EMPANADA LOCA with Daphne Rubin-Vega to Offer Free Halloween Performance

Labyrinth Theater Company (Artistic Director Mimi O'Donnell, Executive Director Danny Feldman) presents a free, Halloween performance of Empanada Loca at 10pm on October 31. All tickets for this performance will be distributed via an online lottery system at labtheater.org. The lottery will open on October 26 at noon and will close at noon on October 30 at noon and winners will be contacted by 2pm.

Written and directed by Aaron Mark, the world premiere of Empanada Loca, which opened on October 21, features two-time Tony nominee and Labyrinth Theater Company member Daphne Rubin-Vega. Set in modern day New York City, this solo thriller is inspired by true events and the legend of Sweeney Todd.

In Empanada Loca, Rubin-Vega stars as Dolores, whose past includes time spent as a drug dealer, masseuse, and ex-convict. She's a survivor and has led a life like no other. Now living deep under Manhattan in an abandoned subway tunnel, she has a story you won't believe - or ever forget. Inspired by the legend of Sweeney Todd, Empanada Loca is a thrilling new play about an indomitable woman who knows that in this dog-eat-dog world only one rule matters: eat or be eaten.

Empanada Loca is the second in a trilogy of solo plays written by Mark, the first being Another Medea, which featured Tony nominee Tom Hewitt. Empanada Loca was written by Mark specifically for Rubin-Vega and has been in development since early 2014.

The creative team includes David Meyer (sets), Bradley King (lights), Ryan Rumery (sound) and Lily Perlmutter (production stage manager).

Performances of Empanada Loca began on September 30 and continue through November 8 (see schedule above) at Bank Street Theater, located at 155 Bank Street in Manhattan. Tickets are $30-$40 and can be purchased by visiting labtheater.org or by calling 212.513.1080. Performances are Tuesday and Sunday at 7pm and Wednesday-Saturday at 8pm. Please note the previously announced 8pm performance on October 31 has been moved to 10pm.

Daphne Rubin-Vega (Dolores) is a two-time Tony and Drama Desk nominee (1996/2004) and the recipient of the Theater World, Obie (1996) and Blockbuster (1998) awards. She has been a member of the Labyrinth Theater Company since 1992. Rubin-Vega is perhaps best known for originating the roles of Mimi in RENT and Conchita in Anna in the Tropics; both were Pulitzer Prize winning Broadway shows for which she was nominated for Tony Awards. She originated the role of Rahmi in Karen Hartman's Gum, Sofia in Nilo Cruz's Two Sisters and a Piano, Canary Mary in Suzan-Lori Parks' F*cking A(Lucille Lortel nomination) and Lucy in Bob Glaudini's Jack Goes Boating at the Public Theater. She also starred in the Broadway revivals of The Rocky Horror Picture Show (Magenta) and Les Miserables (Fantine). Rubin-Vega's credits include detective Gloria Perez in Wild Things, starring Kevin Bacon and Matt Dillon (Blockbuster Award for Best Supporting Actress); Tia in Flawless, opposite Robert De Niro; and, most recently, reprising the role of Lucy in the film version of Jack Goes Boating, which was Phillip Seymour Hoffman's film directorial debut. Other films include Justice, Skeleton Woman (New York Independent Film Award), Virgin, and I Like It Like That. Rubin-Vega is recognized for her singing as well as her acting. She was a member of the girl group Pajama Party, whose single Yo No Se reached the top of the Billboard dance charts. They made two albums on Atlantic Records before Daphne began writing and recording solo singles for the indie dance label Maxi. In 1997 Rubin-Vega released her first album of original music Souvenirs on the Mercury label, and in 2006 she produced, performed, and primarily wrote Redemption Songs (Sh-K- Boom). Rubin-Vega has contributed to various musical projects, including her notorious version of "Feliz Navidad"for Broadway Cares and her club smash cover of "Rocketman". In 2005, she received an Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters from Kean University. "Dr." Rubin-Vega was born in Panama and raised in New York City, where she lives with her husband and son. Visit daphnerubin-vega.com for more information.

Aaron Mark (writer & director) was the writer and director of Another Medea with Tom Hewitt (AFO/Wild Project and Cherry Lane). Other directing credits include The Mystery of Irma Vep, Deathtrap (Berkshire Theatre Festival), Hedwig and the Angry Inch (BC/EFA at New World Stages), Ben Rimalower's Patti Issues and Bad With Money, and numerous readings and cabaret acts. His writing has been developed by New York Theatre Workshop, Labyrinth Theater Company, the Cherry Lane Theatre, American Theater Group, the Blank Theatre, and Theater for the New City. He is the writer-director of four independent feature films and is a NYTW Usual Suspect. Visit aaronmark.info for more information.

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