How to Melt ICE

February 1-11, 2023

written by Amalia Oliva Rojas

directed by Elena Araoz

a co-production with boundless theatre Company

Julia de Burgos Performance and Arts Center
1680 Lexington Avenue (@ 105th Street), New York, NY

PRESS FOLDER

María-Cristina Fusté, Executive Artistic Director of Boundless Theatre Company and Melody Brooks, Artistic Director of New Perspectives Theatre Company are using the combined strengths of their two companies--NPTC has an award-winning history of developing new plays by women and BTC has a team of top-notch designers working on Broadway, Off-Broadway and in Regional theatres--to produce How to Melt ICE, a new play by Amalia Oliva Rojas, running Wednesday, February 1 to Saturday, February 11, 2023. The play is directed by Elena Araoz.

This powerful new play draws on Rojas' own experience as a "Dreamer" and immigration rights activist and explores the generational divide between those who came to the U.S. as children and those that carried them here in search of a better life. Set between 2017 and 2019, when the undocumented were increasingly at risk--even DACA recipients were not safe, the play's characters must navigate a minefield of "do's" and "don'ts" in every relationship, and love is the casualty. A chorus of three Tias guide the audience on this journey, with their own brand of dark humor.

Developed in NPTC's Women's Work LAB, the play received a grant from the prestigious NYC Women's Fund for this premiere staging. All performances are at the Julia de Burgos Performance and Arts Center, 1680 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY.

The design team includes Raul Abrego (Scenic), María-Cristina Fusté (Lights), Christopher Vergara (Costumes), and Nathan Leigh (Composer/Sound). Ray Rodriguez is the Fight/Intimacy Director; Melody Brooks is Dramaturg. Omayra Garriga is Props Master and Assistant Scenic Designer; Orianna Lineweaver is Assistant Costume Designer, Kaelani Burja is Assistant Director and Zeynep Akca is Production Stage Manager. Amy Palen is Associate Producer.

The cast includes Claudia Acosta, Regina Carregha, Brenda Flores, Bruce Jimenez, Tatiana Mirabent, Jomack Miranda and Bradley Tejada*.

Content Warnings: Anti-Immigrant Language, Death, Description of Sexual Assault, Police Violence

Meet the CaST & CREW

Nominated for the Gilberto Zandívar Award for Outstanding Production, Outstanding Achievement for Scenic Design, and Best Supporting Actor (for Jomack Miranda) by the HOLA Awards!

A Special Talkback Series, produced by Gwynn MacDonald, is being offered for audiences to engage with the themes of the play, with members of the creative team and special guests offering insight into the creative process and the realities of immigration from a variety of angles.

Thursday Feb 2: Immigration: The Picture on the Ground: a discussion focused on the lived experience of people impacted by our broken immigration system, featuring volunteers and organizations who step in to advocate for, aid and support them.
Saturday, Feb 4: Visual Storytelling: An Insider’s Look at Creating the World of a Play: Director Elena Araoz joins Costume Designer Christopher Vergara to talk about their process and inspirations for making visible the lives of those who inhabit the world of this play.
Wednesday, Feb 8: Immigration Policy: Where Are We Now, What Does the Future Look Like?: Special guest Maribel Hernandez Rivera (ACLU Deputy National Political Director, Equality Division Director) discusses immigration policy failures and successes.
Thursday, Feb 9: Our National Romance with Immigration Stories: Matthew Cesario, producer at Finding Your Roots, shares some of his favorite episodes from PBS' most popular series, in a conversation about immigrant stories across media.