[OutVoice] Jersey City, NJ: "His Personal 'Heaven'"

[TheChorusBoy at aol.com]

JERSEY JOURNAL  

HIS PERSONAL  ‘HEAVEN’

Friday, September  14, 2007   
By JEFF  THEODORE 
Journal Arts  Editor 
Read it  online: 
http://www.nj.com/entertainment/jjournal/index.ssf?/base/entertainment-0/11897
49756182550.xml&coll=3#continue 
For Jade Esteban  Estrada, who calls himself a performing artist (not 
performance), the  obligation to leave a legacy behind strikes at his very core, 
keeps him focused  on the future.  
"It's important for me to  know that I'm doing my best to contribute to 
society, to set an example for the  next generation," he says. "If we don't take 
that responsibility seriously, we  can be set back hundreds of years."  
Estrada, a former scratch  vocalist for the Back Street Boys and chief 
choreographer for 70s and 80s star  Charo, says that's why he created a show like 
"Tortilla Heaven," which  was heavily inspired by his grandmother.  
In "Heaven," a one-man show,  Estrada portrays seven characters that cover 
three generations of  Mexican-Americans.  
Estrada, who grew up in San  Antonio, Texas, says his grandmother's "whole 
goal  in life was to see us (her grandchildren) speak some kind of proper 
Spanish."   
"Heaven," a sendup that  details the interaction - or lack thereof - between 
the generations, will be  staged at the Jersey  City Museum Sunday during the 
museum's  observance of Hispanic Heritage Month, which started Saturday and 
ends Oct. 15.   
"Tortilla Heaven" is a  family affair, written by Estrada's sister and 
directed by his brother.   
"I can't express how much of  an honor it is to work with two people who are 
gobs and gobs more talented than  me," Estrada, 31, says of his siblings. 
"They are wonderful writers. In  retrospect, it makes sense that we're all 
writers. Our mom would virtually write  a 10-page letter to tell us to go take out 
the trash."  
When asked if he considers  himself a singer, dancer, actor or comedian, 
Estrada says he refuses to single  out any of his "babies."  
Estrada, an openly gay man,  says his appearance in Jersey  City will be one 
of several he's made  here. He headlined gay pride celebrations in Jersey  
City in 2002 and 2003 and hosted the  event in 2004.  
"The folks at Jersey City  Lesbian and Gay Outreach have actually become very 
good friends of mine," he  says. "When I'm on my death bed doing my best 
Evita impersonation, the thing I  will be most grateful for is that I have been 
allowed to cross paths with people  who are making a difference like them."  
_www.getjaded.com_ (http://www.getjaded.com/)  
See Jade on  YouTube: 
_http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVprQL24Umc_ 
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVprQL24Umc) 




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