My Journey with Undesirable Secrets
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Why Anthony Acevedo’s Story Matters Now
In today’s world—where silence is weaponized and history is easily erased—the story of Undesirable Secrets is more vital than ever.
This is not just a play about World War II. It is a story about the weight of unspoken truths, the hidden pain of survival, and the cost of keeping secrets—whether imposed by others or born from fear. Anthony Acevedo’s life as a Mexican American combat medic, POW, and Holocaust survivor shatters the narrow narratives often told about war, identity, and remembrance. |
As we mark 80 years since the end of WWII, Undesirable Secrets offers a powerful reminder: remembrance is not passive—it is an act of courage. In sharing Anthony’s story, we don’t just honor the past—we confront the generational trauma silence leaves behind.
This performance is more than a history lesson.
It’s a call to action:
To listen.
To speak.
To remember.
For theaters, festivals, educators, and communities committed to truth-driven storytelling that resonates beyond the stage, Undesirable Secrets is ready.
Let’s share this story—together.
To bring Undesirable Secrets to your venue or for more information please email:
[email protected]
or
[email protected]
This performance is more than a history lesson.
It’s a call to action:
To listen.
To speak.
To remember.
For theaters, festivals, educators, and communities committed to truth-driven storytelling that resonates beyond the stage, Undesirable Secrets is ready.
Let’s share this story—together.
To bring Undesirable Secrets to your venue or for more information please email:
[email protected]
or
[email protected]
How I Discovered Anthony Acevedo's Story
After hearing Latinos reduced to harmful stereotypes—called rapists, murderers, and drug dealers—I knew I had to find a story that shattered those narratives completely. I’ve spent my career uncovering forgotten Latino stories, writing biographies and histories that bring truth and pride to our communities. My book The Untold Story of Joe Hernandez: The Voice of Santa Anita won the Dr. Tony Ryan Book Award for revealing the life of a Mexican American who broke barriers in the world of horse racing. My biography of Garrett Gomez: A Jockey’s Journey Through Addiction and Salvation told the raw, redemptive tale of another Latino icon. I also wrote Mexicans and Mexican Americans of Michigan to trace our contributions to American history. But I wanted something more—something no one would ever associate with Latinos.
That’s when I found Anthony Acevedo.
His story hit me like nothing else: a Mexican American WWII medic, a POW, and a Holocaust survivor, silenced by the country he served. I contacted his family with one goal—to write his biography. They agreed, and I began. But soon they learned about my background in screenwriting and asked if I would consider writing a film about Anthony’s life. I wrote the screenplay, and it went on to become a finalist in several competitions, including the Los Angeles International Screenwriting Awards. I even signed with a producer. Yet, despite the interest, one thing kept coming up: it would cost too much to produce.
So, I turned to the stage.
With the family’s blessing, I wrote Undesirable Secrets as a full-length play. We staged a reading as the closing event for Holocaust Remembrance Month in San Antonio, and the response was overwhelming. But through further development, we realized the play had more power—more intimacy—when Anthony spoke directly to the audience, alone, carrying the weight of his story himself.
That’s when the Acevedo family discovered something else about me: I could act. They asked me to play Anthony. I took the role to heart and never looked back.
Together with my director and script consultant William Doll, and co-consultant Pete Kuzov, we refined Undesirable Secrets into the one-person drama it is today—a living, breathing testament to a story too important to forget.
His story hit me like nothing else: a Mexican American WWII medic, a POW, and a Holocaust survivor, silenced by the country he served. I contacted his family with one goal—to write his biography. They agreed, and I began. But soon they learned about my background in screenwriting and asked if I would consider writing a film about Anthony’s life. I wrote the screenplay, and it went on to become a finalist in several competitions, including the Los Angeles International Screenwriting Awards. I even signed with a producer. Yet, despite the interest, one thing kept coming up: it would cost too much to produce.
So, I turned to the stage.
With the family’s blessing, I wrote Undesirable Secrets as a full-length play. We staged a reading as the closing event for Holocaust Remembrance Month in San Antonio, and the response was overwhelming. But through further development, we realized the play had more power—more intimacy—when Anthony spoke directly to the audience, alone, carrying the weight of his story himself.
