`GAYTINO!' A MAN WHO WILL MOVE YOU.Byline: Katherine Karlin Correspondent The Center Theatre Group's project ``Solomania,'' a showcase of one-person performances at the Kirk Douglas Theatre The Kirk Douglas Theatre is located in Culver City, California and in 2004, was acquired by the famed Center Theatre Group. The theatre is the most intimate of the groups 3 stages and seats 317 patrons at max occupancy. , underscores the importance of presenting a monologuist with whom you would want to spend 90 minutes or so. If he's a bore, you'll feel like you're trapped at a party with the loser no one else will talk to. Dan Guerrero, it turns out, is very good company. Campy, name-dropping and affectionate, with just a sprinkling of ironic self-deprecation, Guerrero is the guy everyone wants to sit with. Guerrero's story is framed by the two men whose influence proved inescapable. His father was Lalo Guerrero Eduardo "Lalo" Guerrero (December 24, 1916 – March 17, 2005), was a Mexican-American guitarist, singer and farm labor activist best known for his strong influence on today's Latin musical artists. , the legendary Mexican-American musician. And the inseparable friend of his East L.A. childhood, Charles, grew up to be Chicano artist and activist Carlos Almaraz Carlos Almaraz (October 5, 1941-December 11, 1989) was a Mexican-American artist and an early proponent of the Chicano street arts movement. Childhood and education . Danny, however, sought his fortune in New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of in the early '60s, where being gay wasn't such a big deal, and being Mexican-American was exotic. Failing to set Broadway on fire as a singer-dancer, he found his niche as a successful talent agent, and discoed his way through the '70s. Ultimately, though, his Chicano roots were too strong to ignore, and in the '80s, Guerrero returned to Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. , where he used his experience and contacts to fight for better roles for Latino actors. His singing and dancing, while enthusiastic, won't haunt aging theatrical producers with regrets. No matter. Guerrero not only has a Zelig-like knack for witnessing first-hand the pivotal moments of Chicano and show-business history, he has the perspective and wisdom to put them in context. He's also very funny: when Lalo is honored at the White House alongside Edward Albee Noun 1. Edward Albee - United States dramatist (1928-) Albee, Edward Franklin Albeen , Lionel Hampton Noun 1. Lionel Hampton - United States musician who was the first to use the vibraphone as a jazz instrument (1913-2002) Hampton , and Stephen Sondheim, Danny gushes to his father: ``You're the only one here I haven't heard of!'' GAYTINO! - Three stars Where: The Kirk Douglas Theatre, 9820 Washington Blvd., Culver City. When: In repertory through June 11. Tickets: $20 to 40; call (213) 628-2772 or visit www.centertheatregroup.org. In a nutshell: Viva the fabulous Guerrero. |
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