FRENZY FEST 2026
Frenzy One Act Theatre Festival
One-Act Plays
October 15-18 & 22-25
ONE-ACT PLAYS
Thursday-Sunday, October 15-18 & 22-25
El Barrios Artspace PS109
215 E 99 St. New York NY 10029 (btw 2nd & 3rd Ave)
Descanso Deslumbrante
Written & directed by Lucca Rodríguez performing by a collective actors from UPR
Thursday Oct. 15 – 6:30 PM / Friday Oct. 16 – 8:00 PM
Synopsis: Descanso Deslumbrante is a surrealist play that portrays the first encounters of two office workers in New York city, that live life with completely opposite point of views; one mundane and one fantastic. It presents how opposing extremes can influence and benefit each other when facing life changing tragedy and more.
Playwright & Director - Lucca Rodríguez Mangual
Lucca Rodríguez Mangual has written from a very young age. He started just to express himself and create fantastical worlds where he could escape. Although fantasy has always been a source of inspiration, now, as an artist with a platform, he uses this fascination to highlight important issues he sees and experiences in his daily life.
Actors
Mardelis Peña Carrasco, Magerly Arroyo Toucet, Amneris Daniella Echevarría, Melvin Acosta Andújar, Charlie R. Lugo, Claudia Isabel Núñez Torres, Alejandro J. Roqué Vega, Geraldine Millán Rodríguez & Aliha Liz Serrano López.
–
Mardelis Peña Carrasco: (Erasmo) Ig: @_mardelis.pc_
Mardelis Peña cursa un bachillerato en Drama con segunda concentración en cine-audiovisual. Se ha desarrollado en danza, canto, actuación, entre otras ramas de la producción teatral. Buscando representar el talento puertorriqueño, con orgullo y pasión. Entre sus trabajos más recientes destaca “Hamelin” pieza del departamento de Drama de la UPRRP.
–
Magerly Arroyo Toucet: (Bohemia) Ig: @quienesmayaesmaya
Magerly Arroyo Toucet oriunda de Peñuelas, Puerto Rico es una artista multidisciplinaria que se destaca por su escritura,rap, actuación, modelaje, y danza contemporánea. Cursa su 3er año de bachillerato en Actuación en el Departamento de Drama de la Universidad de Puerto Rico Recinto de Río Piedras.
–
Amneris Daniella Echevarría: (Amira) Ig: @itsamneris
Egresada de la Universidad de Puerto Rico, Recinto de Río Piedras que formó parte de producciones como "Troades" y "Moscas y Milagritos". Su más reciente participación en las tablas fue en la obra "Ritual", escrita y dirigida por Liam Gomez.
–
Melvin Acosta Andújar: (Sr. Inserni) Ig: @melvin_felvin
Melvin Acosta Andújar, graduado de la UPR recinto de Rio Piedras con enfasis en educación en teatro. Soy artista director, productor, payaso y me gusta hacer ceramica. Actualmente cofundador del colectivo Payasos y Burbujas y Cofundador de la casa productora Casa Flores.
–
Charlie R. Lugo: (Distrante)
Charlie R. Lugo artista de movimiento con entrenamiento en Andanza en ballet y danza contemporánea. Desde la adolescencia se ha destacado en roles como el Cascanueces y Billy Elliot. Actualmente se enfoca en el performance y coreografía como sus roles en Abismal de Liam Gomez, Mirame de Daylene Kristal.
–
Natalia Lopez Burgos: (Monchita) Ig: @natalialvpez
Natalia López Burgos es actriz, bailarina, cantante, y estudiante de Psicología y Actuación en la Universidad de Puerto Rico (Río Piedras). Desea fomentar una pasión por el aprendizaje y la empatía a través de su arte. Su producción más reciente fue “El Barón”, adaptación puertorriqueña de Macbeth de William Shakespeare.
