Palabras Dulces, Palabras Amargas (sweet words, bitter words)

The Directors

Maritza Nazario
Maritza was born in the countryside of a small town in Puerto Rico, surrounded by trees, streams and mountains. She was always regarded as the “Drama Queen” of the family. Not satisfied with her artistic accomplishments in Puerto Rico she came to Chicago to pursue her
dreams. She holds a B.A. and M.A. in theater and has extensive experience as a playwright, poet, actress and theatrical director. One of the many plays written by Nazario will premiere this spring at De Paul University in Chicago. This musical/ theatrical piece, entitled “Gracias, Rafael”, is based on the life of famous Puerto Rican composer Rafael Hernandez. Maritza is the executive director of En Las Tablas Performing Arts, a not-for-profit, performing arts community organization, in the Hermosa neighborhood in Chicago co-founded with Milka Ramirez.

Linda Garcia Merchant
Born and raised on Chicago's West Side, Linda Garcia Merchant's experience growing up during the 1960s and 70s with a mother active in both the Feminist and Chicano movements was pivotal in shaping her views today. Influential activists that included many of her mother’s friends surrounded her and, absorbing all the discussions on politics, history and world events and standing by her mother's side at protests or political conventions, she began to cultivate her own voice at quite a young age. She developed a strong conviction for activism and civic responsibility. And, having experienced some of the most exciting social and political events, Linda was inspired to capture on camera the Latino influence of those times.

In June 2006, Linda created Voces Primeras, LLC, a production company dedicated to creating and distributing documentary-style features of pioneering Latinas to the educational, political and retail markets. Her goal is to provide resources that expand the understanding of the 60s and 70s in our collective American history—research not available through traditional channels and in danger of becoming extinct because of the lack of documentation. While working on her directorial debut, Linda also works full-time in the graphic and Web site design field, during which she provided her design services for Chicago community organizations such as the Partnership to End Homelessness, Latino Council on the Media and Spanish Coalition for Jobs.

Linda received a Bachelor of Science, with honors, in advertising/design/photography at Western Illinois University. She was voted Volunteer of the Year by the Partnership to End Homelessness in 2005. She is a current member of the National Association of Latino Independent Producers, National Association of Latino Arts and Culture, Amigas Latinas, Mujeres Activas en Letras y Cambio Social (Women Active in Letters and Social Change) and the National Women’s Studies Association.




National Coalition Against Domestic Violence July 31st through August 4, 2010 The Hilton Anaheim, California Hispanic Heritage Month Clinica La Fe October 1, 2010 El Paso, Texas For more information on presentation availability and scheduling: fmi@vocesprimeras.com	The Directors Maritza Nazario Maritza was born in the countryside of a small town in Puerto Rico, surrounded by trees, streams and mountains. She was always regarded as the “Drama Queen” of the family. Not satisfied with her artistic accomplishments in Puerto Rico she came to Chicago to pursue her dreams. She holds a B.A. and M.A. in theater and has extensive experience as a playwright, poet, actress and theatrical director. One of the many plays written by Nazario will premiere this spring at De Paul University in Chicago. This musical/ theatrical piece, entitled “Gracias, Rafael”, is based on the life of famous Puerto Rican composer Rafael Hernandez. Maritza is the executive director of En Las Tablas Performing Arts, a not-for-profit, performing arts community organization, in the Hermosa neighborhood in Chicago co-founded with Milka Ramirez. Linda Garcia Merchant Born and raised on Chicago's West Side, Linda Garcia Merchant's experience growing up during the 1960s and 70s with a mother active in both the Feminist and Chicano movements was pivotal in shaping her views today. Influential activists that included many of her mother’s friends surrounded her and, absorbing all the discussions on politics, history and world events and standing by her mother's side at protests or political conventions, she began to cultivate her own voice at quite a young age. She developed a strong conviction for activism and civic responsibility. And, having experienced some of the most exciting social and political events, Linda was inspired to capture on camera the Latino influence of those times. In June 2006, Linda created Voces Primeras, LLC, a production company dedicated to creating and distributing documentary-style features of pioneering Latinas to the educational, political and retail markets. Her goal is to provide resources that expand the understanding of the 60s and 70s in our collective American history—research not available through traditional channels and in danger of becoming extinct because of the lack of documentation. While working on her directorial debut, Linda also works full-time in the graphic and Web site design field, during which she provided her design services for Chicago community organizations such as the Partnership to End Homelessness, Latino Council on the Media and Spanish Coalition for Jobs. Linda received a Bachelor of Science, with honors, in advertising/design/photography at Western Illinois University. She was voted Volunteer of the Year by the Partnership to End Homelessness in 2005. She is a current member of the National Association of Latino Independent Producers, National Association of Latino Arts and Culture, Amigas Latinas, Mujeres Activas en Letras y Cambio Social (Women Active in Letters and Social Change) and the National Women’s Studies Association.
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