Two River Theater announces 10th annual Crossing Borders Festival

The Two River Theater has announced the 10th Annual Crossing Borders Festival.

About Crossing Borders Festival

Since 2011, Two River Theater has introduced new voices from across the country to their annual Crossing Borders (Cruzano Fronteras) Festival of new plays by Latinx playwrights.

This year’s playwrights explore stories about family history, computer science, teens navigating the “new normal”, and a makeshift family arriving at the cusp of the 22nd century.

The festival is curated by the theater’s long-term collaborator and award-winning director, José Zayas (Two River’s El Coquí Espectacular and the Bottle of Doom, Pinkolandia).

The Video Editor is Jaime Vallés with AJV Media and the Line Producer/Asst. Video Editor is Kat West.

“I love these plays and am so honored to present them and to work with the remarkable group of artists who have brought their joy and their restless intellects to telling these stories that speak so eloquently to this very difficult moment.

Everyone has met the challenge of creating during the pandemic with such surprising results and I’m very excited to share this with the world.

These plays matter because they want change, they demand to be heard, they show us moments of crisis that transcend boundaries and they suggest possible ways forward into uncertain but thrilling futures”, says Crossing Borders Curator, José Zayas.

10th Annual Crossing Borders Festival Will Be Virtual

For the first time in the festival’s history, readings will be presented virtually, allowing free access to all nationwide and around the globe—allowing the art to cross borders and time zones in a very literal sense.

Access to the free online 10th Annual Crossing Borders festival will begin on September 13 and run through October 10 and will include four new play readings. All readings will be available with captioning.

SCHEDULE OF READINGS

CIERTAS ASTILLAS/CERTAIN SHARDS
By Paz Pardo
Directed by José Zayas

Run Time: 1 hour 27 minutes

A splintered playwright tries to find a way to tell her story; two wanderers walk away from their memories—or lack thereof; two private investigators search for a missing person in a warehouse of boxes slowly filling with chinchillas.

Cast: Olivia Jampol, Irene Sofia Lucio, Jacqueline Guillén and Socorro Santiago

Stage Directions: Karina Curet
Stage Manager: Elis Cesar Arroyo Jaime

MACHINE LEARNING
By Francisco Mendoza
Directed by José Zayas

Run Time: 1 hour 55 minutes

When his estranged, alcoholic father is diagnosed with liver cancer, computer scientist Jorge dreams up a nursing app to manage the disease in his stead. As the machine’s capabilities grow, however, the possibility of leaving it in charge of the treatment becomes more real, forcing Jorge to reckon with his responsibilities as a son—and as a creator.

Cast: Jake Ryan Lozano, Reynaldo Piniella, Aadya Bedi, Gerardo Rodriguez and Donovan Monzón-Sanders

Stage Directions: Matthew Cubillos
Stage Manager: Elis Cesar Arroyo Jaime

SYZYGY OR, THE CEASING OF THE SUN
By juliany f. taveras

Directed by Dominique Rider

Run Time: 39 minutes

On the cusp of the 22nd century, in a city (or whatever it is that’s left), a star-crossed, makeshift family of five is born. A meditation on how love & chaos behave when it feels like the world is falling apart—what does it mean for us if, in fact, the world has always been ending? how do we love? how do we fight?

Cast: Jackie Torres, Francesca Fernandez McKenzie, Esco Jouléy, Imani Russell and Socorro Santiago

Stage Directions: Andrea Negrete

Stage Manager: Elizabeth Yvette Ramirez

OPTIONAL BOSS BATTLE

By Nick Malakhow
Directed by Rebecca Martínez

Run Time: 1 hour 40 minutes

Like teens all over the world, Alonso and Ruben are forced into remote learning in March of 2020 due to the COVID pandemic. Icy acquaintances at their bougie prep school, they forge an unlikely friendship when new-in-town, grieving Ruben realizes he lives just around the corner from agoraphobic Alonso in Hackensack, NJ. A story about processing grief, forging connection, coming to terms with identity, and caring for one’s mental health in tumultuous times.

Cast: Reynaldo Piniella, Jake Ryan Lozano, Ana Grosse, Zuleyma Guevara, Jorge Cordova and Peter Ruiz

Stage Directions: Peter Ruiz

Stage Manager: Elizabeth Yvette Ramirez

To reserve access to the free online 10th Annual Crossing Borders festival visit: tworivertheater.org/whats-on/crossing-borders-2021/