Parkland Father to Kickoff One-Man Show Tour on September 20

Manuel Oliver’s One-Man Show Honors His Son and Discusses Gun Violence, National Show Tour To Debut In South Florida

Tickets now available, Tony-winning Broadway producer and Hamilton Singer/Actor are among contributors to show aimed at inspiring others to help prevent gun violence.

Miami Beach, FL –   “GUAC: My Son, My Hero”, (https://www.guacmysonmyhero.com/ ) a one-man performance by gun violence prevention activist and Parkland father, Manuel Oliver, will kick-off it’s national tour at The Colony Theater in Miami Beach on Friday September 20, 2019. Tickets are now available for the show at: http://bit.ly/31votRY

The show introduces a new form of storytelling that combines a true first-person narrative and theater to create an immersive emotional experience that inspires audiences to take a stand on gun violence in America. 

“I lost my son a year ago, but my son didn’t lose his dad.
This work helps me be a dad to him every day.”

– Manuel Oliver

“GUAC: My Son, My Hero” is a social justice theater piece that tells Manuel’s story the year following his son’s Joaquin’ murder in the Parkland shooting. Joaquin, affectionately nicknamed “Guac” was one of seventeen people killed on February 14^th, 2018 at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Manuel and his wife Patricia turned their grief into bold activism and founded Change the Ref to devote their lives to raising awareness about gun violence and advocating for reform.  Proceeds from the show/tour will support Change The Ref’s mission.

“GUAC: My Son, My Hero” incorporates storytelling, live painting, video and photography, and audience interaction.  Manny’s goal is to bring Guac’s story to families and communities across the country, in an effort to move audiences to take action to end gun violence in America.  Leading up to November 2020 election, Manuel is taking this show on the road to key electoral swing states to provide a human face to the imperative for gun reform.

“After Parkland, who could blame a parent if they wanted to shut the blinds and sort of grieve and mourn in anonymity forever? That’s not what Manny wants. Manny wants to tell his story. Manny wants to tell his son’s story. Manny wants to help us all understand what Parkland felt like —what it feels like. I joined the team to help Manny make that happen.”

– Leslie Odom, Jr

Produced by Tony-winning Broadway producer Yael Silver and co-written and directed by internationally renowned theater artist James Clements, the show is advised by Hamilton actor/singer Leslie Odom, Jr., Dear Evan Hansen lyricist Benji Pasek, co-founder of Soze Michael Skolnik and political strategist Emily Tisch Sussman.