"Song of the Simple Truth - El Canto de Julia de Burgos" is a bilingual musicalization of the life and work of Puerto Rico's national treasure poet.  Conceived and directed by Melba LaRose, it contains original songs by Joel Maisano and Paul Serrato, Latin-jazz choreography by Francis J. Roach, live guitar, and percussion.  Julia de Burgos (1914-1953) wrote about love, human rights, independence, women's rights, heroes, dictators, wars and revolutions of North, Central, and South America, as well as Europe.  The ensemble cast is multicultural: Puerto Rican-Peruvian, Puerto Rican-Ecuadorian, and African-American.  Part of the piece is sung or spoken in Spanish, with simultaneous spoken or written translations provided by the company.  Singing, physical enactments and dance further assist non-Spanish speaking audiences in understanding the small number of poems performed in Spanish only.  Giving the impression of a Flamenco troupe in action, the set consists of a semi-circle of chairs on which are draped the colorful Spanish shawls used throughout the presentation.  At times, audience members are recruited to interact or dance.  The introductory biography of the poet and follow-up discussion are presented bilingually.

Julia de Burgos, a woman of African, Spanish, German, and Hispanic heritage, was over six feet tall and exceedingly attractive.  She became a successful poet and journalist, revolutionary in her politics, poetry, and feminism.  Pablo Neruda called her "a great poet of America."  Having published only two books of poetry in her short lifetime, nonetheless she received high government and literary honors.  Avidly supporting the cause of Puerto Rican independence, she also fought hard for human rights internationally.  A cultural icon in her own country and in the Latino community at large, Ms. de Burgos has not reached the wider general audience she deserves.  With this production, we are attempting to correct that.  Since the themes in the poems are universal, they have been touching the hearts of audiences everywhere, especially women.  We were honored to receive permission from translator-poet Jack Agueros and his publisher, Curbstone Press, to dramatize these poems for audiences.