That’s when the Acevedo family discovered something else about me: I could act. They asked me to play Anthony. I took the role to heart and never looked back.
Together with my director and script consultant William Doll, and co-consultant Pete Kuzov, we refined Undesirable Secrets into the one-person drama it is today—a living, breathing testament to a story too important to forget.
Why this Story Matters to Me as an Artist
As an artist, I’ve always believed that storytelling has the power to challenge perceptions and open hearts. I don’t just write to entertain—I write to reclaim voices that history has ignored or silenced. My work focuses on truth: the truth of what Latinos have contributed, endured, and overcome in a world that too often refuses to see us.
Undesirable Secrets is personal because it embodies everything I stand for as a creator. It’s about identity, resilience, silence, and survival. It’s about a Mexican American man whose story defies every stereotype, whose life forces audiences to confront the intersections of race, war, and memory. Telling Anthony Acevedo’s story is a way for me to say: we were there. In every battle, in every moment of American history—you will find us.
But it’s more than that. This play has challenged me as a writer and transformed me as a performer. Taking on Anthony’s voice, and the voices of those who shaped his life, has demanded every part of me—emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually. I’ve stepped into his shoes not only to honor him but to carry his truth into spaces where it’s never been heard.
This story matters because it is timely. As we mark the 80th anniversary of the end of WWII, the world continues to struggle with the consequences of silence, injustice, and forgotten histories. In today’s political climate, where identity is weaponized and truth is contested, Undesirable Secrets stands as a call to listen—to bear witness—and to speak.
For me, this isn’t just a play. It’s a mission.
Undesirable Secrets is personal because it embodies everything I stand for as a creator. It’s about identity, resilience, silence, and survival. It’s about a Mexican American man whose story defies every stereotype, whose life forces audiences to confront the intersections of race, war, and memory. Telling Anthony Acevedo’s story is a way for me to say: we were there. In every battle, in every moment of American history—you will find us.
But it’s more than that. This play has challenged me as a writer and transformed me as a performer. Taking on Anthony’s voice, and the voices of those who shaped his life, has demanded every part of me—emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually. I’ve stepped into his shoes not only to honor him but to carry his truth into spaces where it’s never been heard.
This story matters because it is timely. As we mark the 80th anniversary of the end of WWII, the world continues to struggle with the consequences of silence, injustice, and forgotten histories. In today’s political climate, where identity is weaponized and truth is contested, Undesirable Secrets stands as a call to listen—to bear witness—and to speak.
For me, this isn’t just a play. It’s a mission.
What Makes the Show Compelling for Audiences
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Undesirable Secrets is more than a history lesson—it’s an intimate, emotional journey into silence, survival, and the courage to speak the truth. From the first moment, the audience steps into Anthony Acevedo’s memories, experiencing his trauma, resilience, and the weight of secrets long kept.
What makes the show uniquely compelling is its direct engagement. With nothing but a table and chairs, I bring Anthony’s world to life, playing not only him but also the voices that haunted and shaped him. This simplicity draws audiences in, making the story deeply personal and immediate.
Beyond the shock of a Mexican American soldier surviving a Nazi slave labor camp, audiences are moved by the revelation of Anthony’s abuse by his father—a hidden pain he carried long before and long after the war. This layer of the story resonates universally, exposing wounds that many understand but few speak of.
At its core, the play delivers a powerful message: secrets destroy when kept, but healing begins when shared. Anthony’s journey to break his silence becomes a call for others to do the same. The audience is left not just with facts, but with a question—what truths are we still hiding from ourselves and those we love?
Each performance ends with silence, tears, and standing ovations—because this isn’t just about history. It’s about the cost of silence, the strength in remembering, and the human need to be heard.
What makes the show uniquely compelling is its direct engagement. With nothing but a table and chairs, I bring Anthony’s world to life, playing not only him but also the voices that haunted and shaped him. This simplicity draws audiences in, making the story deeply personal and immediate.
Beyond the shock of a Mexican American soldier surviving a Nazi slave labor camp, audiences are moved by the revelation of Anthony’s abuse by his father—a hidden pain he carried long before and long after the war. This layer of the story resonates universally, exposing wounds that many understand but few speak of.
