Performances began July 2 at The Public Theater for the Off-Broadway premiere of Luis Alfaro's Mojada, the story of a Mexican immigrant in New York, inspired by the Ancient Greek story of Medea. Sabina Zúñiga Varela, who previously starred in Mojada: A Medea in Los Angeles, a version of the play set in L.A. (seen at OSF, in L.A., and in Boston), returns to the role. The show officially opens July 17, and will run through August 11.
For the play's Public Theater premiere, Alfaro has re-set Mojada in the neighborhood of Queens. Directed by Chay Yew (who previously directed Mojada in Chicago, as well as Alfaro's Oedipux El Rey at The Public), the play follows a young Mexican mother who gives up everything to bring her son to America.
Rounding out the cast are Vanessa Aspillaga (Anna in the Tropics) as Luisa, Alex Hernandez (A Midsummer Night's Dream) as Jason, Ada Maris (Bang Bang Blues) as Pilar, Benjamin Luis McCracken (Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close) as Acan, and Socorro Santiago as Tita (Unfinished Women).
The production features scenic design by Arnulfo Maldonado; costume design by Haydee Zelideth; lighting design by David Weiner; sound design by Mikhail Fiksel; projection design by Stephan Mazurek; hair style consultation and wig design by Earon Chew Nealey; and fight and intimacy direction by UnkleDave’s Fight-House.
Mojada has also been set in Chicago (where the play received its world premiere, directed by Yew, in 2013).