I have a new show premiering in January…
Long Beach Artist Zoot to be “Token Cracker” at the Found Theatre
Long Beach, CA – January 11, 2007 – Performing artist, ZOOT, will be premiering his new one-man stage show, TOKEN CRACKER at the FOUND THEATRE Thursday- Saturday, January 11-13, 2007 at 8 PM.
Zoot is the stage name of Zoot Velasco, former director of Homeland Cultural
Center in the Anaheim Corridor in Long Beach. What many people don’t
realize is that Zoot is also an actor and dancer. “I had to put my artistic
work on hold while I was running art centers for the past twelve years,” the
artist reports. “This will be my first new, full length work in a decade.”
Although performing in small doses as a guest artist with friends or at
benefits, Zoot says he misses the stage and had new material he wanted to
unleash. This show is the result of two years of work.
Last year Zoot found out that a prominent Oscar-winning producer in Hollywood had bought the rights to Zoot’s life story for an upcoming film (in development). Zoot wanted to have his own version, which he poured into this show.
Token Cracker describes what happens when a White man is raised in minority
communities and spends his life working in those communities, hence being
the reverse “token.”
The play consists of four humorous dance pieces connected to three life stories in the vein of Danny Hoch and John Leguizamo’s one-man shows seen on HBO in recent years. The material is not for the very young with a self-described “PG13” rating.
Jan Breslauer of the LA Times said of Zoot’s last show, Mutant Vaudevillians, “Zoot mixes Chaplinesque mime with contortionist-like isolations.”
This is Zoot’s first collaboration with the Found Theatre, a perfect venue
for his sarcastic wit. This is the world premiere, but the show will also
be performed in San Pedro (Thursdays January 18- February 8 at Little Fish
Theatre) and the San Gabriel Valley in January and February (TBA). Tickets
are $15. Seating is limited. Please RSVP to the Found Theatre at
562-433-3363.
For information: http://www.foundtheatre.org/ or
Contact: zoot626@hotmail.com
Phone: 310-809-3733
Zoot Velasco
528 West 8th Street
Long Beach, 90813
zoot626@hotmail.com
Cell- (310) 809-3733