Uplifting Tribute to the Bronx GROWING UP GONZALES to Hit Medicine Show Theater

From Executive Producers Maria Torres, John O'Connor, Michael and Sandra Lang, Maria Barreto and Linda Garcia comes GROWING UP GONZALES, a vibrant and uplifting Bronx tale. Previews begin on Friday, March 17th at Medicine Show Theater, 549 West 52nd Street between 10th and 11th Avenues. The production's official opening will be on Thursday, March 30th at 7PM.

Written and Directed by Felix Rojas, GROWING UP GONZALES features Andres "Chulisi" Rodriguez as Johnny Gonzales, a Puerto Rican Bronx native who is forced to clean out the apartment of his recently deceased younger brother, Cisco. In doing so, he discovers a treasure chest full of colorful, detailed personal notes left behind by Cisco. Pages and pages of notes detail vibrant comic and tragic moments of the past. These innocent interpretations of love, life and everything in between thrust Johnny upon a magical journey of discovery and forgiveness against the backdrop of a pulsating and affectionate 1970's South Bronx.

Growing Up Gonzales is a one-man show about brotherly love and the healing powerin being able to say goodbye.

GROWING UP GONZALES first premiered at Pregones Theater in The Bronx in 2010. The following year it ran at the Sixth Street Playhouse to full houses, but little notice. The "sleeper" play then took the leap uptown for an Off-Broadway run at the Jan Hus Playhouse as a four-week limited engagement that turned into a seven month run. That run was followed by a successful month long run at The Poet's Den Theater on the Upper East Side and a five- month run at Teatro SEA in the East Village. Growing up Gonzales has entertained audiences from all walks of life.

Playwright & Director Felix Rojas works for the stage include Hotel Presidential, From The Mind Of Cheo, Mandance, Joy's Chaos. Works for the screen include On The Downlow, A Place For Us, Perfect Vision and Papi's Promise. He is a prolific content creator with several films, pilots for television and a theatrical musical currently in development.

Andres Chulisi Rodriguez isan HOLA award winning and AUDELCO nominated actor, self published author of his book "Slips, Trips and Falls" a collection of personal essays and poetry. A performance poet and facilitator to acting and writing workshops. He has produced and directed a comedy troupe Lose Controltv, which can be found on YouTube. His one-man show "I'm Just Saying" sold out The National Black Theater this September and he performed it again on stage Feb 2016 at The Puerto Rican Traveling Theater. He was nominated for a people's choice award for solo performer for an H.O.L.A award for 2016. He just performed his new one- man show - Welcome To The Ghetto in October 2016 to a sold out crowd at Mott Haven Bar and grill. Brooklyn born and raised he now resides in Harlem and is a facilitator to Full Circle Ensemble - a critically acclaimed group of writers from the Bronx.

The production features Lighting Design by James 'Prez' Carter and Sound design by Nick Rojas. Angie Baez is the Company Stage Manager. Justyna Kostek is the Assistant Stage Manager. Saida Rios is the box office and Business Manager.

General Admission tickets to GROWING UP GONZALEZ are $45. $60 Premium Seating (first two rows guaranteed plus complementary wine or soft drinks) is also available. Click on the following link to purchase tickets: www.ticketpeak.com/online-calendar-events.php.

Performances of GROWING UP GONZALES are on Thursdays through Sundays. Thursdays at 7PM, Fridays at 8PM, Saturdays at 8PM and Sundays at 4PM. There is no Thursday performance on April 6. The theater is two flights up on the 3rd floor. If you require the use of an elevator you must be at the theater 30 minutes to an hour before each performance. The running time is 01:50. Which includes one intermission. For more about the show, go to www.growingupgonzales.com.