John Leguizamo is a stand-up comedian and actor originally from Bogotá, Colombia.
About John Leguizamo
Leguizamo was born in Bogotá, Colombia on July 22, 1964. He is now a New Yorker. Leguizamo grew up in Jackson Heights, Queens before it was a Latin neighborhood. Getting picked on led him to develop a comic attitude to avoid getting in fights.
John claims a Puerto Rican heritage which his father denies, but we’ll take him at his word. The New York Lequizamo grew up in was after all very Puerto Rican.
Leguizamo started doing stand-up in New York in 1984. His first acting work was a small part on Miami Vice.
Leguizamo won an Obie Award for his one-man show Mambo Mouth (1991). Spic-O-Rama (1993) won a Drama Desk Award and several Cable ACE Awards.
Playing Luigi in Super Mario Bros. (1993) helped establish Leguizamo in Hollywood.
Leguizamo’s Broadway show Freak (1998) won a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding One-Person Show.
Ghetto Klown
Ghetto Klown (2011) also made it to Broadway and became Leguizamo’s signature show. It became a touring production, was recorded for cable television, and became graphic novel. Ghetto Klown won an Outer Critics Circle Award and Drama Desk Award.
Latin History for Morons
Leguizamo’s latest is Latin History for Morons. The premise is Leguizamo digging up Latino heroes that his son can write a school paper about. He has to stretch things a little because our history is just not told in the public schools. The show was inspired by Leguizamo’s own ignorance about Latino history.
The 90-minute show directed by Tony Taccone ran at the Berkeley Rep from July 1 – August 14, 2016.
On Broadway at Studio 54
Latin History for Morons moves to Broadway at Studio 54 in Fall 2017.
Previews Thursday, October 19, 2017
Opens Wednesday, November 15, 2017
Closes Sunday, February 4, 2018
Public Theater
It runs at the Public Theater in NYC’s East Village February 24 – April 23, 2017.
For tickets, visit www.PublicTheater.org
Lequizamo his also hosting a Benefit Dinner for the Public Theater on Wednesday, March 22, 2017 at 8pm. $750 tickets include an exclusive dinner in The Library and premium seating to the show.
