Today, we proudly present our conversation with Brian Quijada and Nygel D. Robinson, the actors, musicians, and playwrights of the remarkable new play, Mexodus, which is having its World Premium at the Mosaic Theatre Company as part of its Catalyst Series, in partnership with Baltimore Center Stage. Directed by Obie Award Winner David Mendizábal, Mexodus was inspired by the thousands of enslaved people in the United States who sought freedom in Mexico, rather than looking north. Mexodus uses live looping and hip hop to explore an under-told chapter of the Underground Railroad and celebrate Black and brown bodies standing together against oppression.
Brian Quijada (left) Nygel D Robinson (right)
Photo by Chris Banks
Brian Quijada is an Emmy-nominated playwright, actor, composer, and Artistic Director of The Wild Wind Performance Lab for New Play Development. Quijada has spent most of his career acting in Off-Broadway and Regional Theaters including The Public Theater, Roundabout Theatre Company, The Playwrights Realm, Ensemble Studio Theatre, and Actors Theatre of Louisville. As a playwright/composer, his work spans theater to audio plays to television. His hip-hop solo show Where Did We Sit on the Bus? has been produced across the country including Teatro Vista, Ensemble Studio Theatre, City Theatre Company, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Geva Theatre, and more. His other works include Kid Prince and Pablo and Somewhere Over The Border. He is a four-time Jeff Award winner, three-time Drama Desk nominee, and one-time Lucile Lortel winner.
Nygel D. Robinson is a singer, actor, writer, music producer, and multi-instrumentalist based in Chicago. Robinson’s select theater credits include Bro. Davis in The Amen Corner at Shakespeare Theatre Company, where he was also the music director, Jimmy Powers in Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill at The North Carolina Theatre, Larry in Lincoln Center’s concert version of Beau: The Musical, Jesus in Godspell at Saint Michael's Playhouse, and The All Night Strut at Milwaukee Rep.
For more information about Brian Quijada, click here; about Nygel D. Robinson, click here; about Mexodus, click here; for Mosaic Theater Company, click here.
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An Innovators, Artists & Solutions Conversation with Brian Quijada and Nygel D. Robinson, the Creators of Mexodus at Mosaic Theater Company