About YoungArts

 I first met Glen Close at Robert Redford's Sundance Theatre Lab.  I was in a play reading with her for the play "Sixteen wounded by Eliam Kraiem.  Eliam was my house mate in the Sundance Utah mountains which was vast and once housed former Lab participants Jessica Tandy and James Edward Almos.  Kraiem was so anxious and glad his play was finally being read aloud for the first time.  Glen was so gracious, regal and borderline mother like with me.  We each read Three plays in Three weeks along with greats Carol Burnett, Tyne Daly and Director Michael Mayer.  The National Foundation for advancement in the arts (NFAA or youngarts) sponsored me and I was chosen to participate because of my Alumni status.  Durring my Junior year in Performing Arts High School I spent one week in Miami competing for a Presidential scholarship in the Arts.  I won a merit scholarship to the University of Texas Austin.  Today youngarts offers close to One Billion Dollars in grants and scholarships and even the honor to perform for the President of the United States simply by applying here http://www.youngarts.org/

Soon after the summer ended Glen Close warned me that she would be coming to see me in my show on Broadway.  I smiled and said thank you but did not think she would actually come.  One night after the show's backstage buzz which included Madonna on one night, Billy Joel, Ashford and Simpson and many others I finally saw her, Glen Close who with motherly arms embraced me and said "You were wonderful!" and I retreated "No I wassent, I was ok i guess, I missed one ...) Glen stopped me dead and stared at me with her razor's eye never once letting go of me and gave me a direct order "Just say thank you." Mesmerized in acknowledgment of her correction I realized gratitude over self deprecation. It was Mother Glen opening the skies for me and and decorating it with her smile.  A Life affirming experience I will always cherish.   Thank you Glen!  I love you for many reasons but the greatest is for showing me gratitude which is the acknowledgment of love and humility.  You are good enough.  You have what it takes.  Just say thank you.

Glen Close

LUGO and Glenn Close 

  I first met Glen Close at Robert Redford's Sundance Theatre Lab.  I was in a play reading with her for the play "Sixteen wounded by Eliam Kraiem.  Eliam was my house mate in the Sundance Utah mountains which was vast and once housed former Lab participants Jessica Tandy and James Edward Almos.  Kraiem was so anxious and glad his play was finally being read aloud for the first time.  Glen was so gracious, regal and borderline mother like with me.  We each read Three plays in Three weeks along with greats Carol Burnett, Tyne Daly and Director Michael Mayer.  The National Foundation for advancement in the arts (NFAA or youngarts) sponsored me and I was chosen to participate because of my Alumni status.  Durring my Junior year in Performing Arts High School I spent one week in Miami competing for a Presidential scholarship in the Arts.  I won a merit scholarship to the University of Texas Austin.  Today youngarts offers close to One Billion Dollars in grants and scholarships and even the honor to perform for the President of the United States simply by applying here http://www.youngarts.org/

Soon after the summer ended Glen Close warned me that she would be coming to see me in my show on Broadway.  I smiled and said thank you but did not think she would actually come.  One night after the show's backstage buzz which included Madonna on one night, Billy Joel, Ashford and Simpson and many others I finally saw her, Glen Close who with motherly arms embraced me and said "You were wonderful!" and I retreated "No I wassent, I was ok i guess, I missed one ...) Glen stopped me dead and stared at me with her razor's eye never once letting go of me and gave me a direct order "Just say thank you." Mesmerized in acknowledgment of her correction I realized gratitude over self deprecation. It was Mother Glen opening the skies for me and and decorating it with her smile.  A Life affirming experience I will always cherish.   Thank you Glen!  I love you for many reasons but the greatest is for showing me gratitude which is the acknowledgment of love and humility.  You are good enough.  You have what it takes.  Just say thank you.

Tito Puente

LUGO and Tito Puente.

Opening night of Paul Simon's The Capeman was a magical evening, that was when I ment Tito Puente.  The Best part of the night for me was this moment and the look in my mother's eyes when she got to meet him and shake his hand.  She became a teenager right before my eyes. "That's Tito Puente!" she burst.  Tito Puente is the Original Mambo King.  He is responsible for multiple compositions on over One Thousand Recordings.

