DETROIT, July 10, 2012 — “Macho Men and the Women Who Love Them,” the hit, live Latino musical comedy from Los Angeles, will make its official Detroit public debut on July 26 at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American history. The performance builds on the success of last month’s invitation-only sneak preview in Midtown, which earned rave reviews by media and influencers in the Hispanic and African American communities.
The July 26 public debut will begin at 6:30 p.m. with a pre-reception event featuring tropical appetizers and a tequila tasting hosted by Blue Nectar Tequila. The “Macho Men” show will begin at 7:45 p.m. and will be followed by a salsa afterglow with live music and dancing. For ticket information, visit mariacosta.com.
Los Angeles-based Oro Entertainment produces “Macho Men.” Since expanding into the Midwest, Oro has leveraged the business incubation services of TechTown at Wayne State University. TechTown sponsored the “Macho Men” sneak preview in June and awarded Oro founders Maria Costa and Francisco Segovia a grant for the show’s feature film translation. The July 26 Detroit public debut marks Oro’s re-launch of the “Macho Men” national tour to urban markets throughout the U.S.
“Maria is an incredibly talented actress, comedian and entrepreneur,” said TechTown President and CEO Leslie Smith. “TechTown is pleased to support Maria’s company, Oro Entertainment, and to advance the goals of this and other creative companies that add to a culturally robust and diverse Detroit.”
In addition to starring in “Macho Men,” Costa is the creator, co-writer, co-producer and director of the production. She is a Detroit native and acclaimed actress/comedian whom critics have described as the Latina Lucille Ball and female John Leguizamo. Last week, Kresge Arts in Detroit announced Costa as a recipient of a $25,000 2012 Kresge Artist Fellowship, funded by the Kresge Foundation and administered by the College for Creative Studies.
“I am thrilled to be a 2012 Kresge Artist Fellow,” said Costa, who attended Wayne State University as a student of its Chicano Boricua Studies Program. “It is an honor that pays homage not only the artistic value of “Macho Men,” but also to the thriving Afro-Latino culture of metro Detroit.”
In her thought-provoking one-woman stand-up comedy routine, loosely based on her relationship with a traditional Latino man, Costa transforms into an outrageous cast of characters, each depicting the struggles of “loving a macho man.” Costa’s characters include her ultra-macho father, overly critical mother-in-law, transexual brother, socialite Aunt Maria Feinstein and many more. Costa is backed by a live salsa band and dancers.
“The show’s themes and humor are universal,” Segovia said. “‘Macho Men’ is about relationships and compromise.”
“Macho Men” has sold out performances in 16 cities in six countries as well as the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, Calif., and other venues along the West Coast. The show has won the prestigious Imagen Award for Best Theatrical Production and the Los Angeles Women’s Theatre Festival Maverick Award.
Costa is an Alma Award-nominated actress who has starred in several primetime television shows. Milestone achievements include her popular role as Valerie on ABC’s “Ugly Betty,” her role in “Universal Remote” (currently airing on Showtime), guest roles on Lifetime’s “Strong Medicine” and CBS’s “Joan of Arcadia,” and series regular roles in such series as ABC’s “Dangerous Minds” and BRAVO’S “The It Factor LA.” Before moving to Los Angeles, Costa worked as on-air talent, writer and producer for Detroit Public Television for programming that aired nationally on the PBS Network. She starred in productions directed and written by renowned Detroit playwright Ron Milner and performed at Detroit’s Purple Rose Theatre under the co-direction of actor Jeff Daniels, who originally encouraged Costa to move to Los Angeles to work in television and film.
About TechTown
TechTown works to reignite Detroit's entrepreneurial culture by fueling business growth, job creation and the revitalization of Midtown and beyond. Through its partners and programs, the nonprofit business incubator and accelerator connects small businesses to the customers, talent, capital and location necessary to build a thriving enterprise in Southeast Michigan. Its entrepreneurs also gain unique access to research, academic and technology assets through TechTown's partnership with Wayne State University. To learn more about TechTown, visit techtownwsu.org.
To learn more about the “Macho Men” production, visit www.mariacosta.com.