"Lucio Fernandez is more than what some people commonly call a triple threat: having an ability to sing, act and dance. Fernandez surpasses that by a mile, mastering other artistic pursuits such as inking his own poetry and drawing up sketches."
--The Jersey Journal
Lucio Fernandez*
Lucio is presently Commissioner of the City of Union City, Chairman of the Union City Redevelopment Board, and President of the Union City Day Care Program. He has served as Trustee of the Union City Board of Education, Commissioner for the Union City Housing Authority, President of the Union City Public Library Friends, Inc., and as member of several other committees. Lucio is a graduate of Rutgers University, and studied acting in New York City with the legendary acting teacher Bobby Lewis. |
Lucio Fernandez has had a varied and successful career working extensively as an actor, singer, dancer, director, and producer. He recently performed his one man show entitled “The Cuban Kid” at Don’t Tell Mama and at The Duplex Cabaret Theatre in New York City. As a vocalist, he has appeared in concert as a solo artist and has released a music CD entitled "Volver a Ti" as well as a poetry CD featuring his own poetry entitled “Lucio Fernandez, Poetry”.
Lucio has traveled the world with several Broadway shows including WEST SIDE STORY, GUYS AND DOLLS, A CHORUS LINE, JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, and ON THE TOWN. He has worked with many of Broadway's leading directors and choreographers, including Jerome Robbins, Jerry Zaks, Michael Peters, Robert Longbottom, and Alan Johnson. For three years, he was a principal actor with Repertorio Español in NYC where he performed in STRAWBERRY & CHOCOLATE, VIEQUES, LUMINARIA, EL PUBLICO, EL CANO, TE JURO JUANA..., THE NEXT STOP, etc.
Lucio has performed alongside many great artists including Marc Anthony, Shirley MacLaine, Gene Kelly, The Pointer Sisters, Tommy Tune, Susan Lucci, Shirley Verrett, Lupita Ferrer, and Lorna Luft. He has performed at many of the world's finest theatres including Lincoln Center in New York City, the Chatelet in Paris, and the Berlin Opera House. He has made appearances on many television shows including a recurring role as an "orderly" on the daytime series ALL MY CHILDREN. Presently, he is the host of the television show LIVE ON STAGE, and co-host of ENSALADA, both on CABLEVISION. Lucio has appeared in many television and radio commercials for products such as Coca-Cola, Budweiser, Sprite, Panasonic, Kudos, etc. He has worked extensively as a voice-over artist, and did the looping for the role of "Lazaro" in the award winning feature film "Before Night Falls". Recently he has appeared in concert along side such notable Latin recording artist as Jose Luis Rodriguez “El Puma”, Sophy de Puerto Rico, Elio Roca, Malena Burke, and Roberto Ledesma.
Lucio is the author of two poetry books, two children's books, a dozen plays, and is the founder and served as the first Editor-in-Chief of the publication SUNLIGHT NEWS. He has directed, choreographed, and produced many shows, from big musicals to one-character plays, from children's performances to benefit concerts. His comedy TILL DEATH DO US PART premiered at The Grace Theatre in 2001, and then played at Newark Symphony Hall, followed by a run at The Gramercy Arts Theatre in NYC. His family musical FRIEND WANTED also premiered at The Grace Theatre before touring through many of New Jersey's best theatres. His original production, HAVANA MOON, The Musical played to a sold-out audience at Newark Symphony Hall, then at the Park Performing Arts Center, with plans for a NYC run. Recently Lucio starred in the lavish Vegas-style revue VEGAS VEGAS VEGAS; the musical comedy TANGO IDA Y VUELTA, and NOCHE EN TROPICANA.
Lucio was co-founder and Artistic Director of The Grace Theatre Workshop, Inc., the premiere presenter of bilingual and Spanish language theatre in the State of New Jersey. He has taught dance, drama, and playwriting, as well as participated in many school career days, and lectured at many organizations.
He has received many awards including the Premio ARTES Award in the category of "Best Actor" for VEGAS VEGAS VEGAS, The Musical Extravaganza; several proclamations and citations including a proclamation from Union City Mayor Brian P. Stack for his artistic achievements and contributions to the community; and Proclamations from former New Jersey Governor James E. McGreevy; and received “The Distinguished Man of the Year 2003 Award”.
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Peter A. DuBo’ (Director) is a graduate of the University of Chile with a BA in The History and Theory of The Arts. His thesis, “Blood Weddings, Theater, Movie and Drama” studies the semiotic relations between the three. Thus as a critic, he reviews the aesthetic of the performance and does not attempt to recount the argument itself.