–
Alejandro J. Roqué Vega: (Lastra) Ig: @roquealejan.dro
Alejandro J. Roqué Vega es teatrero, próximamente egresado del Departamento de Drama de la U.P.R.R.P. Comprometido con llevar historias que conecten y desafíen los convencionalismos de la industria, alcanzando a públicos que no habitúan el teatro y a su vez fomentando la formación seres humanos empatices compasivos y solidarios.
–
Aliha Liz Serrano López: (Oblivio) Ig: @alihita1
Aliha Liz Serrano López (Loíza, 2002) es una artista transdisciplinaria, bailarina y estudiante de Antropología en la UPR. Su práctica une movimiento e investigación corporal. Cocreó la pieza Rostros, presentada en El Bastión y ATLAS. Debutó en el teatro Julia de Burgos con Ritual, marcando una nueva etapa en el teatro experimental.
Photos
En español
Sinopsis: Descanso Deslumbrante es una obra surrealista que presenta los primeros encuentros de dos trabajadores de oficina, que viven la vida con puntos de vista completamente opuestos; uno mundano y otro fantasioso. Presenta como opuestos extremos se pueden influenciar y beneficiar al enfrentarse a tragedias contundentes.
Fuera Miedo
Written & directed by Junior A. Ventura – Actress: Belen Orgambide
Thursday, Oct 15 7:30 PM / Friday, Oct. 16 – 7:00 PM
Synopsis: Fuera Miedo, is a monologue written by Yunior A. Ventura, based on events from his own life; it reveals his traumas and family conflicts. During a mental health lecture, a psychiatrist explains the parts of the brain and their cognitive functions.
Playwright & Director: Junior Ventura
Dominican author and playwright based in New Jersey, USA. He studied dramatic arts at the Bellas Artes school in the Dominican Republic and founded the F.I.T.M.E. theater festival (*Mujeres en Escena* / Women on Stage). He has written various monologues, including *Fuera Miedo*, *Te Llegó Tu Hora*, and *Un Viejo en el Bar*, among others. His play *Impacto V* was staged in the Dominican Republic under the direction of José Bonilla; in the USA, he staged *El Hombre y Su Destino* at the Teba Festival, as well as other works.
Actress: Belen Orgambide
A native of Buenos Aires, she grew up surrounded by tangos and stadium chants. She studied acting at the Universidad Argentina de la Empresa, graduating with a degree in Performing Arts. She has performed in both theater and television and holds the distinction of having made her New York stage debut. In 2025, she received a LATA Award for her performance in *Te llegó tu hora*.
Photos
En español
Sinopsis: Fuera miedo, es un psicoanálisis sobre el comportamiento humano. A pesar de un individuo ser feliz en su entorno, el cerebro lo domina.
Serpent Woman
By Lita Baluarte – Directed by Aksel Tang – Actress: Camila Vinatea
Saturday Oct. 17 – 7:00 PM / Sunday Oct 18 – 5:00 PM
Synopsis: After her recent divorce, a woman suffers a panic attack and feels something foreign inside her—a serpent she manages to expel into the toilet. Their fierce struggle reopens old wounds and sends her on a journey through madness toward redemption.
Playwright: Lita Baluarte
Lita Baluarte is a Peruvian actress, playwright, screenwriter, director, performer, movement advisor, and Yoga practitioner. Her work explores auto fiction, the female body, motherhood, healing, and movement-based storytelling. She wrote and premiered Sigue la luz, Luna nueva, and Mujer Serpiente, which were presented at FAE Lima.
Instagram: @litabaluarte
Director: Aksel Tang
Aksel Tang is an Argentine theater director, playwright, actor, and stage manager based in New York City. Trained at AMDA and The Barrow Group, his work includes directing and writing El Reencuentro, I Will Call Again, and Rapiña, plus assistant directing and stage managing Off-Broadway productions.
