Neon Baby at Teatro Pregones from May 2nd to June 2nd 2013

Pregones Theater Premieres Musical About Puerto RicannB-Boy and Keith Haring Muse Juanito Xtravaganza

As part of its 33rd Season, the award-winning Bronx company Pregones Theater announces the world premiere of its original musical play NEON BABY, to be performed in English and Spanish with dual-language supertitles from Thursday, May 2nd, through Sunday, June 2nd.

Inspired by the life of Juan Rivera and the book Queer Latino Testimonio, Keith Haring and Juanito Xtravaganza: Hard Tails by Arnaldo Cruz-Malavé, NEON BABY is a funky new musical set in a mythical dance club called Paradise —in homage to the famed Paradise Garage— where runaway gay youths of color find the family and the courage to let their better selves shine through.

Two passions take center stage in the story: First, the passion of a mother praying from a distance for her son’s safety and well-being in the big city, amidst the AIDS crisis. Second, the furious bond between the runaway boy, the city that seduces him, the man that breaks his heart, and the strangers who welcome and cherish him as one of their own.

NEON BABY is a funkalicious story about the love of a mother for her son, a son for his mother, a boy for his sisters and brothers, blood family and chosen family, lovers and fighters — each and all hopeful and fierce and drunk with radiant music.

A lifting remembrance of New York City at the turn of the last century, and a love letter to the children who made that era truly legendary!

An original Pregones Theater production conceived and directed by Jorge B. Merced; book by Ricardo Pérez González; music by Desmar Guevara and Jorge B. Merced; additional music and lyrics by Elise Hernández, Ricardo Pérez González, and Ensemble; choreography by Richard Rivera; sets and costumes by Harry Nadal.

Ensemble Cast (alphabetical): Chad Carstarphen, Sol Crespo, Elise Hernández, Jonathan Hoover, Omar Garibay, Cedric Leiba Jr., Ashton Pina, Carlos Salazar, Mayte Natalio, Maria Ramos. Musicians: Desmar Guevara and Jorge Castro.

NOTE: Recommended for mature audiences.

NEON BABY, A New Pregones Theater Musical

WHERE: Pregones Theater, 575 Walton Avenue Walton, between 149 & 150 Streets in The Bronx. DIRECTIONS: Trains # 2, 4, 5 to 149th Grand Concourse.

REGULAR TICKETS: $24 General Admission Advance, $40 at door; $15 Seniors and Students Advance, $28 at door.

SPECIAL OFFERS: $15 for groups of 10 or more; inquire about Member discounts, some restrictions apply; $12 ZipTickets for residents of zip codes 10451, 10452, 10454, 10455, 10474, 10029, 10031, 10032, 10033, 10034, 10035, 10040 — advance, in-person purchase with proof of residence required, limit 4 tickets per household, some restrictions apply.

LIMITED SEATING, BUY EARLY: 20 Performances Only! Online ticket sales at www.pregones.org or by phone at 718-585-1202.

This program is made possible in part by public funds from the National Endowment for the Arts, the New York State Council on the Arts, and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, in partnership with the City Council. Additional funding provided by Ford Foundation, Time Warner Inc., Bloomberg Philanthropies, Andrew W. Mellon Foundation NYTP, New York Community Trust, JPMorgan Chase Foundation, Simón Bolívar Foundation, Samuels Foundation, Shubert Foundation, Lucille Lortel Foundation, Tony Randall Theatrical Fund, and Southwest Airlines, The Official Airline of Pregones Theater.