'Diva of Latin Pop' Returns to New Orleans to Headline 2nd Annual Decafest

‘First gay Latin star’ Jade Esteban Estrada brings history sequel ‘ICONS 2’ to annual arts festival

New Orleans, LA, August 26, 2007 --(PR.com)-- What do Alexander, Christina, Susan, Billie Jean, Harvey and Mark all have in common? They're all coming to New Orleans - at the same time. Vicarious Productions is proud to announce the performance of the award-winning solo comedy ICONS: The Lesbian and Gay History of the World, Vol. 2, written and performed by nationally acclaimed solo theatre artist Jade Esteban Estrada (2005 Performance Artist of the Year) at 8:00 p.m. Saturday, September 1, 2007. The performance will be held at the Freeport McMoran Theatre at the Contemporary Arts Center located at 900 Camp Street in New Orleans, Louisiana. The event is wheelchair accessible and appropriate for all ages. Show duration is 65 minutes with no intermission. The celebrated actor will sign autographs immediately after the show. Advance tickets are $25 admission at the door. Box office opens at 7:00 p.m. Light refreshments will be served. For information log onto www.decafest.org www.getjaded.com.

Conquest. Religion. Sacrifice. Sweat. Politics. Fate.
ICONS: The Lesbian and Gay History of the World, Vol. 2 debuted at the Columbus National Gay and Lesbian Theatre Festival in Columbus, Ohio 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: The Lesbian and Gay History of the World, Vol. 3 debuted at the CNGLTF 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.

Last year, Estrada performed the Louisiana premiere of ICONS at the the 1st Annual DecaFest. In the show, Estrada portrayed Sappho, Michelangelo, Oscar Wilde, Gertrude Stein, Sylvia Rivera and Ellen DeGeneres.

Gambit Weekly theatre critic Dalt Wonk called the show “a slam-bang performance, a stunning transformation that actor/singer/dancer/writer/composer Estrada pulled off before our very eyes.” Wonk added, “I hope the rumors that he will return with Vol. 2 of his 'ICONS' series are true.”

Roberts Bateson, director of DecaFest stated, “last year Estrada dazzled the audience.”

"'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." Lisa Gauthier of Nuvo in Indianapolis stated, "I'm not gay...but I loved these shows."

Estrada debuted his first solo show “It’s Too Late…It’s Already In Me…” at the Festival de Libre Enganche in 1997 and a decade later has been compared to Ruth Draper, Lily Tomlin and other luminaries in the field of solo theatre.

“Jade Esteban Estrada is not an icon by accident,” warns Nicholas Snow of Notes from Hollywood. Genre Magazine calls him “the diva of Latin pop.”

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, 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. He has recently returned to work on NBC’s second season of “Friday Night Lights.”

This year, Estrada recently starred in the independent film “Doldrums” and begins shooting the action film “Crosshairs” in September in Corpus Christi, Texas.

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.

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