Instagram: @akseltang
Actress: Camila Vinatea
Camila Vinatea is a Peruvian actress and producer based in New York City. She trained at The American Academy of Dramatic Arts and studied Filmmaking at the University of Lima. Her work spans theater, television, and production, including Playoff, Mosaics, Youth Is a Sickness, and The Pain of Your Absence.
Instagram: @camilavinatea
Photos
En español
Sinopsis: Tras su reciente divorcio, una mujer sufre un ataque de pánico y siente un cuerpo extraño dentro de sí: una serpiente que logra expulsar en el inodoro de su casa. La lucha entre ambas reabre heridas del pasado y la conduce por un viaje de locura hacia la redención.
Too Late
Written, directed by Reina Ivis Canosa – Actresses: Reina Ivis Canosa & Amarilys Núñez Barrios
Saturday, Oct. 17 – 8:00 PM / Sunday, Oct 18 4:00 PM
Synopsis: After surviving a high-risk pregnancy, a mother devotes her life to protecting her daughter, who years later become trapped in silence and self-destruction. In an intimate and heartbreaking confrontation, they discover that their true enemy is inherited trauma—and that it is never too late to break the cycle.
Playwright, Director & Actress: Reina Ivis Canosa
Reina Ivis Canosa is a Cuban actress, playwright, and director with nearly four decades of international experience. A graduate of ISA in Havana, she has worked with renowned theater companies in Cuba, Venezuela, Mexico, and the United States. Her acclaimed career includes classical and contemporary roles, directing, writing, and award-winning performances, including her solo work Sorrow or Mujer de Todos.
Instagram: @reinaivisactress
FB: Reina Ivis Canosa
Actress: Amarilys Núñez Barrios
Amarilys Núñez Barrios, actriz cubana de cine, teatro y televisión, ha construido una trayectoria de notable fuerza interpretativa. Discípula de Vicente Revuelta y Bertha Martínez, integra el Teatro de la Luna. Premiada por sus actuaciones en Delirio habanero, Electra Garrigó y Bodas de sangre, su carrera abraza repertorio clásico, dramaturgia contemporánea y cine internacional.
Photos
En español
Sinopsis: Tras sobrevivir a un embarazo de alto riesgo, una madre dedica su vida a proteger a su hija, quien años después vive atrapada en el silencio y la autodestrucción. En un enfrentamiento íntimo y desgarrador, ambas descubren que el verdadero enemigo es el trauma heredado y que nunca es demasiado tarde para romper el ciclo.
Yo, Milagro, Grito
Written & Directed by Walter Dionisio – Actress: Luisa Pineda.
A loose adaptation of “I, Ulrike, Scream” written by Franca Rame and Dario Fo
Thursday, Oct 22 – 6:30 PM / Friday, Oct. 23 – 8:00 PM
Synopsis: “Yo, Milagro, grito…” (“I, Milagro, Scream…”) is a loose adaptation of “Yo, Ulrike, grito…” (“I, Ulrike, Scream…”), written by Franca Rame and Dario Fo. Inspired by the life of journalist Ulrike Meinhof—imprisoned for exposing the lies of those in power—this version brings that spirit into the present, placing it in dialogue with contemporary struggles against injustice, abuse, and silencing, both in Latin America and across the globe. Milagro’s voice echoes the dignity of peoples who continue to fight for the truth. In a world ruled by lies, her words stand as a testament and an act of resistance; for even when attempts are made to imprison it, the truth always finds a way to rise.
About Franca Rame and Dario Fo
Franca Rame and Dario Fo were Italian playwrights whose work gave voice to those confronting injustice, abuse of power, and silence. Deeply human and committed to freedom, their theater continues to inspire artists and audiences around the world.
Playwright & Director: Walter Dionisio
Walter Dionisio is a Salvadoran poet, actor, and theater director. Trained in theater at the University of El Salvador, he has lived in Stamford, Connecticut, since 1983. He has devoted his life to theater and poetry, pursuing an artistic vision committed to making the invisible visible through art. His work challenges, moves, and invites reflection on the human condition.
