Awarded OVERALL EXCELLENCE in SOLO PERFORMANCE at this year’s NYC FRINGE FESTIVAL
A one-man show written and performed by Jay Alvarez
Directed by Theresa Gambacorta
Three performances only: 7:30 p.m. Monday-Wednesday, Sept. 19-21, 2011 • $15 advance, $17 door • English
Tickets: 503-236-7253 or Online Box Office
Sponsored by Cubanísimo Vineyards
At times brutal, at times full of laughter and love, “Be Careful! The Sharks Will Eat You!” played to sold out audiences in New York City and Miami Florida. This true story takes you to the sultry beats of The Tropicana in the 1950s, the danger of Fulgencio Batista’s fall and Fidel Castro’s rise to power, a political revolution and a CIA attempt to separate children from parents, the longing for a better life that propels one to throw themselves, under the cover of a moonless night into the unknown — events that shaped the Alvarez family’s escape from Cuba in 1964 when Jay was 4-1/2 years old.
“Be Careful! The Sharks Will Eat You” is an intimate solo journey crafted from my life as a Cuban-American that interweaves family history- including text rendered from a recording done of my father, Humberto Alvarez before he passed, with the history of my island — my warm, sultry , sexy island and my understanding of where she resides in my heart and soul. My journey in this play not only connects to one of our countryʼs most incendiary discussions — immigration, but it is also a personal, honest, and dynamic piece of theatre that hits its mark by engaging the universal in the specific question that it poses.
For more information, visit Jay’s website at www.sharkswilleatyou.com.
Watch a video: http://vimeo.com/23345163
THRILLING. FASCINATING. SPELLBINDING.
“Directed by Theresa Gambacorta, at Stage Left Studio Theatre, the story is told in such a fascinating way that you are spellbound. Jay Alvarez’ remarkable one man show is thrilling and seamless. By the end of the play we feel as if we know each of these characters and feel their joy and pain. The changes from one character to another and the beats between scenes are done effortlessly with an honesty that leaves you wanting to know what happens after they arrive in Florida. This is a story of courage and faith. There were several people with Cuban backgrounds in the audience, and it was amazing to see this play touch them as it did me. This is a terrific piece of theatre.”
-Suzanna Bowling, Times Square Chronicles
DEEPLY COMEDIC. INTENSELY GRIPPING. A FLAWLESS PERFORMANCE.
“Be Careful! The Sharks Will Eat You! is thoughtful, deeply comedic and at moments intensely gripping. Theresa Gambacorta does a wonderful job directing the piece. With her wonderful design team, she keeps it simple, all the while letting Jay Alvarez’ performance speak for itself. It’s pretty obvious why Alvarez’ run at Stage Left was extended. Mr. Alvarez keeps you on The Edge of your seat the entire time. As he moves from one character to another he gives his audience as close to a flawless performance as you’re going to get in the live theatre. If you don’t tear up at his portrayal of his mother agreeing to send her two oldest sons to the US for protection, well then you might not have a soul. Not one of Alvarez’ characters ever verged on caricature. Each was so flushed out, this one-man show felt like a cast of twelve. The most touching moment of Alvarez’ love letter to his homeland was his distinct reminder of why people continuously risk their lives to come to ours.”
-Trish Vignola, BroadwayWorld.com
DYNAMIC. MOVING. DISTINCT.
“This is a story filled with strength of character, laughter, identity, and hope. I found myself truly enjoying the experience. Mr. Alvarez and director Theresa Gambacorta do a lovely job taking the very specific story of the Alvarez family’s flight from Cuba and weaving it with international events and history. I was able to get a complete picture of why this family gave up the life they had to jump into the complete unknown. The show moves at a good pace with Alvarez taking on several characters; they are very physically and energetically distinct and dynamic. His portrayals of his parents are especially moving. His performance is energetic, honest, and heartfelt. The show ends with hope towards a brighter yet unknown future in a new world. It makes me wonder what happened to that little boy and each of the characters I had become so attached to.”
-Carissa Cordes, nytheatre.com
BRAVE. CELEBRATORY. BEAUTIFUL.
“Jay Alvarez moves seamlessly between Spanish and English as he tells his family’s story. This show is earnest. This show is good, This show has the potential to be great. It is a brave and celebratory story that deserves to be told and heard. Mr. Alvarez is a beautiful blend of Cuban and American.”
-Jacqueline Cutler, Tribune Media Services
MESMERIZING. AMAZING. RARE. GREAT.
“Jay Alvarez ‘s performance is mesmerizing. He delivers a thoroughly amazing performance in every possible way. He is a great actor with an emotional depth that is rare in its delicacy, impact and sincerity. His love of the story is evident. He tells it with humility and respect humbled by its truth and awed by its danger. He accomplishes all of this by skipping on elaborate sets, glamorous props and extravagant costumes. He does it through great and intimate story telling as if dabbling in oral tradition with an appropriately placed theatrical flare. It is his father’s story. If his father were here today he would watch the show with tears in his eyes and a smile on his lips – much like the entire audience did.”
-Liz Belilovskaya, TimesSquare.com
EXCITING. WONDERFUL. INCREDIBLE.
