my show, “the recap”, is where we all are today. It is always partly improvised…because everyday is a new page in our lives.
What does change is; Every time my Mother is in the audience I have her take a bow.
Also, you're considering performing in Brownsville for high school students, correct? How, if at all, would you change your material for them? What would you leave out? Why?
I would like to visit many schools to perform. There are shows that go onto college tours and I would like to be a part of that as well.
But, I actually have already performed for a group of High School students from Brownsville. They came to me, by way of an audience member that was a teacher, who after seeing the show, contacted me to tell me about his students and how he wished they could see it. I had offered to perform it at his school, The Linden Learning Center, but he informed me that their school was housed in a trailer. So, I arranged for a theater to donate a space and I donated my time and crew and performed it for them. I did not change anything for them. I feel my show is appropriate for anyone over 12, but have had audiences of as young as 8 (my niece). My sister felt it was important and created a platform to talk about things that might make a young person uncomfortable. Audience members have informed me that they love that quality in my show; the fact that I open up about things that most people keep secret…I have come to realize that it’s the release of those private things that break any stranglehold they may have over a person. I learned that from audience feedback…They have convinced me that Brownsville Bred is important and thought provoking, which further fuels my passion and confidence when presenting and representing it.
What do you want your audience to get out of your show? Or is it more for yourself?
It all started with me just wanting to tell a great story.
For the audience--I really just want the audience to become invested in the story and the characters. I want them to laugh hard and cry hard. I want them to root for the characters, feel empathic to their circumstances and inspired by their victories.
For me---I feel that this is a wonderful tribute to my Father and my family. I have also come to realize that it is a vehicle for me as a performer, writer and producer. Brownsville Bred has upped my game…My name has greater value now, and I treasure that, so the projects I take on from this moment forward will have to match that criteria. Whereas before I just wanted to help people get their show done, now if it has my name attached to it, it has got to meet a certain level of excellence deserving of my time. When someone learns of my involvement, I want it to be synonymous with a level worthy of their attention. I have and currently act as producer or actress on the projects of others. I have always liked to help others and now (with my production company) I can help worthy scripts or ideas meet fruition. Moreover, I want what is best for the project, so whether that finds me in front of the camera or behind it, I am confident that I can check my ego at the door and recognize where I can be most effective.
I feel that with Brownsville Bred I may fulfill my dream of winning a Pulitzer in Drama, and to be picked up as a one woman show, by a major cable network…which I feel will launch me, not only as a sought after actress, but also as someone who can green light other important works, the first of which could be Brownsville Bred, as a film and/or series. Growing up I had two favorite series, Good Times and Little House on the Prairie. I feel both had a quality that helped me be a better person.
What did you decide first: to do a one-person show, or that you wanted to put your journal entries into a performance?
I had started the compilation of journal entries in this format with the hopes of creating a book on tape, with hopes that a producer would hear it and want to make it into a film or series. As I read it aloud, I realized that writing in this way, made it easy to adapt it to a one person show format.
What Acting Classes do you recommend?
For serious actors, I’d recommend The William Esper Program and Wynn Handman Studios, but for someone not sure if they will pursue a serious commitment in acting, I feel HB Studios is a great place to start. It has a great reputation and is revered by the casting community. They also have reasonable rates, and lots of classes, which you can audit before signing up for. I also highly recommend that EVERYONE take Improv classes (like the ones offered at The P.I.T. (Peoples Improv Theater). Kevin Scott is my favorite Improv teacher thus far. It really loosens people up, let’s you think outside of the box and it’s so much fun. You can’t prepare, if you don’t know what is coming…that element of improv keeps you ready, helps you trust yourself and eventually makes you fearless.
How did you choose your Location/Venue?
The Nuyorican is rich in history and has a highly regarded name. It is my pleasure to perform in the space. The management is professional, dedicated and WONDERFUL! I love the stage and its brick walls. I love the idea of Nuyorican bringing urban artists in to share an experience. I also love the tables and pub/cafe feel (much like Joe’s Pub) for its intimacy and warmth, and the energy it inspires for audiences to experience something together. I am proud that I have brought a new audience to the style, and beautiful works emerging from the Nuyorican.
I've also read that there have been different time lengths of your performance, why this differentiation? Do you leave certain things out sometimes? What things and why?
My first production of BROWNSVILLE BRED was as part of THE ONE ACT FESTIVAL, which required me to cut my 80 minute show, down to just 20 minutes, which translated to 8 pages.
The parts with my father were maintained as the beginning, middle and end. It pained me to cut any of the material, but with the help of an acting colleague who agreed to be my director Heather Girardi for my first show, we managed to find what was most important to the story. We WON the festival and swept awards for BEST DIRECTOR, BEST SHOW, BEST SCRIPT, and BEST ACTRESS. At the next Festival, (directed by Paul J. Michael) I brought it to 50 minutes, because it was performing with one other show every night and I felt that length was considerate to the audience. Now at the Nuyorican it's at 75 minutes. I also added a film element that I felt was important to start the show. The footage of Brownsville Brooklyn, today was filmed by my former next door neighbor in Brownsville, Sonny Townsend. We bumped into each other on the streets of Manhattan. He was doing documentaries about Brownsville and I thought this would be a great collaboration of efforts. Throughout the footage, there is a scrolling text of “wikipedia’s” definition of Brownsville...To me their definition amounts to HOPELESSNESS, but my life and my show is full of HOPE -- at the end of the footage I write "But this is my story. I was Brownsville Bred...and I will not be defined."--That's when the play begins.
Can you reflect on anything about your show?
I have had many months with the piece to reflect on the meaning of it all. But just as in acting in the plays of others, I keep finding new things. In this case, those new things happen to be wonderful morsels that my subconscious placed on the page and have patiently awaited my discovery. Sometimes I am on stage and I am crying...not just in the parts when I am meant to, but throughout...I think because it is so deeply personal and while that last scene in the show may have passed, the feeling remains....Just as in life, We are product of every experience, and while we may move on, those experiences stay with us. I am thankful that others care to know of my experiences and hopefully have a much needed laugh and cry from them.
What is the best feeling as a writer/performer?
Easily, it’s when people let me know that they have been impacted and inspired by my show. I feel especially proud, when previous audience members, return with their family or co-workers, because they felt the need to share its impact.
Anything you want to add?
Yes. A few years ago I was studying Oil on Canvas, painting. My teacher asked of us "Why do we paint?" The answer he said was the same for every artist, "To prove we exist." In a way BROWNSVILLE BRED is the proof of existence for my deceased Father....a great man with so much potential, who lost his way, but whose legacy lives in my pages, my heart and now my audience.
For Tickets and information visit www.BrownsvilleBred.com
The autobiographical show takes the audience through an “emotional rollercoaster” that is uplifting, heartbreaking and powerful as they witness a recreation of life in the tough Brownsville projects during the 1980’s NY crack and crime epidemic.
Crime, Drugs and Poverty mix with the Joys of Family, Hope, Salsa and the Birth of Rap.
AN INTERVIEW WITH ELAINE DEL VALLE ABOUT BROWNSVILLE BRED
The following interview was born of a recent correspondence with Columbia University students, whose next essay was to be on BROWNSVILLE BRED.
For this assignment the students were to write a critical academic essay, how BROWNSVILLE BRED relates to a larger performance quality, purpose or significance.
The following interview was born of a recent correspondence with Columbia University students, whose next essay was to be on BROWNSVILLE BRED.
For this assignment the students were to write a critical academic essay, how BROWNSVILLE BRED relates to a larger performance quality, purpose or significance.