Instagram: @la_tertulia_de_stamford
Facebook: Grupo Teatral La Tertulia de Stamford
Actress: Luisa Pineda
Luisa Pineda is a Colombian actress and theater creator. Trained at the University of Antioquia and Teatro La Hora 25, both in Medellín, she has been a member of La Tertulia de Stamford, Connecticut, since 2016. Shaped by migration, her artistic vision explores memory, identity, and human dignity.
Instagram: @luifer0296
Photos
En español
Sinopsis: “Yo, Milagro, grito…” es una adaptación libre de “Yo, Ulrike, grito…”, escrita por Franca Rame y Dario Fo. Inspirada en la vida de la periodista Ulrike Meinhof, encarcelada por denunciar las mentiras del poder, esta versión traslada su espíritu al presente y la pone en diálogo con las luchas actuales —en América Latina y en el mundo— que enfrentan la injusticia, el abuso y el silenciamiento. En la voz de Milagro resuena la dignidad de los pueblos que aún luchan por la verdad. Frente a un mundo gobernado por las mentiras, su palabra se levanta como testimonio y resistencia. Porque, aunque intenten encerrarla, la verdad siempre encuentra la forma de alzarse.
En el mismo cuarto
Written & directed by Jose Bonilla – Actors: Susana Stubbs & Ginary Ramos
Thursday, Oct 22 – 7:30 PM / Friday, Oct. 23 – 7:00 PM
Synopsis: Two women share the same room, where every conversation reopens old wounds, uncovers hidden secrets, and confronts buried guilt. In a place from which neither seems able to escape, they discover that the greatest prison is not the room itself, but the one within their own hearts and minds.
Playwright & Director: Jose Bonilla
Bio coming soon
Actress: Susana Stubbs
Bio coming soon
Actress: Ginary Ramos
Bio coming soon
Photos
En español
Sinopsis: Dos mujeres comparten un mismo cuarto, donde cada conversación abre heridas, revela secretos y enfrenta culpas que creían enterradas. En un espacio del que nadie parece poder escapar, descubrirán que el mayor encierro no está en las paredes, sino en ellas mismas.
El juego de Toca y Calla
Written & directed by Mary Ely Marrero-Pérez
Saturday, Oct. 25 – 7:00 PM / Sunday, Oct 25 – 5:00 PM
Synopsis: A woman is hospitalized in a psychiatric ward because her uncle tricked her into sexually abusing her as a child, using games as a pretext. Her ambivalent personality swings between childhood and adulthood. She feels guilty for not having defended herself. She also blames those who witnessed and are accomplices.
Playwright & Director: Mary Ely Marrero-Pérez
She is an educator, cultural manager, workshop facilitator, theater director, text editor, lyricist, project designer, and visual artist. Works in all literary genres and has received awards from numerous institutions. Founded Lamaruca, an international publishing, educational, and artistic project. She is Puerto Rico’s ambassador and an editor at Arte Poética Latinoamericana.
Facebook: Mary Ely Marrero-Pérez
Actress: Natalia Mejía
She is a Puerto Rican multidisciplinary artist and educator. She participated in the dubbing workshop at MilVox Academy’s Drama Blast Camp in Mexico. She won a LATA Award for Best Lead Actress in the Performance category. She has acted in Little Shop of Horrors, The Shelter, Mamma Mia!, Anastasia, and Prietito.
Instagram: @waterlilliesonmyhead
Facebook: Natalia Mejía Lugo
Photos
En español
Sinopsis: Una mujer está internada en un hospital psiquiátrico pues su tío la engañaba con juegos para abusarla sexualmente en la niñez. En su ambivalente personalidad, trasciende como un péndulo entre la niñez y la adultez. Se siente culpable por no haberse defendido. También responsabiliza a quienes son testigos y cómplices.
