Still recovering from Pride? Imagine how Jade Esteban Estrada feels. The

Latin singer/songwriter/dancer (whew!) just celebrated his 127th Pride. Not that he's hitting the circuit parties and tea dances. Instead, Estrada has been touring his solo musical "ICONS: The Lesbian and Gay History of the World, Vol. 1," which returns to the actor's native New York this month.

     The show, a tour of queer figureheads throughout history, begins with Greek poet Sappho on the isle of Lesbos and marches through time up to Ellen DeGeneres' "Yep, I'm gay" Time Magazine cover. Estrada plays each character, morphing (and singing) from one to the other, for example from Gertrude Stein to Sylvia Rivera, the transgendered street hustler who helped incite the Stonewall riots in 1969. "Every icon has a different approach to the idea of equality for everyone," Estrada says. "Many make the same point but in different ways."

     For audiences in smaller cities, the show is an educational experience. "It inspires a lot of people," he says. "People who can't even come out of the closet come to see the show. They come for the historical aspect, but also to be entertained. He adds that New York audiences are much more sophisticated-they've seen a gazillion gay plays in just the past week!" ---but they also aren't even aware of the oppression and fear that pervade small towns and suburbs.

     "ICONS Vol. 2" will debut in September at a queer theatre festival in Columbus, Ohio before traveling the country and abroad (and yes, Volume 3 is in the works).

     Estrada is the founder and artistic director of the Experiencia Dance Company in New York. As a singer, he released his debut disc "Angel", and from 1996-2000 he was the chief choreographer to Latin TV star Charo (talk about icons!).

     "Charo is my show business mom, and I will always be grateful from having her in my life." He says. "She is a genius. A lot of people don't know she wrote a large majority of "The Love Boat" episodes.  Charo taught me how to treat my fans-I greet every single person who come to see me. Charo had a lot to with the way I do things. And she always wanted me to bare my chest onstage! She would alter the costumes and say, 'I want to say. Ay papacito! If I don't say that when I see you onstage, I would ask for my money back!"

©2004 HX