Elaine Del Valle in 'Brownsville Bred...Growing Up Elaine'

Brownsville Bred...Growing Up Elaine

A One Woman Show
Written, Performed & Lived by:
Elaine Del Valle

WINNER March 2009 "ONE ACT" FESTIVAL
WINNER BEST ACTRESS
WINNER BEST SCRIPT
WINNER BEST SHOW
WINNER April 2009 Teatro LA TEA's "THE ONE" FESTIVAL

PLAYING EVERY MONDAY IN NOVEMBER AT

This autobiographical show takes the audience through an "emotional rollercoaster" that is uplifting, heartbreaking and powerful as they witness Del Valle recreate life in the tough projects of 1980's Brownsville, Brooklyn NY.

Amongst eight other characters, Del Valle narrates as herself from ages 11 to 17. Del Valle's loving father, another empathetic character, leaves the family of five as he falls from stature as a talented musician to a defeated heroine addict. Not unlike most impoverished families, Elaine's mother emerges as the loveable spirit that holds the family together and guides them to a hopeful future.



Crime, Drugs and Poverty mix with the Joys of Family, Hope, Salsa and the Birth of Rap, as Del Valle's innocence recounts a journey to womanhood, a neighborhoods crack & crime epidemic, Salsa rumbas, and her love of Run DMC, which often times help her verbalize a unique struggle and triumph that has audiences cheering and laughing through their tears while swaying to urban rhythms.

Click for more info on Brownsville Bred and tickets.

Wise Latina Diccia T. Pineda-Kirwan for State Supreme Court

Dominican-born Judge Diccia T. Pineda-Kirwan has been asked by the Democratic Judicial Convention to accept the nomination for a vacancy on the State of New York Supreme Court bench.

Judge Pineda-Kirwan, who’s currently a Civil Court Judge in New York City’s Queens County, was nominated by the Queens Democratic Organization as a candidate for the State Supreme Court vacancy in the 11th Judicial District. She’ll be on the ballot for the General Election on Tuesday, November 3, 2009 for the state-wide bench.

If elected, Judge Pineda-Kirwan will be the first Latina to serve in New York’s Supreme Court.

Rita Moreno to Deliver 14th Annual Burian Lecture @ UAlbany - 10/7

Rita Moreno, Star of Stage, Screen, and Television to Deliver 14th Annual Burian Lecture, October 7, 2009

Rita Moreno, past winner of all four of the most prestigious awards in show business—the Oscar, Emmy, Tony and Grammy—will speak about her life on stage, screen and television as part of the 14th Annual Burian Lecture on Wednesday, October 7, 2009 at 8:00 p.m. in Page Hall on the University at Albany's downtown campus.

The event, which is free and open to the public, is sponsored by the New York State Writers Institute.

The daughter of a seamstress and a farmer, Moreno emigrated to New York City with her mother at the age of five.

For additional information, contact the Writers Institute at 518-442-5620 or online.