The Phoenix Theatre of Indianapolis Presents CALL ME BORICUA 2/11-21

The Phoenix Theatre of Indianapolis announces the Midwest Premiere of Call Me Boricua! Written and performed by Ricardo Melendez, this one-man show starts Thursday, February 11, and runs through February 21, 2010 in the Frank & Katrina Basile Theatre at the Phoenix. Presented by The Phoenix Theatre (Indianapolis) and The Workshop Theatre Group (Virginia), Call Me Boricua! was originally performed at the Benjack Studio Theatre at Todd Rosenlieb Dance Center in Norfolk, Virginia.

Call Me Boricua! tells the story of a native Puerto Rican who travels from Puerto Rico to America in 14,600 days. Mr. Melendez chronicles his experiences with wit, charisma and a wonderful self-deprecating charm. Nothing is sacred in the retelling of this journey, including everything from the excitement and heartbreak of first love to auditioning for shows in New York City and not being Puerto Rican enough for West Side Story.

All is not hilarious in this coming-of-age tale. Looking past the clever observations and hilarious characters, there are stories of personal challenges and private choices that have shaped Boricua into what he is today. Originally from San Juan, Puerto Rico, Mr. Melendez is no stranger to Indianapolis audiences. As an actor, he has been in Phoenix Productions for over a decade, including most recently portraying Andy in Octopus and Gordon in The Most Damaging Wound. Mr. Melendez holds a BA degree in Dance Pedagogy from Butler University and an MFA degree in Theater from Brooklyn College, New York. Some of his East Coast credits include Hamlet in Hamlet at Theatre 22 (New York City), Rodolfo in A View from the Bridge, at the Gershwin Theater (New York City) Becket in Jean Anouilh's Becket or The Honor of God, Orsino in Twelfth Night, Puck in A Midsummer Night's Dream, Goss in Bug by Tracy Letts, and Gregory in Terrence McNally's Love, Valor, Compassion.
As a dancer, Mr. Melendez is the Former Artistic Director for Ballets De San Juan (Puerto Rico) and Principle Dancer and Assistant Artistic Director for Dance Kaleidoscope (Indianapolis). He has also performed with The Alvin Ailey DanceEnsemble and Ballet Hispanico of New York. Mr. Melendez is also an international choreographer whose work has been seen across the United States as well as in Italy and the Caribbean. Currently a teacher at both the Governor's School for the Arts in the theatre and dance departments and at Tidewater Community College (both in Norfolk, VA), Mr. Melendez is a member of Actors' Equity Association.

For Phoenix Producing Director Bryan Fonseca, who is directing Call Me Boricua!, the show represents the culmination of many years working with Mr. Melendez and respecting his talents as both an actor and dancer. "I have known Ricardo for over 20 years. Not only is he a great storyteller and fine actor, he is also a good friend, so it seems natural that I would be involved with bringing this one-man show to life."

The Boricua portion of the show's title comes from a term that Puerto Ricans often use to identify themselves and is derived from the Taíno word Boriken, which some believe translates to "the great land of the valiant and noble Lord." The use of the word Boricua has been popularized in the island and abroad by descendents of Puerto Rican heritage, commonly using the phrase, "Yo soy Boricua" ("I am Boricua," or "I am Puerto Rican") to identify themselves as Puerto Ricans.
In keeping with the Phoenix' on-going effort to represent the growing Latino culture in Indianapolis, Call Me Boricua! will be presented in Spanish on Sunday, February 21 at 2:30 pm. This performance is free to the public.
Ticket Prices

Thanks to the generosity of Duke Energy, our CheapSeats performances have expanded to Thursdays and Sundays, so our prices for the 2009-2010 Season are $15.00 per person on Thursdays and Sundays. The Phoenix continues to offer Friday and Saturday shows for $20.00 per person (down from $25.00 last season) and a youth rate of $15 for those 24 and under. All seating is general admission on a first-come, first-served basis. Performances are Thursdays at 7:00 pm; Fridays at 8:00 p.m., Saturdays at 8:00 pm. and Sundays at 2:00 pm. Doors open ½ hour prior to curtain for seating. The Phoenix Pub, located inside the theatre, offers beer, wine, soft drinks, coffee, and bottled water, as well as treats, and all refreshments may be taken into either theatre and consumed during the performance.

For more information about any Phoenix Productions or to purchase tickets, call The Phoenix Theatre box office at 317.635.PLAY(7529). Tickets may also be purchased online. The theatre's website is www.phoenixtheatre.org.

The Phoenix Theatre is Indiana's only professional contemporary theatre, and has presented productions to challenge and entertain the Indianapolis community for 26 years. An Equity house, the Theatre presents the Midwest and Indiana premieres of many popular Broadway and Off-Broadway plays, and has presented more than 70 world premieres in its quarter century. The Phoenix operates the 130-seat proscenium Mainstage as well as the 75-seat cabaret-style black box Frank & Katrina Basile (buh-SEAL) Theatre. The Phoenix Pub, located in the Basile Theatre, serves beer, wine, coffee, soft drinks, water, and treats, and patrons may take all refreshments into either theatre. Both venues are housed along with administrative offices in a renovated 1907 church in downtown Indianapolis' historic Chatham Arch neighborhood, part of the Mass Ave Arts & Theatre District. The Phoenix Theatre is a member of the National New Play Network and the League of Indianapolis Theatres, and is supported by the Indiana Arts Commission, the Arts Council of Indianapolis, and the National Endowment for the Arts, as well as local corporate and foundation funders and more than 500 individual donors.