At its core, the play delivers a powerful message: secrets destroy when kept, but healing begins when shared. Anthony’s journey to break his silence becomes a call for others to do the same. The audience is left not just with facts, but with a question—what truths are we still hiding from ourselves and those we love?
Each performance ends with silence, tears, and standing ovations—because this isn’t just about history. It’s about the cost of silence, the strength in remembering, and the human need to be heard.
Where the Show Has Been and Where It’s Going
From the very beginning, Undesirable Secrets has been shaped by a commitment to discovery—both in its storytelling and in its development as a theatrical experience. What began as a biographical project has evolved into a living, breathing piece of theater that has found its form through a series of thoughtfully staged tryouts and previews.
The journey began in San Antonio, Texas, where the first full reading of the original stage play was presented as the Closing Event for Holocaust Remembrance Month in January 2024. Hosted by the Holocaust Memorial Museum of San Antonio and the San Antonio Public Library, this event introduced Anthony Acevedo’s story to an audience deeply connected to the themes of survival, remembrance, and historical truth. The response was overwhelming, confirming the importance and resonance of the work.
Following this success, the play was workshopped in August 2024 in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where the transition from a full-cast production to a monodrama was explored. Under the guidance of director William M. Doll and script consultant Pete Kuzov, the piece was refined into its most intimate and impactful form—a one-man show where Anthony’s voice leads the audience through his memories, pain, and resilience.
With this new structure, the monodrama was ready for its first preview performances. In February 2025, the show was presented in Frisco, Texas, sponsored by the Mosaic Cultural Group and supported by the local Jewish community. The audience’s reaction—quiet, rapt attention followed by standing ovations—reinforced that the play’s emotional and historical weight could hold its own on any stage.
In March 2025, the production returned to my hometown of Lubbock, Texas, where it was featured at the Aztlan International Festival and performed again at the Louise Hopkins Underwood Center for the Arts. These performances marked a turning point, demonstrating that Undesirable Secrets could bridge diverse communities, drawing together those with connections to Latino history, Holocaust remembrance, and the universal need for truth-telling and healing.
Now, with these foundational performances behind us, we are preparing for the next phase: to bring Undesirable Secrets to audiences across the country. The show is ready—refined, resonant, and urgent. As we mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, there has never been a more timely moment to share Anthony Acevedo’s story with wider audiences.
Plans are underway for upcoming performances across the country. Each new performance is not just a continuation, but a deepening—an opportunity to invite others into the conversation, to remember, and to break their own silences.
The journey began in San Antonio, Texas, where the first full reading of the original stage play was presented as the Closing Event for Holocaust Remembrance Month in January 2024. Hosted by the Holocaust Memorial Museum of San Antonio and the San Antonio Public Library, this event introduced Anthony Acevedo’s story to an audience deeply connected to the themes of survival, remembrance, and historical truth. The response was overwhelming, confirming the importance and resonance of the work.
Following this success, the play was workshopped in August 2024 in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where the transition from a full-cast production to a monodrama was explored. Under the guidance of director William M. Doll and script consultant Pete Kuzov, the piece was refined into its most intimate and impactful form—a one-man show where Anthony’s voice leads the audience through his memories, pain, and resilience.
With this new structure, the monodrama was ready for its first preview performances. In February 2025, the show was presented in Frisco, Texas, sponsored by the Mosaic Cultural Group and supported by the local Jewish community. The audience’s reaction—quiet, rapt attention followed by standing ovations—reinforced that the play’s emotional and historical weight could hold its own on any stage.
In March 2025, the production returned to my hometown of Lubbock, Texas, where it was featured at the Aztlan International Festival and performed again at the Louise Hopkins Underwood Center for the Arts. These performances marked a turning point, demonstrating that Undesirable Secrets could bridge diverse communities, drawing together those with connections to Latino history, Holocaust remembrance, and the universal need for truth-telling and healing.
Now, with these foundational performances behind us, we are preparing for the next phase: to bring Undesirable Secrets to audiences across the country. The show is ready—refined, resonant, and urgent. As we mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, there has never been a more timely moment to share Anthony Acevedo’s story with wider audiences.
Plans are underway for upcoming performances across the country. Each new performance is not just a continuation, but a deepening—an opportunity to invite others into the conversation, to remember, and to break their own silences.