FIVE SESSIONS: A WAR IN THERAPY Will Be Presented at Sheen Center

Barrio Independent Productions (BIP) has announced its upcoming production of FIVE SESSIONS…A War in Therapy, a new play by playwright, educator, and activist Jaime Estades. Set in present-day New York City, the play examines themes of systemic inequality and the role of institutional care.

Directed by Edward Torres, the production features Iván Goris, Belange Rodríguez, Bill Blechingberg, and Kyle Glenn.

The play follows a series of therapy sessions between two individuals: a recently trained therapist and a Latino building superintendent and labor organizer. As their conversations progress, the sessions move beyond a traditional therapeutic framework, exploring issues of race, class, and personal experience.

Through this structure, FIVE SESSIONS…A War in Therapy considers the effectiveness of therapy within broader social conditions and raises questions about the relationship between individual treatment and larger societal factors.

Estades, who is Puerto Rican, draws on a background in social policy, advocacy, and clinical education, including teaching at Columbia University and previously at NYU.

The production is directed by Edward Torres, whose credits include work with playwright Quiara Alegría Hudes and collaborations with The Public Theater’s Mobile Shakespeare Unit. The cast includes Iván Goris, Belange Rodríguez, Bill Blechingberg, and Kyle Glenn.

The production aligns with Barrio Independent Productions’ focus on presenting work that centers underrepresented perspectives and engages with social themes.