“This play is wonderful. Jay Alvarez has written an incredible piece, based on a taped interview with his father, Humberto, that chronicles the last days of old Havana and his family’s escape from Cuba to a new life in America. If the play were only about Jay’s personal story, it would be exciting enough. But he goes beyond that scope and includes stories about the regime change and its effect on the people of Cuba. He leaves the audience with a true sense of understanding and appreciation for the sacrifices his family made in order to ensure that Jay and his siblings grow up in a free country. I STRONGLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO CATCH A PERFORMANCE. YOU WON’T REGRET IT.”
-Bob Leggett, The Examiner
MASTERFUL STORYTELLING. HEARTRENDING POWER.
“Jay Alvarez manages to capture the experience of his family’s perilous escape from Castro’s 1964 Cuba with such heartrending power that we are amazed at what lengths people will go to for freedom and, most importantly, how Americans take our freedom for granted. It is masterful storytelling, as Mr. Alvarez interweaves the history of Cuba, interviews with his father, immigration issues and a thesis on self-identification. The visuals Alvarez conjures up with his insightful writing saw Non-Cuban members of the audience openly weeping throughout the play, alongside empathetic laughter. THIS STORY NEEDS TO BE SEEN BY HUGE AUDIENCES.”
-Tony Frankel, StageAndCinema.com
THIS SHOW IS A MUST SEE. WE LAUGHED. WE CRIED. WE COLLECTIVELY HELD OUR BREATH.
“In this incredible show, Jay Alvarez reenacts the story of his family’s harrowing escape from Cuba by boat in 1964. He introduces each of the characters in this remarkably true family drama in a way that makes you sure you know each of them. His gift is his ability to connect with the quintessential Cubaness of it all and to tell his story with both comedy and poignancy. Jay very accurately took us through the history of Cuba from the late 50’s through the beginnings of the revolution and wove these historical facts into his family’s personal drama. We laughed. We cried. We collectively held our breath. Our hearts broke. We sighed in relief. Jay has taken the Cuban gift for storytelling to a phenomenal level. This show is a MUST SEE.”
“In this incredible show, Jay Alvarez reenacts the story of his family’s harrowing escape from Cuba by boat in 1964. He introduces each of the characters in this remarkably true family drama in a way that makes you sure you know each of them. His gift is his ability to connect with the quintessential Cubaness of it all and to tell his story with both comedy and poignancy. Jay very accurately took us through the history of Cuba from the late 50’s through the beginnings of the revolution and wove these historical facts into his family’s personal drama. We laughed. We cried. We collectively held our breath. Our hearts broke. We sighed in relief. Jay has taken the Cuban gift for storytelling to a phenomenal level. This show is a MUST SEE.”
-Marta Darby, My Big Fat Cuban Family Blog
Jay Alvarez is a bi-coastal actor whose Los Angeles theatre credits include: “Havana Bourgeois” opposite Tony Plana, (Haywood Theatre), “Noblesse Oblige” (Stages Theatre) and the Ovation Nominated play “The Shelter” (The Odyssey Theatre) TV credits include: the unforgettable French Waiter on Fox’s “Til Death” with Brad Garrett and Joely Fisher and “The Soprano’s” as well as national commercials for American Express and McDonald’s. In addition to NYC and LA theatre, Jay has worked in Washington DC at The Shakespeare Theater, Kennedy Center, Studio Theater and Gala Hispanic Theatre, among others. With “Be Careful! The Sharks Will Eat You!,” Jay embarks on a completely different and new experience, honoring his parents and their journey to America. Jay has performed “Be Careful! The Sharks Will Eat You!” to sold out audiences at Stage Left in NYC as well as Nuyorican Poets Cafe, Area Stage in Miami, The Institute for Cuban and Cuban American Studies at the University of Miami. Theatre of NOTE in LA where it was invited back as a “Best of Fringe” show and played at Art Works Theatre LA. Before Portland “Sharks” was performed in NY at FringeNYC. The show will also have a three week run at Metro Stage in Washington DC in April 2012. Thank you to Ellen and Kelly for their great work. John Laffan for his love and support. And last but not least to Theresa Gambacorta without whom this story might never have seen the light of day. Jay would also like to thank his mentor and Master Teacher, Mr. Wynn Handman. An integral part of American theatre history, Jay credits Wynn for his development as an actor and bestowing on him the confidence to stand on this stage today.
Theresa Gambacorta is a NYC actress, playwright and director. “Be Careful! The Sharks Will Eat You!” marks Theresa’s tenth solo play that she has either developed and directed and/ or written. Solo shows written by Theresa include her Off-Broadway hit “La Magnani!” about Italian actress Anna Magnani, which ran for six weeks at The Arclight Theatre enrapturing audiences that included Eli Wallach and Anne Jackson, “Breaking The Glass”, directed by Cheryl King, which premiered at Stage Left Studio and was also a part of Estrogenia Solo Voce Festival 2009. Her latest solo play, “The Vegas Project” will be featured in Sept. 2011 as part as the Women at Work Festival. She is currently directing Cheryl King in Sally Lambert’s “Grapefruit”, and Jessica Sherr in “Bette Davis Ain’t For Sissies”, playing at Los Kabayitos Theatre at the 2011 NYC FRINGE Festival . She is a Master of Arts candidate in Educational Theatre at New York University. For more, visit the artist’s website at www.theresagambacorta.com.