REPRESENTA!

REPRESENTA!

Performed by Paul S. Flores and Julio Cardenas 

Developed and Directed by Danny Hoch

Despite an atmosphere laden with the stereotypes and anxieties that exist between North Americans and Cubans, REPRESENTA! chronicles what happens when Chicano spoken word poet Flores and Cuban rapper Cardenas meet in Cuba at the Havana Hip-Hop Festival and the two artists develop a friendship. But their relationship, ideals, and dreams are challenged when Cardenas decides to stay in the United States while on tour in New York City immediately after 9/11. 

REPRESENTA! is a bilingual play for the Hip Hop generation that combines spoken-word poetry with character portrayals that are simultaneously hilariously entertaining and provocative. REPRESENTA! explores global themes— youth culture, immigration, terrorism, and the Pan-Latino identity with comedy and parody.  

REPRESENTA! premiered in 2007 at the Hip-Hop Theater Festival: Bay Area at La Peña Cultural Center, and the San Francisco International Arts Festival at Mission Cultural Center. REPRESENTA! toured through 2009 to GALA Hispanic Theater (DC), Abrons Art Center (NYC), New Jersey Performing Arts Center, Lehigh University, University of Illinois, University of Michigan, MECA-Houston, Teatro Hugo Arguelles (Mexico City), Taller Puertorriqueño (PA), Intermedia Arts (MN), El Centro Su Teatro (Denver), and Talento Bilingüe de Houston.

Running Time: 80-minutes with a 10-minute intermission. Presented with English supertitles.