Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Maria Victoria Event - Honoring a Latina Legend at the Orpheum

On Thursday I honored Mexican actress and singer Maria Victoria at the Orpheum Theater. She’s a multi-talented performer who has had a long and impressive career. She has appeared in 41 films, 14 television novellas and recorded more than 100 albums. A throng of loyal Maria Victoria fans showed up to see this Latina icon in person and to watch her movie, “Los Paquetes de Paquita.” Many, including myself, recognize her from the ongoing series, “La criada bien criada.”

The event was sponsored by TuTv, a joint-venture between Univision Networks and Grupo Televisa, which packages Spanish-language shows and films for Latino audiences in the United States. Before honoring Victoria, I talked to the largely Latino audience about my Bringing Back Broadway initiative. The audience was very receptive when I told them that I want to restore all the great Broadway theaters to their previous grandeur and that once we’re done with those and other improvements, including bringing back the streetcars to downtown Los Angeles, that the new and improved Broadway corridor will be a place for all people to gather. Then I had the pleasure of introducing Maria Victoria. What a treat to be in the presence of such a legend in the Mexican movie industry.