A Hip-Hop remix about the Underground Railroad that went south into Mexico

Brian Quijada and Nygel D. Robinson blend Hip-Hop and history to tell a unique story about the Underground Railroad that led south into Mexico, highlighting the power of Black and Brown unity. A groundbreaking, theatrical experience, Mexodus is a live-looped musical, composed in real time, that explores the often-untold stories of enslaved people in the United States who sought freedom in Mexico.

A workshop of Mexodus was presented by New York Stage and Film, Summer 2021. Mexodus was developed in part at Rhinebeck Writers Retreat. Development support provided by the CRITICAL BREAKS Residency Program at Hi-ARTS

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Content Transparency

This production contains the use of coarse language, references to offstage violence, sexual abuse, and death, and references to racism and racial violence including the use of racial slurs. Please be advised, this production includes the use of strobing effects, flashing lights, and sudden loud noises.

This production runs approximately 85 minutes without intermission. 

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Artists & Makers Night (3/19) 6:00 PM
Small Business Night (3/28) 6:00 PM
Nuestras Raíces Night (4/6) 6:30 PM

MORE INFO ABOUT BCS COMMUNITY NIGHTS

Brian Quijada – WRITER/Performer

Brian Quijada (he/him) is an Emmy-nominated playwright, actor, and composer whose original work has been developed and produced all across the country. His hip hop solo show Where Did We Sit on the Bus? has been produced at Victory Gardens, Geva Theatre, Teatro Vista (2 Jeff Awards including Outstanding Solo Performance), Ensemble Studio Theatre (2 Drama Desk Nomination), Boise Contemporary, 1st Stage, City Theatre Pittsburgh, and a digital production at Actors Theatre of Louisville (Drama League Nomination). His TYA play Kid Prince and Pablo premiered at The Kennedy Center in 2019. His newest musical Somewhere Over the Border received a rolling World Premiere at Syracuse Stage, Geva Theatre, and TeatroVista, garnering 3 Jeff Awards including Best Musical.

His plays have been developed at The Kennedy Center, Pittsburgh CLO’s Spark Festival, Victory Gardens’ Ignition Festival, New Stage and Film’s Powerhouse Festival, and the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center’s National Musical Theatre Conference. Commissioning institutions include A.R.T., 1st Stage, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Woolly Mammoth, Hero Theatre and The Kennedy Center. Brian’s song “The Always Song” was Nickelodeon’s 2021 Hispanic Heritage Month Song.

Acting credits: Wolf Play at MCC, Bobbie Clearly at Roundabout, Oedipus El Rey at The Public Theater, My Mañana Comes (Original Cast) at Playwrights Realm, How We Got On (Original Cast) and Airness (Original Cast) at Actors Theatre of Louisville’s Humana Festival. TV: Law & Order SVU, Blue Bloods, Manhattan Love Story, Search Party.

NYGEL D. Robinson – WRITER/Performer

Nygel D. Robinson (he/him) is an artist based in Chicago, IL and is the co writer of Mexodus. Select theatre credits include Bro. Davis/ Music Director in The Amen Corner (Shakespeare Theatre Company), Jimmy Powers in Lady Day (North Carolina Theatre), and Actor/Musician in The All Night Strut (Milwaukee Rep.) Nygel has his his hands in many other projects as a Composer/Lyricist, Music Director, and Music Producer. Nygel would like to thank BCS and Mosaic Theatre for bringing this story to life. He would also like to thank his family for their love and unending support. None of this would be possible without them.

David MendizÁbal – Director & Costume DEsigner

DAVID MENDIZÁBAL (they/he) is a director, designer, producer, and the Associate Artistic Director of Berkeley Repertory Theatre. They are one of the Producing Artistic Leaders of the OBIE Award-winning The Movement Theatre Company and a founding collective member of the OBIE Award-winning Sol Project. Select directing credits include: the bandaged place (Roundabout), Mushroom (People’s Light), Sanctuary City (Berkeley Rep/Arena Stage), Notes on Killing Seven Oversight, Management, and Economic Stability Board Members (Soho Rep/Sol Project – Director & Costume Designer), This Bitter Earth (TheatreWorks Hartford), Don’t Eat the Mangos (Magic Theatre/Sundance),  On The Grounds of Belonging (Long Wharf), And She Would Stand Like This, Look Upon Our Lowliness (The Movement), and Tell Hector I Miss Him (Atlantic). David is a 2021 Princess Grace Award Honoraria Recipient in Theater. They were part of the inaugural Soho Rep Project Number One Residency. Alumnus of Ars Nova Vision Residency, Drama League Directors Project, Labyrinth Intensive Ensemble, artEquity, NALAC, LCT Directors Lab, and TCG Leadership U. BFA – NYU/Tisch | davidmendizabal.com