Ed Cardona Jr

Lychee Martini is a full-length play, which tells the story of Maria, a female Iraq War veteran, and her struggles with P.T.S.D. and its debilitating effect on her and her relationships with her husband, family and friends. She is haunted by one specific combat memory, which is at the heart of her flashbacks, role-playing and the dying request of a fellow soldier she struggles to fulfill. One year later, it all threatens to destroy her homecoming anniversary.

American Jornalero takes a humorous and poignant look at a group of day laborers waiting to be picked up for work and their collision with two inept, self-styled America First vigilantes fashioning themselves on the Minuteman Project, a group originally organized to patrol the U.S. Southern border to keep undocumented immigrants out.

Bushwick was called home by locals long before any magazine called it hip. Bamboo in Bushwick explores gentrification in this suddenly trendy neighborhood from divergent angles.

As a group of old friends gather for a round of dominoes, outside forces converge on their street corner. In an alternate reality, inspired by the psychedelic murals that have taken over many walls in the neighborhood, a turf war breaks out on the icy tundra. Is there room in Brooklyn for both penguins and polar bears?

When your community is threatened, every block is worth fighting for.

La Ruta is an immersive theatrical experience that follows the journey of several undocumented immigrants as they cross the border into the U.S. to make a better life for themselves and their family. The play is staged inside the trailer and cab of an actual 48′ truck with the audience experiencing the journey alongside the characters, surrounded by the harsh reality of their environment and the poignant narrative unfolding within.

Two teammates confront what lies ahead for them on and off the field.

On a small, dusty farm in Mexico, in the Valle de Guadalupe, a young boy named Pablo lives with his father, mother, and two little sisters, Isabella and Teresa, as well as pigs, sheep, and, Califia, the children’s favorite and fattest hen, and unknown to them, Santita and Monte – the families guardian angels. One troubled morning after the sheep have been attacked by a menacing coyote, Mama tells Papa she is pregnant. Papa, a woodcarver, knows that he will have to go north, to America, to find work. His woodcarvings have not been selling like they used to. The children rejoice on hearing about their mother’s pregnancy, but soon after are sadden by the news of Papa’s departure north. Papa promises that he’ll be back by Christmas and explains to Pablo how he will need him: Papa. “Pablito, I’m going to need you to be the man of the house when I’m gone. To be strong for your mother – to be a good example for your sisters.” Pablito. “Papa, I can’t be you.” Papa. “You can be the man of the house, I know you can…” With the help of Santita and Monte, Pablo steps into his new role the best he can: chasing the coyote away, looking after his sisters, helping his mother around the farm, telling stories after dinner on the porch, and carving presents for his sisters with his father’s best carving knife, as Papa did for them. Pablo has done his best but he has struggled with the wood carvings – his hands are not quite strong enough and the coyote refuses to stay away. As Christmas nears Pablo does his best to bring the spirit of Christmas to his family and home. The coyote has recently struck again and it’s been weeks since they have heard from Papa. Will he make it home in time for Christmas? And will Pablo muster the courage to enter the dark forest where the coyote lurks. So he can cut down a small pine tree and bring it home as a Christmas tree. Pablo knows Papa would like that.

PICK UP POTS! exposes a hidden world behind the swinging kitchen doors of an upscale Connecticut restaurant. When its drunk and distraught owner shows up unexpectedly in the wee hours after closing, the dishwashers and porters she employs must each navigate his way through a social minefield, and emerge with his dignity and job intact.