Residencies
2025-Present
Raíces em Harmonia (Roots in Harmony): Exploring Latin American Spirit and Expression is a gathering of spirits, a call to connect across borders, and a celebration of Latin American expression in its most raw, radiant, and resonant forms. Created by Matías De La Flor and Marina Pires, this initiative brings together international artists in the heart of Manhattan to explore themes of passion and belonging.
In September 2025, Matias De La Flor presented his first iteration of a new approach to Blood Wedding. With a cast of 14, original music by Marina Pires, and 2.5 days of rehearsal with actors still on book, this was one of the most powerful and exciting performances ever for NPTC! Each audience member stayed long after the performance, wishing to discuss every aspect of the work, including its future.
About the artists:
MATÍAS DE LA FLOR is a Peruvian trilingual actor, singer and theatre maker based in New York City. His theatrical focus is creating bridges through cultures; exploring the manifestations of language not just on the tongue, but in the body, soul and mind. Onstage in New York City, he’s been seen in Lincoln Center Theatre’s Tony Nominated Revival of Camelot. He is an original member of the ensemble, and covered the role of Sir Lancelot Du Lac. He is joining the Apple TV+ Hit Show Your Friends and Neighbors, playing Miguel, for its second season. He has also been seen on Law and Order: SVU. As a writer & director, his new adaptation of Bodas de Sangre is in industry presentations at New Perspectives Theatre. His new musical Romeo y Julieta; Limeño was produced by Jackie Alexander for the National Black Theatre Festival in Winston Salem, North Carolina. The show was later given a full reading with a cast of bilingual actor/singers in New York City and is in residency at NoMMA. He was also the associate director for Moisés Kaufman, on his workshop of Las Aventuras de Juan Planchard. Exploring new works will be paramount in this residency. As a teaching artist, he has an intimate private studio where he works on acting & audition technique, voice, and industry development. He also works with A Class Act NYC, teaching workshops and directing showcases. In regional theatre, Matías has been seen as Barrett in Titanic, at Ogunquit Playhouse, Les Misérables (The Muny), and Jesus Christ Superstar (FlatRock). He is an avid chef, poet, filmmaker, and connector of community, and holds a Bachelor in Fine Arts; The University of North Carolina School of the Arts, School of Drama.
Marina Pires is a Brazilian actor and songwriter based in New York. Broadway/Off-Broadway: How to Dance in Ohio; Picnic at Hanging Rock. First National Tour of On Your Feet! The Story of Gloria and Emilio Estefan. Marina was most recently seen as Dot/Marie in Sunday in the Park with George at the Glimmerglass Opera (International Opera Award.) Past credits include: Nine at The Kennedy Center (Helen Hayes Award); The Bridges of Madison County (Signature Theater DC); In The Heights (Dallas Theater Center); Phish New Year’s Run(Madison Square Garden); Anna in the Tropics (Barrington Stage Company); Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Sony Pictures Animation VIVO. She’s performed her original music at iconic venues such as Sony Hall, Rockwood, Joe’s Pub, Lincoln Center, 54 Below, and many more. Her original song “at least the bed is made” - recorded by The Heartstrings Project - was up for consideration at the 64th Grammy Awards for “Best American Roots Song.”
Marina is also a teaching artist with CO_LAB Theater Group: a non-profit organization dedicated to providing creative and social opportunities for actors with developmental disabilities. MarinaPires.com @MarinaMPires
2007-present
Banana Boat Productions was established in 1998 to bring plays that speak to Caribbean culture as a multicolored and rich palette of expressions, experiences, and lifestyles and which present its reality as it has settled into other global locations. They are also committed to making these plays accessible to general audiences and able to counteract negative stereotypes or perceptions of this dynamic culture.
NPTC has provided space and general management support to BBP since 2007, starting with our co-production of The Ritual, a play by Trinidadian writer Zeno Obi Constance. Two more productions of this play, including one for the 40th Anniversary of its premiere, have made it a signature piece for both companies. Other co-productions involved pairings of short plays under a specific theme (Crossing Boundaries, Dueling Voices, Truths & Accommodations, Women in Transition) and full-length offerings (Mamma Decemba, The Key Game). Banana Boat also offers regular readings of plays from the English-speaking islands that include talk-backs to further connect with audiences from the Caribbean Diaspora and bring context to general audiences.