Cinco días de duelo
Written & directed by Yasmar Cruz – Performers: Yasmar Cruz
Saturday, Oct. 25 – 8:00 PM / Sunday, Oct 25 / 4:00 PM
Synopsis: Can you release grieving pain in five days? Xiomara is a joyful woman until she tragically loses a loved one. The distress is altering her emotions and affecting her mental state. After considering admitting herself into an institution, she decides to return to her home island to cry and heal for five days.
Playwright, Director & Actress: Yasmar Cruz
Puerto Rican artist and educator based in New York City. She holds a BA in Performing Arts and a Master’s in Education. Founder of Danzartes, a cultural arts nonprofit organization. Author of El Espejo, official selection at International Festivals in New York, Cuba, and the Dominican Republic. She is a 2026 Museum HUE Arts Leadership fellow recipient.
Actors & Dancers
Yowalka El Helwa (Actress/Dancer): Yowalka is the founder of Maktub Dance and Arts, is a distinguished performer, educator, and researcher specializing in dance traditions shaped by colonialism, social stigma, or cultural marginalization, with primary expertise in Egyptian Oriental dance (bellydance). She is a member of El Puente CADRE and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Anthropology from Hunter College.
Instagram: @yowalka_el_helwa
FB: Yowalka.Mulata
–
Megan Curet (Dancer)
Dr. Megan Curet is a Bronx-born Puerto Rican dance artist, educator, doula and herbalist whose practice explores migration, memory, collective care, and diasporic futurity. She creates research-driven, interdisciplinary work connecting contemporary dance, social practice, fieldwork, and healing across the Americas, Caribbean, Europe, West Asia and beyond.
Instagram: @megancuret
–
Gilda Rivera-Pantojas (Dancer/Actress)
Gilda is a dancer, educator and Puerto Rican cultural leader established in New York. She holds a Bachelor’s from the University of Puerto Rico and a Masters from Columbia University. She was a leader of Gibaro of Puerto Rico and directed over 1,500 students at the VIII Panamerican Games. Founder of Ballet Isleño and Danza Fiesta: Baile y Teatro Puertorriqueño.
Instagram: @riverapantojas
Photos
En español
Sinopsis: ¿Se puede en cinco días sanar el duelo? Xiomara es una mujer alegre hasta que pierde trágicamente un ser querido. La angustia altera sus emociones y estado mental. No le dieron días de duelo. Tras considerar internarse en una institución, decide regresar a su isla para llorar por cinco días y sanar.
Thank you to our
Sponsors, Supporters and Collaborators
Infinitely Grateful
BIP is profoundly grateful for the support and sponsorship of the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA), as well as the support of La Casa de la Herencia Cultural Puertorriqueña for being a co-producer with us to this special Festival season dedicated to mental health thru theater. Also our gratitude to our sponsors: APREE, DYCD office and the New York City Council Diana Ayala, Caicedo Productions, El Barrios Artspace PS109…. and Dance Project 10 and his creator Elliott Ortiz.
Additionally, on behalf of Barrio Independent Productions, we offer our sincere thanks to the ACACIA Network and IPRHE; together with La Casa de la Herencia Cultural Puertorriqueña, they are making the cash prize for the Best Frenzy Fest 2026 winner possible.
Agradecimiento infinito
BIP agradece profundamente el apoyo y patrocinio del New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA), así como el apoyo de La Casa de la Herencia Cultural Puertorriqueña por ser coproductor con nosotros de esta temporada especial de Festival dedicada a la salud mental a través del teatro. También nuestro agradecimiento a nuestros patrocinadores: APREE, oficina de DYCD y el Ayuntamiento de Nueva York Diana Ayala, Caicedo Productions, El Barrios Artspace PS109… y Dance Project 10 y su creador Elliott Ortiz.
Además, de parte de Barrio Independent Productions nuestro más sincero agradecimiento a ACACIA Network e IPRHE, quienes hacen posible junto con La Casa del Herencia Cultural Puertorriqueña, el premio económico al ganador del Best Frenzy Fest 2026.
