Repertorio Español Will Present Two New Works for 2026 Van Lier Fellowship
Directors BT Hayes and Geo Rivera will helm ¡VIOLENCIA! and ELLIOT, FUGA DE UN SOLDADO at Repertorio Español.
Repertorio Español has announced the upcoming productions of the 2026–2027 New York Community Trust Van Lier Fellowship. This summer, young directors BT Hayes and Geo Rivera will take the stage to helm two powerful contemporary plays written by celebrated female playwrights Valeria Loera and Quiara Alegría Hudes.
The Van Lier Directing Fellowship supports young Latinx/Latiné directors in New York City by providing mentorship and a professional platform to mount full productions. The 2026 cycle focuses on contemporary voices, bringing stories of mental health, family legacy, and the immigrant experience to the forefront.
THE PRODUCTIONS
¡VIOLENCIA!
By Valeria Loera | Directed by BT Hayes
Violencia López is a composer struggling with depression, a recent breakup, and her mother's upcoming wedding. Haunted by her late father's jokes and various "versions" of herself inhabiting her apartment, Violencia navigates a technicolor, absurd world.
Performance Dates: July 25, 26, 31; August 1, 2.
ELLIOT, FUGA DE UN SOLDADO
By Quiara Alegría Hudes | Directed by Geo Rivera
A Pulitzer Prize finalist, this poetic memory play follows Elliot Ortiz, a nineteen-year-old Marine in Philadelphia wounded in Iraq. The Ortiz family recounts three generations of service—from Korea to Vietnam to Iraq—examining the profound effects of war on the individual and the community.
Performance Dates: August 15, 16, 21, 22, 23.
Performance Note: Both productions will be performed in Spanish with English supertitles.
ABOUT THE PLAYWRIGHTS
Valeria Loera: An acclaimed Mexican playwright and actress, Loera is the recipient of the Gerardo Mancebo del Castillo National Young Playwriting Award. Her work "¡Violencia!" was named Best Mexican Play of the Year (ACPT) in 2023.
Quiara Alegría Hudes: A Pulitzer Prize winner ("Water by the Spoonful") and Tony Award winner ("In the Heights"), Hudes is a defining voice in American theater. Her memoir, "My Broken Language," was a citywide read for "One Book, One Philadelphia."
GENERAL INFORMATION & TICKETS
Venue: Repertorio Español, 138 E 27th St, New York, NY
By phone: 212.225.9999 | Online: repertorio.nyc
ABOUT REPERTORIO ESPAÑOL
Repertorio Español continues the legacy established by its founders: to serve as a theatrical home where Latinx communities experience high-quality productions that reflect their cultures, histories, and evolving identities. Today, Repertorio presents year-round classic and contemporary plays in Spanish, performed in rotating repertory. The company annually stages 12 productions (including at least two premieres), supports the development of new Latinx works and artists, and offers programs for students and seniors. Productions include captioning in both Spanish and English to ensure accessibility for non-Spanish speakers and the hard of hearing.
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