'Truth-Teller of Homosexuality in History' Returns to Houston

Comedy Central star Jade Esteban Estrada returns to Houston to perform his solo musical comedy ICONS: The Lesbian and Gay History of the World, Vol. 3. The Advocate calls him "exquisite...the first gay Latin star."

Houston, TX, May 03, 2007 --(PR.com)-- What do biblical Naomi, King James, Miss Bessie, Greg and Mary all have in common? They're all coming to Houston - at the same time! The Gulf Coast Archive and Museum and GALLO is proud to announce the performance of the award-winning solo comedy ICONS: The Lesbian and Gay History of the World, Vol. 3, written and performed by nationally acclaimed solo theatre artist Jade Esteban Estrada (2005 Performance Artist of the Year) at 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, May 8, 2007. The performance will be held in the 1415 California Bar and Grill located at 1415 California in the Montrose District in Houston, Texas. The event is wheelchair accessible. Show duration is 65 minutes with no intermission. The celebrated actor will sign autographs immediately after the show. Admission is $15 and open to the public. For information call 713-692 -8735 or log onto www.getjaded.com.

“Jade Esteban Estrada told the truth about homosexuals in history last night with a voice fit for Broadway” states Dana Freeman of the Bowling Green News.

Religion. Revision. Music. Sports. Privilege. ICONS: The Lesbian and Gay History of the World, Vol. 3 debuted at the Columbus National Gay and Lesbian Theatre Festival in Columbus, Ohio in 2006 and won the Best Solo Performance and Best Original Music awards. In the last segment of the trilogy, Estrada took on the roles of biblical Naomi, King James, Bessie Smith, Greg Louganis and Mary Cheney, the lesbian daughter of U.S. Vice-President Dick Cheney. ICONS 3 marks the fifth fundraiser for Houston’s GCAM.

ICONS: The Lesbian and Gay History of the World, Vol. 2 debuted at the CNGLTF in 2004 winning the Audience Favorite Award in Solo Performance. In the sequel Estrada portrays Alexander the Great, Queen Christina of Sweden, Susan B. Anthony, Billie Jean King, Harvey Milk and 9/11 hero Mark Bingham. ICONS 2 played 1415 California in June 2006.

The man the Advocate and Out Magazine call "the first gay Latin star" celebrated the world premiere of ICONS: The Lesbian and Gay History of the World, Vol. 1 at the 2002 CNGLTF. In the show, Estrada portrays Sappho, Michelangelo, Oscar Wilde, Gertrude Stein, Sylvia Rivera and Ellen DeGeneres. Estrada performed the first edition of ICONS for Houston Pride in June 2005.

"'ICONS' is part history lesson, part musical, part politics and ALL entertainment," states Jennifer Chung of the San Diego Daily Transcript. Tom Sime of the Dallas Morning News calls it, "funny and irreverent…a feel-good session for gay people."

"Jade Esteban Estrada is a brilliant young writer and performer. It was an honor to experience the ministry of this modern pioneer of the gay movement," states Rev. Troy Perry, Founder of the Worldwide Metropolitan Community Church.

"I've seen Jade Esteban on stage four times before, but when I saw him portraying Mary Cheney, I realized he wasn't only celebrating gay icons. He was using irony to tell us that not all of our gay icons are people that we love or respect. It was incredibly clever," stated Thaddius Novack, Creative Director of Jersey City Lesbian and Gay Outreach.

"What he is doing is important for our LGBTQ youth to experience. I was certainly educated tonight," stated Doreen DeJesus, Communications Director for Brooklyn Pride.

“ICONS 3 is fantastic,” said Eric Crumrine, president of the LGBT student group VISION at Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio. “It was a great opportunity for us to have Mr. Estrada complete his ICONS trilogy with us.”

Formally the choreographer to television personality Charo and a scratch vocalist for the Back Street Boys, Estrada came to international attention when Out Magazine christened him, "the first gay Latin star" in 2000. Estrada released his debut CD "Angel" (Vicarious) in 2001 and in 2002 took part in the "Being Out Rocks" (Centaur) CD compilation in honor of National Coming Out Day for the Human Rights Campaign.

In October 2006, Kentucky Governor Ernie Fletcher paid tribute to Estrada by commissioning him the title of "Kentucky Colonel," the highest honor awarded by the Commonwealth of Kentucky that acknowledges outstanding ambassadors of goodwill and fellowship around the world. The Texas native joined other honorary colonels which include Winston Churchill, Ronald Reagan, Bob Hope, Joan Crawford, Johnny Depp, Muhammad Ali and Pope John Paul II.

Estrada's television credits include appearances on the Emmy-nominated "In the Life TV" on PBS, "Friday Night Lights" on NBC and "The Graham Norton Effect" on Comedy Central. His popular Latin dance music can be heard on the Golden Globe and Emmy award-winning police drama, "The Shield" on the FX Network.

"Most performers would be happy to have a fraction of Jade Esteban Estrada's career," states Marty Rosen of the Louisville Courier-Journal. Hector Saldana of the San Antonio Express-News calls him "a show biz messiah." Roy Proctor of the Richmond Times-Dispatch calls him "a master entertainer."

Estrada has toured the U.S. with his five other solo shows which include "It's Too Late...It's Already In Me," "Tortilla Heaven," "Pico de Gallo" and "Gay Christian, Gay Muslim, Gay Jew."

Estrada will speak at the international "Behind the Rainbow" Queer Studies Easter Symposium in Mexico City in June 2008.

For further information or to request high resolution artwork or an interview, please contact Greta Golding at vicariouspr@aol.com, call 646-342-8647 or visit www.getjaded.com.

"Long before Estrada wraps himself with a rainbow-colored flag at the show's end, he's proven that he's a master entertainer with a message to convey."
RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH

"Without a doubt, the best entertainment dollars I spent this year went to ICONS: The Lesbian and Gay History of the World, Vol. 1 with Jade Esteban Estrada."
TAMPA BAY GAZETTE

"Catch ICONS as soon as you can, or you will surely live to regret it."
CURVE MAGAZINE

"Estrada is a drama queen with a lesson plan."
KNOXVILLE METRO PULSE

"Estrada's bug-eyed portrayal of Gertrude Stein is brilliant."
STYLE WEEKLY

Upcoming Performances:

May 8 - Houston, TX
May 10 - Miami, FL
May 18-19 - Yakima, WA
May 20 – Vancouver, WA
May 27 - Moscow, RUSSIA
Jun 8 - San Antonio, TX
Jun 9 – Tallahassee, FL
Jun 14 - Wilmington, DE
Jun 16- St. Petersburg, FL
Jun 17 – Tampa, FL
Jun 23 – Houston, TX
Aug 4 - Fire Island, NY
Aug 30-Sept 2 - New Orleans, LA
Sept 18 - Chicago, IL
Sept 20 - Tulsa, OK
Oct 1 – San Antonio, TX
Oct 2 - Houston, TX
Oct 6 – Corpus Christi, TX
Nov 1 - Prescott, AZ
Nov 12, 14 - San Antonio, TX

www.GetJaded.com

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