He served in the US Navy and Performed music for Kings and Queens, Presidents and Paupers.  He was magic when he played the Timbales.  The Meistro would make wild faces and as if possessed by the beat and stick his tongue out!   I remember when he played on our opening night.  He was on fire and along with Ray de La Paz, Ruben Blades, Marc Anthony and Frankie Negron they tore the house down.

Ruben Blades

Lugo and Ruben Blades.

I first had the honor of working with this truly incredible Legend of Latin Music in Paul Simon's Capeman.  A Lawyer, Actor and Politician this Panamanian Singer and Songwriter has influenced me in so many powerful ways.   His voice is so versatile and fluid and commands you to the Dance.  Ruben's friend Quincy Jones came to see him in Capeman and Quincy came back stage to meet us.  Everyone in the cast gathered around Quincy then suddenly Ruben turned around and snatched me by the shoulders from behind and said loudly "This guy, this guy needs a record deal." and flung me into Quincy.  I landed right in Quincy's arms!  everyone Erupted in laughter and cheers.  Ruben was always playing tricks and making light of everything.  He was always available and eager to listen to you, cheer you up and make you feel loved. Ruben met his wife the beautiful Luba Mason an amazing Vocalist and Actor who played one of the mothers in the Capeman.  I am so overjoyed that both Ruben and Luba are now my NYC Neighbors in Chelsea.  I see Ruben all the time.  He is like my Show business Father.

Marc Anthony

Marc Anthony and Lugo working with Paul Simon on The Capeman.  

This moment in Broadway History is so dear to me simply because Marc was a part of it.  Marc is one of the best singers I have known personally.  A Superstar at the time of this photo Marc was the hottest Salsa Star in the world and he was such a great joy to be around.  Each day consisted of "What  was Marc doing?" and how we could be part of it.  Hanging in his dressingroom was a sought out honor.  I played him my music in his dressingroom and he loved listening to my songs. He took a special shine to me and trusted me enough to babysit his 4 year old daughter while he was on stage.  I remember how funny she was while I taught her how to eat sunflower seeds.  Marc was so Generous and took the whole cast to eat at Sardis the night before opening (a Broadway Tradition).  And of course the endless inspired Parties especially the ones at my brother Hector's 45th st Brownstone.  I understudied Marc in the show but he never got sick or missed a performance.  A true Professional.

Mike Bloomberg

I first met The Honorable Mike Bloomberg while working at a newspaper in New York.  He was so amazingly nice. I know people always say that people are nice but Mr. Mayor Bloomberg was genuinely a pleasure to talk to,to take pictures with and to know. It always seems to amaze me that Mr. Mike Bloomberg is never worried or concerned overly anxious about anything. He is a calm and cool customer.

Optimistic and positive are all his signature traits.He made me feel at home and made me feel as if I were the only person in the room at the moment. Confidence is excluded from him even when you know you had so very much on his mind as Mayor of New York.

Paul Simon

Paul Simon and LUGO

I first met Paul Simon in 1998. It was the third Callback for show that he was producing called The Capeman for Broadway.  The moment I met him I knew that I had to be in the show. I noticed that he was small in stature but his energy could fill stadiums.  I asked my friend David Stolak to play guitar and if I could sing one of David’s original songs for Paul Simon. I knew that David was a big fan of Paul’s so he was more than happy to do it.  I never saw David or anyone for that matter more over the moon.  

Paul Simon, LUGO and Ray de la Paz. 

Since working with Paul I have never worked with anyone else who has been so generous financially, emotionally, musically and spiritually as Mr. Simon.  Everyone involved with the show knew that we were all dealing with genius. Paul was always on top of everything we did. We all were under heavy scrutiny from Paul and from especially the outside.   Media and Press were all over us all the time out for the scoop.  This was the first time popular music from the American vernacular was going to be adapted on Broadway, The first time Puerto Rican Latin music was going to be adapted on Broadway.  I believe that if it were not for Paul Simon other musical artists like Elton John and Billy Joel and all the other popular American music would have never come to Broadway.  Paul was the first.

Ben Vereen

Ben Vereen 

Ben Vereen is one of my favorite Actors.  We both went to Performing Arts high School in NY.  Hair, Pippin and Jesus Christ Superstar and Alex Haley's Roots are only a few of his best works.  The moment I met him I knew I was feeling love, humility and honest to goodness greatness.  I meet him at the revival of Jesus Christ Superstar.

LUGO, Ben Vereen and Hector Lugo