Mr. DuBo's love of the Arts has enabled him to write, produce, direct and act. While residing in Chile he created and directed many theatrical groups with their productions of “La Remolienda”, “Animas de Dia Claro”, and “Mi hermano Cristian” by Alejandro Sieveking. In Brazil Mr. DuBo was a Drama Coach for “SESC da Esquina” and worked on and directed classical plays like: “A Farsa do Advogado Pathelin”, “Fuenteovejuna” by Lope de Vega, “Contos de Natal” by Calderon de la Barca, “Curitiba 500 Anos” by Julmar Leardini, and "Lautaro a Epopeia do Povo Mapuche” by Isidora Aguirre .
Currently living in New York City he has worked with many theater companies such as the CSV Cultural Center, The Grace Theatre Workshop, TEA Theater where he directed the play “Cinema Utoppia” by Ramon Griffero, Pregones, SEA, IATI, Teatro Circulo, LATE, Teatro de Comedias de Cecill Villar, Teatro Retablo, and Tocando Puertas. He was assistant director for the productions of “EL Espiritu Burlon”; “Cuestion de vida o muerte”, and “Confesiones de Marica”, and was co-director of “Hablemos a Calzon Quitao”.
As an Actor he was nominated by the “Asociación de Críticos de Espectaculos” (ACE) for his role in “Jugemos en el Bosque Mientras Lobito no Esta” by America Barrera, and won the 2004 Best Character Actor ACE Award for his portrayal of Mr. Santiago in the theatrical presentation of “El Avaro” by Jean Baptiste Poquelin “Moliere”.
He has set out to enrich the minds of our youth by collaborating with SOBRO, an organization whose goal is to work with the community in ways such as to introduce teens to the Arts by teaching them the different facets of a theatrical production from start to finish. In 2006 they produced the short film “On Da Grind” and are currently working on a Talk Show Project.
Mr. DuBo has devoted his life to the Arts. One of his many current projects is his portrayal of the Cowardly Lion in the “Magnificent Wizard of Oz” an adaptation of the original Wizard of Oz. He also is Co-Executive Producer and along with Jurakan Productions is part of the Children’s Educational Services (C.E.S.). |
Gerard Karabin (Playwright) has written “Begin” a collection of poetry, the screenplay “Vampire in Union City”, the musical revue “Patriotic Moment”, and the plays “The Street Sweeper” and “Speedo & the Straight Man”.
Gerard has served on the Board of Directors of The Grace Theatre Workshop, Union City Library Friends, Inc., Union City Public Library Board of Trustees, and as City Historian for the City of Union City.
As a poet he has performed his poetry at The Grace Theatre Workshop, the Jersey City Museum, The Duplex Cabaret Theatre, The Monroe Center for the Arts, just to mention a few.
Gerard attended New Jersey City University and has received several awards including Distinguished Man of the Year 2005, Proclamation by the City of Union City, and various Citations from the New Jersey General Assembly. |
Susanna Crisan (Script Consultant) has written many plays in English and Spanish as well as scripts for television, children’s’ theatre, and musicals.
She had much success in Argentina. Her play for young g audiences “Nena Busca Algo” was performed at the theatres Candilejas and Argentino in Buenos Aires; the play for puppet theatre “a e i o u, Se Rebelan” won the award Premio Renard de Literatura Infantil granted by Institute Renard of Buenos Aires; her teleplay “Y Las Palomas a Los Niños Hablaran” was awarded Premio de Teatro Infantil, and was televised by Channel 7, Buenos Aires, under the auspices of the Argentine General Society of Authors; and the tragedy in four acts “Los Idolatras” received the award “Mención Estimulo en Teatro” of the Isidoro Ricardo Steinberg Foundation in Argentina.
Her musical play for children “La Ingeniosa Natty y El Canto Perdido” (“Witty Natty and the Lost Song”) was presented in 1983 as a bilingual play at Rincon Taino/La Tea Theatre in New York City and in 1985 at William Redfield Theatre in New York City for the HOLA Festival; and the play for young audiences “If Only I Could Be” has been performed in English, Spanish, and bilingual since 1993, at museums, schools, parks, community centers, hospitals, and in theatres throughout New York City.
Other plays include: “The Journey”, “Smiles and Wisdom”, My Dog is Better than Yours”, “Manuela y las Habichuelas”, “Una Señora Muy Virtuosa”, “The Conversation”, and “The Traveling Sparrow”. |
