National Boricua
Human Rights Network

Samuel Vega as prisoner #10035

Samuel is currently a senior at Roberto Clemente High School, collective member of the Batey Urbano and will be attending Northeastern Illinois University in the fall to study. He has performed at the Chicago Shakespeare Theatre in CPS Hamlet and Romeo and Juliet, both productions directed by Kirsten Kelly. Recently, he appeared in the feature film Humboldt Park. While part of the Batey Urbano, he has performed nationally including in New York, Washington D.C. and throughout Illinois.

Melissa is an actor, poet and community activist. She has performed with Teatro Batey as “Bochinchosa” and “Religiosa” in Chupacabra; “Asimilada” in The Spark; “Asimilada” in 1977 Division Street Riots and now “Prisoner #10035″ in Crime Agaist Humanity. She was recently an extra for Humboldt Park filmed in Chicago. Melissa is a partner of Batey Urbano and is working on her own play to debut at Batey Urbano in the near future. “Pa’lante.”

Cindy Maldonado as prisoner #10035

Cindy is a collective member of Café Teatro Batey Urbano and is proud to make her Teatro Batey stage debut in this production and campaign to free the Puerto Rican political prisoners. She first learned of the PR Independence movement during her studies at Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos High School and is excited about contributing her acting to their excarceration. “¡Viva Puerto Rico Libre!”

Janeida is a Puerto Rican activist and an aspiring spoken word artist, emcee and actor since 2000. She has been a Teatro Batey ensemble member for three years, playing “Lola” in The Spark written and directed by NuyoRican Poet/playwright, Tato Laviera. She also has performed her politically and culturally conscious spoken word at conferences and universities, both nationally and internationally with Café Teatro Batey Urbano. “Support the release of the Puerto Rican Political Prisoners!”

For the last seven years much of Reyes’ work has been dedicated to Café Teatro Batey Urbano, a project of the Puerto Rican Cultural Center in Chicago. He has been involved in a variety of youth lead projects, including the founding of Zócalo Urbano, a Chicano-Mexicano/Latino youth space located in the neighborhoods of Pilsen and Little Village.

As part of Batey Urbano he has shared the stage nationally and internationally with many poets, artists and activists such as historical figures Lolita Lebrón, Delores Huerta, poets Tato Laviera, Pedro Pietri, La Bruja, and musical artists such as, Roy Brown, Dead Prez, Boca Floja, Luis Díaz of Intifada, and Grammy Award winner Malik Yusef.

As a poet and an artist he has been featured on HBO Latino’s Habla Series, and the PBS documentary Dream Makers. He has released three chapter books of poetry and 3 c.d.s. His work has also been featured nationally in many magazines, anthologies and newspapers.

He has worked with many established institutions including; Chicago Public Radio, the United States Hispanic Leadership Institute, the National Museum of Mexican Art, the Museum Of Contemporary Art and the Poetry Center of Chicago.

As an actor, his credits include roles in Miguel Piñero’s famed play, The Sun Always Shines for the Cool, Urban Poet, Why Are U Running? Chicago Boricua, Public Theater’s 365 Project written by Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Suzan-Lori Parks and the feature film Humboldt Park starring John Leguizamo, Melonie Diaz, Freddy Rodrí­guez, Debra Messing, Alfred Molina, Jay Hernandez, and Luis Guzmán.

He has worked directly with famed NuYorican poet Tato Laveria on three productions entitled The Spark, Chupacabera and the 1977 Division Street Riots. As part of his work with Tato he has served, both as an actor and a director.

Currently Reyes is touring the country with his new play Crime Against Humanity, co-written by former Puerto Rican political prisoner Luis Rosa. Reyes has played the role of actor, writer and director for the play. Crime Against Humanity has received incredible community support and it is scheduled to tour until March of 2009.