Lucio Fernandez
Lucio Fernandez was born in La Habana, Cuba and lived in Madrid, Spain for one year before arriving in the United States in 1971. Since then, he has spent the greater part of his life traveling the world while maintaining a home in New Jersey where he resides with his wife Megan, whom he met in 1997.
Lucio has had a varied and successful career working extensively as an actor, singer, dancer, director, producer, author and artist.
He has traveled the world with several Broadway shows including WEST SIDE STORY; GUYS AND DOLLS; A CHORUS LINE; JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR; and ON THE TOWN. He has worked with many of Broadway's leading directors and choreographers, including Jerome Robbins, Jerry Zaks, Michael Peters, Robert Longbottom, Christopher Chadman, and Alan Johnson. But the work he is most proud of is that with renowned director, friend and mentor René Buch, the artistic director of Repertorio Español in New York City, the leading Spanish language theatre company in the United States. For three years, Lucio was a principal actor with Repertorio Español where he performed in plays such as STRAWBERRY & CHOCOLATE; VIEQUES; LUMINARIA; EL PUBLICO; EL CANO; TE JURO JUANA QUE TENGO GANAS; and THE NEXT STOP; to name a few.
Lucio has performed alongside many great artists including Marc Anthony, Shirley MacLaine, Gene Kelly, The Pointer Sisters, Tommy Tune, Susan Lucci, Shirley Verrett, Lupita Ferrer, and Lorna Luft. He has performed at many of the world's finest theatres including Lincoln Center in New York City, the Chatelet in Paris, and the Berlin Opera House. He has made appearances on many television shows including 30 ROCK and the daytime series ALL MY CHILDREN. Presently, he is the host of the television show LIVE ON STAGE airing on CABLEVISION. Lucio has appeared in many television and radio commercials for products such as Coca-Cola, Budweiser, Sprite, Panasonic, Kudos, etc. He has worked extensively as a voice-over artist, and did the looping for the role of "Lazaro" in the award winning feature film BEFORE NIGHT FALLS starring Javier Barden as well as for the feature CHE starring Benicio Del Toro. Recently Lucio starred in the independent film VAMPIRE IN UNION CITY.
As a vocalist, he has appeared in concert along side such notable Latin recording artists as Jose Luis Rodriguez “El Puma”, Sophy de Puerto Rico, Elio Roca, Malena Burke, Roberto Ledesma, and Oscar D’Leon. Lucio presently stars in his one-man show entitled THE CUBAN KID IN CONCERT for which he has received rave reviews and several awards including a 2009 ITRA Award, a STAR Award, and a 2008 MAC Award nomination. He has released a music CD entitled "Volver a Ti" as well as a poetry CD featuring his own poetry entitled “Lucio Fernandez, Poetry”.
Lucio is the author of two poetry books: Thoughts and Observations, a book of poetry and A Trip to my Reality; two children's books about TITO, the little long neck dinosaur “Tito saves the land” and “Tito goes to school”; a dozen plays, several of which have been staged including, You, Me, & That One; Stranded on the Moon; Two of me. Please!; And then Depression Sets in; Till Death Do Us Part; Havana Moon, the musical; Friend Wanted (Busco Amigo); and The Cuban Kid in Concert (with Gerard Karabin); the screenplay Vampire in Union City (with Gerard Karabin); and lyrics for his 2003 debut album “Volver A Ti” and for his soon to be released album “Enamorado”. He was the founder and first Editor-in-Chief of the publication Sunlight News, which originally focused on political and social commentary and later switched to covering and promoting the arts.
As an artist he has exhibited his paintings, pastels, and sketches at many art galleries and shows including at PACE University in New York City; Queens Museum of Art; New York Book & Art EXPO; and a resounding successful solo show at the Monroe Center for the Arts in Hoboken, New Jersey.
He has directed, choreographed, and produced many shows, from big musicals to one-character plays, from children's performances to benefit concerts. His comedy TILL DEATH DO US PART premiered at The Grace Theatre in 2001, and then played at Newark Symphony Hall, followed by a run at The Gramercy Arts Theatre in NYC. His family musical FRIEND WANTED also premiered at The Grace Theatre before touring through many of New Jersey's best theatres, and his original production, HAVANA MOON, The Musical played to a sold-out audience at Newark Symphony Hall.
Lucio and his wife Megan were co-founders and Artistic Directors of The Grace Theatre Workshop, Inc., the premiere presenter of bilingual and Spanish language theatre in the State of New Jersey. Lucio has taught dance, drama, and playwriting, as well as participated in many school career days, and lectured at many organizations.
He has received many awards including the Premio ARTE Award in the category of "Best Actor" for VEGAS VEGAS VEGAS, The Musical Extravaganza; several New Jersey State proclamations and citations for his artistic achievements and contributions to the community, including a Proclamation from former New Jersey Governor James E. McGreevy; and has received recognition from many civic organizations for his work with regards to social issues.
Lucio is presently Commissioner of the City of Union City; and has served as Chairman of the Union City Redevelopment Board; President of the Union City Day Care Program; Trustee of the Union City Board of Education; Commissioner for the Union City Housing Authority; President of the Union City Public Library Friends, Inc.; and member of several other committees. Lucio is a graduate of Rutgers University, and studied acting in New York City with the legendary acting teacher Bobby Lewis.
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