Greetings from the DARK. The darkness I feel now is vastly different from what I experienced when I first embarked on this journey. This journey began in April 2005, although its roots can be traced back to 2001. Latin Madness, a dance and comedy revue that I co-created, ran from 2001 to 2004. It was showcased in various venues, including El Museo Del Barrio in Manhattan, Los Angeles, California, London, England, Zurich, Switzerland, and ultimately, Hostos Community College in The Bronx. During the finale of the 2001 performance at El Museo Del Barrio’s Heckscher Theater, I was deeply moved by the audience’s reaction. As I directed the show, I looked out at the crowd, who were smiling, clapping, and stomping their feet to the rhythms of 35 dancers performing Salsa. I thought about how wonderful it would be to present thiskind of music and dance on a grand stage, especially since it had not been showcased nearly enough on Broadway before hits like In The Heights and On Your Feet. While Latin Madness was a fantastic comedy and dance revue, it lacked a storyline. I envisioned adding a narrative enriched by Salsa and Boleros, a story unlike anything seen on or off Broadway. I began reaching out to various individuals to pitch my idea, but the responses varied from “oh, that’s a nice idea” to complete silence. It soon became clear that many were primarily focused on their own projects. If I wanted my idea to come to fruition, I realized I needed to take bold action. I would have to write the script for the Musical Comedy that I envisioned. Having never written anything longer than term papers, the task felt daunting, especially while balancing my role as an educator during the day, coaching sports after school, and volunteering at a nonprofit on weekends. The script I ultimately crafted told the story of a marginalized community in the South Bronx. I can’t count the number of emails, phone calls, direct messages, and “elevator pitches” I made to advocate for my dream. If I didn’t take action, it would remain unfulfilled.The responses or lack of responses that I received regarding my script felt like being alone in the Liberty Science Center Touch Tunnel. For those unfamiliar, the Touch Tunnel is an 80-foot, crawl-through tunnel that is completely dark. Navigating through such an unknown environment highlights how much we depend on sight to orient ourselves. In that pitch-black space, there is no movement forward or backward; you must feel your way through the overwhelming darkness. This experience mirrored the challenges I faced as I navigated my own “tunnel” without prior experience, tools, or allies in my quest for light. That much-needed light finally appeared in the summer of 2012. An email I sent to a choreographer with a production company did not go unnoticed. It resulted in a phone call that I will never forget. As I entered a movie theater in Ridge Hill, Luis Salgado called me, and we had a brief conversation before I went inside. I was thrilledto share the news with my wife as soon as I settled in. Luis has truly been the guiding light in turning my dream into a reality. After several calls and emails, Luis arranged a table read for October 23, 2012. Following the read, he expressed, “Carlos Mendoza ha escrito un libreto MARAVILLOSO. It really is in great shape for a starting point and now Salgado Productions is helping evolve/develop the project in new directions, ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ONES IS ADDING MUSIC!There are many WONDERFUL POSSIBILITIES to ADD HEART AND FLAVOR to the piece with not only tracks but also excellent underscoring material.”Luis has consistently been a reliable support whenever I sought his help regarding my script. Although life has its ups and downs and we now find ourselves in 2025, I can confidently say that without Luis, my script would not be in its current form. The journey has been lengthy, but the script is precisely where it needs to be. Luis frequently asks, “What do you need from me? How can I help?” Throughout this journey, I’ve met and spoken with numerous individuals, many of whom engage in talk without tangible action. Luis is a doer, and I consider myself fortunate to have him on my side. I believe in signs, and the summer afternoon in 2012 when Luis called me before I entered the theater was a significant one. The auditorium I was about to enter was named Valencia, which happens to be the title of my script. I am incredibly grateful for this guiding light on my journey. Luis is a remarkable individual who pours his heart and soul into every project he undertakes. On behalf of myself and other artists who have had the privilege of collaborating with Luis, I want to express a heartfelt THANK YOU! It feels wonderful to be in the light, yet I also anticipate the darkness that will soon come. This time, however, the darkness I await is the one that envelops us just before the curtain rises on opening night.
