Get To Know Our Team: Julian Martinez as Che

From now till the end of the run we will highlight the talented individuals involved in helping make the Midwest Premiere of Cuba and His Teddy Bear possible with a brief questionnaire.

1. Where are you from? If not from Chicago, how did you end up here? What is your ethnicity?

I’m from central coast California.  Born in Santa Barbara, moved to Santa Maria, then to Tucson, AZ, then back to Santa Maria. I’m Mexican/American.

2. What is your position in Cuba?

I play the part of Che.

3. What drew you to want to work on Cuba and His Teddy Bear?

The script, part, actors and crew involved.

4. Why is this a great piece of theater for Chicago?

I’d hate to limit this play’s influence only to Chicago, as it reads for any audience that has a perception of urban life.  Either this play can reinforce or tear down former perceptions, depending on an audience’s background.  And regardless of the surface content this play is about much more than urban/drug culture; more so Cuba and his Teddy Bear’s content leans more on the relationship between a single father and his son.  And regardless of the circumstances all fathers and sons go through problems growing up.

5. What makes Chicago Theater great to you?

The community, the willingness, the ambition, the acceptance, and the accessability.

6. What do like about working with UTC/PTC? If you have worked with UTC/PTC before what show did you work on and how was your experience?

Not many theatre companies are ballsy enough to say yes to anything.

7. What do you do for work outside of your position in Cuba?

Acting throughout the Chicago area, producing internet media, painting, valet on the weekends.

8. Also maybe, other than Cuba, what is your favorite play that you have worked on?

Avenue A by David Steen, Cherry Orchard @ Steppenwolf, La Bella Vita by Charlie Berg

9. Why are you pursuing theater in Chicago, rather than somewhere else?

I think the description from Question #5 sums it up…

10. What’s your favorite line from a play?

I wish I was cool enough to remember them all.

For tickets click “Junkie Christ”

Interview by Ivan Vega