frikiNation at National Queer Theater & HERE Arts Center’s Criminal Queerness Festival
Criminal Queerness Festival (CQF) is National Queer Theater‘s Obie Award Winning initiative developing groundbreaking new plays by queer artists from around the world fighting censorship or criminalization in their home countries. Straight from sold-out runs at Lincoln Center and PAC NYC, CQF has been featured in the New York Times, and is a recipient of the Mayor’s Grant for Cultural Impact.
Directed by Rula A. Muñoz Music and Lyrics by EsKoria
frikiNation is a historical, bilingual, Cuban punk rock jukebox musical that tells the true story of young punks in Cuba in the early 1990s who took extreme measures to rig the communist system in their favor. In an attempt to access a higher quality of life within the government sanctioned HIV sanitariums, punks across the island started injecting themselves with HIV-positive blood. Using a 2003 album by Cuban punk band EsKoria, frikiNation tells this powerful history by following a pregnant rebel, her new skeptical lover, and a band of misfit friends as they fight to survive and create music in a society that pushes them to the margins. With the help of Maria, a cultural programs director determined to educate and protect them, they navigate love, freedom, and a dangerous plan to secure a better life—no matter the cost.
Content warnings: Abortion, police violence, incarceration.
Show Dates:
Tuesday, June 24 – 7:00p *Testing/Treatment Resource Fair with AIDS Healthcare Foundation – 6-7pm*
Wednesday, June 25 – 7:00p *Talkback moderated by Donja R. Love*
Thursday, June 26 – 7:00p *Masked Performance**
Friday, June 27 – 7:00p *Queer Open Mic Night – Post-Show*
Saturday, June 28 – 2:00p
**Thursday, June 26th is a required masked performance but masks are strongly encouraged for all of frikiNation. Please help us take care of our immunocompromised community.
CAST:
Ben Beckley*, Maria Victoria Franco, Mieko Gavia*, Nadel Dalia Henville*, Claire Hilton*, Kristen Hoffman, Johnny Minh Le*, Belle Le, Jessica Lưu Pelletier, Camara McLaughlin, Carli Nelson, Thammie Laine Quách*, Jason Quarles, David Rodriguez, Nikaury Rodriguez*, Joe Rosta, Julian Rozzell, Jr., Violet Savage, Louis So, Grant Sparr, Sophie Thurschwell, Jan Tuchman, Lexie Waddy, Tia Walker, Amy Laird Webb, Luke Wisniewski (*denotes member of Actors Equity Association)
Photography by Maria Baranova
Hoi Polloi premiere: WINNING IS WINNING
Conceived and Directed by Alec Duffy
Choreography: Dan Safer
June 27 - July 13 at JILL@JACK — 20 Putnam Ave in Brooklyn
Presented in association with ¡Oye! Group
CREATIVE TEAM:
Concept & Direction: Alec Duffy
Choreography: Dan Safer
Dramaturgy: Julian Rozzell, Jr.
Lighting Design: Tuçe Yasak
Sound Design: Brendan Connelly
Stage Manager: Mars Garcia
Music by Steven Leffue, Justin Hicks, and several other sources.
Assistant Director: Luis Feliciano
¡OYEMe! Music Series
Welcome to ¡OYEME! Music Series, a monthly showcase bringing you la musica de la gente at PAC NYC.
Location: Perelman Arts Center 251 Fulton St, New York, NY 10007
Artists and Dates:
Pedro Fortunato will be performing on Friday, May 16th, 2025
Olivia Harris will be performing on Thursday, June 19th, 2025
Raiah Rofsky and Nay Harris will be performing on Friday, June 20th, 2025
Cheeyang Ng will be performing on Thursday, June 26th
All performances are at 6pm and free to the public!
SAVE THE DATE!!
¡Mi Casa, Su Casa!
Tuesday, September 16th, 2025
The Performing Garage @ 6pm - 9pm
For years, we’ve dreamed of creating a dedicated space for our community to gather, create, grow, and learn together. That space is finally real, and it's time to celebrate!
Join us for an evening of musica, arte, comida, and community as we celebrate our new home to continue shaping our future together.
More details soon! Mark us down in your calendar!
Healing ROOM TOURS
Citymeals, Musical Theatre Factory, Dementia Spring partnered to create Healing Room Tours, for the project “Mercedes” a multimedia art and community service project. Citymeals is hosting celebrations at older adult centers in all five boroughs, plus special meal deliveries. In each senior center we host dance workshops along with music from the Mercedes stage production in development by Musical Theatre Factory and performed live by Pedro Fortunato. We delivered meals and Pedro Fortunato delivers personal serenades to homebound older adults in the neighborhood. All the participants receive a care package at the end of the day with resources they may need and supplies to continue art making in their free time!
DATES:
March 26th, 2025 in the Bronx
April 23rd, 2025 in Queens
May 19th, 2025 in Manhattan
June 30th, 2025 in Staten Island
