{"id":690,"date":"2023-06-07T00:45:13","date_gmt":"2023-06-07T00:45:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stageraw.com\/remake\/?p=690"},"modified":"2023-06-12T00:45:57","modified_gmt":"2023-06-12T00:45:57","slug":"evolution-of-a-sonero","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stageraw.com\/remake\/evolution-of-a-sonero\/","title":{"rendered":"Evolution of a Sonero"},"content":{"rendered":"[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]\n

Evolution of a Sonero<\/em><\/h2>\n

Reviewed by Dana Martin<\/strong>
\nLatino Theater Company in association with UrbanTheater Company<\/em><\/strong>
\nThrough May 28th<\/sup><\/strong><\/p>\n

RECOMMENDED<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Flaco Navaja is more than a badass salsa singer. Latino Theater Company,\u00a0<\/strong>in association with Chicago\u2019s\u00a0<\/strong>UrbanTheater Company,\u00a0presents the\u00a0West Coast premiere\u00a0of\u00a0Evolution of a Sonero,\u00a0<\/em>a coming-of-age story written and dynamically performed by Navaja (with a libretto arranged by\u00a0Carlos Cuevas) chronicling the evolution of Navaja\u2019s life as an artist and human being.<\/p>\n

Flaco Navaja\u2019s love for salsa and hip-hop started at a very young age. The son of proud Puerto Rican nationalists, Navaja masterfully illuminates his formative years growing up in the South Bronx along with his various trials and successes as, throughout his young adulthood, he struggles to follow his dream. He uses a fascinating blend of hip-hop, poetry, salsa and storytelling. Navaja, utilizing the structure of an epic salsa song as a field guide and metaphor for telling the story of his own personal metamorphosis. Form and style effortlessly overlap, creating a tapestry of sound, rhythm and story.<\/p>\n

Navaja is an accomplished singer as well as an excellent actor. An engaging performer with a charming persona, he embodies various characters throughout the evening, such as his Uncle Maxi or his high school buddy Tralane or his own mother. To each he adds levity and humor. He drives the energy of a 90-minute show with seeming ease. Navaja\u2019s performance is wholehearted, dynamic and as powerful as it is playful.<\/p>\n

Directed by\u00a0Miranda Gonz\u00e1lez, the dynamic evening flows well in a tight, exciting 90-minute performance. Musical director Carlos Ordiano finds a nice balance between improvisation and precision. Scenic designer Manuel Ortiz\u2019s set is appropriately restrained, leaving ample space for instruments, with the band placed on various risers. Sarah Albrecht\u2019s costume design is both poignant and practical. Ellie Humphrys\u2019 lighting design is subtle, focused and specific.<\/p>\n

The 5-piece band (The Razor Blades) accompanying Navaja consists of Carlos Ordiano on piano, Edward Resto on electribass, Juan Moreno on congas, Richard Velzen on trombone and Joey De Leon on timbales. The band has great chemistry and are at ease within their respective performances. They\u2019re in great control of the music\u2019s dynamic shifts in rhythm and tempo and prove a formidable match for Navaja\u2019s energy, charisma and engaging narrative.<\/p>\n

Evolution of a Sonero<\/em>\u00a0is in a category hard to define but it\u2019s in a class by itself. Navaja brings his own evolution to life. It\u2019s a metamorphoses still in the making.<\/p>\n

Los Angeles Theatre Center, 514 S. Spring Street, downtown LA. Thurs.-Sat., 8 pm, Sun., 4 pm; thru May 28.\u00a0<\/em>www.latinotheaterco.org<\/em><\/a>. Running time: 90 minutes with no intermission.<\/em><\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][image_with_animation image_url=”902″ image_size=”full” animation_type=”entrance” animation=”None” animation_movement_type=”transform_y” hover_animation=”none” alignment=”center” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” image_loading=”default” max_width=”100%” max_width_mobile=”default”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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