Chavela Project

Upcoming Performances:

My one-woman cabaret show about iconic, queer Mexican singer Chavela Vargas is now a ninety minute musical theatre production that tells the dramatic story of Chavela's artistic evolution as a Mexican singing star, her descent into alcoholism and her fabulous second-act story and comeback as an international singing star. This bilingual musical play is emotionally driven by dance and music, both traditional Mexican music, Caribbean pop songs and original songs I composed for "Becoming Chavela."

My cast and I have been invited to perform at a Latin cultural center in New York City in October 2026 and in Lima, Peru in April 2027. In June 2025 we were invited to perform a Spanish version of the script in Guadalajara, Mexico. We will bring this version to our international tour in Lima, Peru. We are very excited to perform both English and Spanish language versions in New York City in the fall.

My Mission:

Chavela’s story highlights immediate and impactful topics of gender, immigration and Mexican culture. It matters what stories are told and who tells them. Becoming Chavela embodies art, activism and advocacy as it speaks to women today and tells important herstory. Chavela"s story celebrates the creativity and endurance of Latinx spirit and culture in NYC and Latin America. Becoming Chavela creates a space where women can tell their stories and can be seen and heard. 

My Journey and Passion:

I am inspired by Chavela Vargas, a queer woman from Costa Rica who declared she was born to sing and then made her art through music traditionally sung only by men. Her songs and her story helped me connect to my Puerto Rican roots find my artistic voice. Chavela bucked the norms of the macho Ranchera culture and kept “doing it” until eventually people listened and accepted her. The gutsy immigrant girl from Costa Rica continues to be heard.