Dexter’s Lauren Velez to open N.Y. Latino theater festival

The fifth Latino International Theater Festival of New York, to be held June 4-18, will commence with a production of “They Call Me La Lupe” starring Lauren Velez, best known for her role in the Showtime television series “Dexter.”

In the one-woman show, Velez plays Guadalupe Victoria Yoli, whom the show business world knew as “La Lupe,” a Cuban singer who developed her career in New York and was the voice of Tito Puente’s orchestra.

La Lupe (1939-1992), remembered for hits like “Puro teatro” and “La tirana” and who was the first Latina to appear at Carnegie Hall, was acclaimed in her native New York as the queen of Latin soul.

The stage production, written for Velez by Luis Caballero and “Dexter” producer James Manos and directed by Veronica Caicedo, will be presented on June 4 at the Hostos Center for Arts and Culture in the Bronx, Susana Tubert, the founder of the festival, known as the TeatroStageFest, said in a communique.

Velez, who is of Puerto Rican origin and who has also had roles on “Ugly Betty,” “Numbers” and “Law and Order,” among other programs, successfully presented the show in Miami as well as the Teatro La Tea in New York last year.