Matt Barbot

Matt Barbot

Matt Barbot is a writer from Brooklyn, NY. His play El Coquí Espectacular and the Bottle of Doom (Kennedy Center Darrel Ayers Award, Kennedy Center Latinidad Award) received its world premiere at Two River Theater in January of 2018. Infallibility (2018 Sheen Center Playwriting Fellowship) was selected as one of Indie Theater Now's "Best of FringeNYC 2013." Princess Clara of Loisaida (finalist:...
Matt Barbot is a writer from Brooklyn, NY. His play El Coquí Espectacular and the Bottle of Doom (Kennedy Center Darrel Ayers Award, Kennedy Center Latinidad Award) received its world premiere at Two River Theater in January of 2018. Infallibility (2018 Sheen Center Playwriting Fellowship) was selected as one of Indie Theater Now's "Best of FringeNYC 2013." Princess Clara of Loisaida (finalist: Latinx Theatre Commons' 2018 Carnaval of New Latinx Work, 2018 Columbia@Roundabout New Play Series, 2021 Miranda Family Voces Latinx National Playwriting Competition) and Saints Go Marching (semifinalist: 2018 Eugene O'Neill Theater Center National Playwrights Conference) were selected to feature on Steppenwolf's The Mix list. The Venetians was a winner of Roundabout Theatre Company's 2019 Columbia@Roundabout New Play Series. Recently, his short play "A List of Some Shit I've Killed" was published as part of the Red Bull Theater's anthology Red Bull Shorts Volume III. Matt's first play for young audiences, Stoo’s Famous Martian American Gumbo, was commissioned by Peppercorn Theatre and was produced there, in Summer 2019, and again in 2021 as part of Hangar Theatre’s KIDDSTUFF series. Matt is currently developing his play the beautiful land i seek (la linda tierra que busco yo) at Fault Line Theatre with director José Zayas, and is developing his commissioned play Trilogy with Two River Theater. Matt was invited to be a part of Lynn Nottage’s The Watering Hole at the Signature Theatre; his piece, Maya Phillips of the New York Times called his contribution “the strongest.” Matt received his MFA from Columbia University, and was recently a New York Theatre Workshop 2050 Fellow and a member of The Civilians' R&D Group.

Plays

  • El Coquí Espectacular and the Bottle of Doom by Matt Barbot
    Recommendations: 18
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    Cast: 
    5
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    Genre: adventure, comedy + 1 more
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    Keyword: puerto rico, Latino + 6 more
    Genre: adventure, comedy, fantasy
    Keyword: puerto rico, Latino, hispanic, puerto rican, comic books, superhero, New York, Brooklyn
    [FULL LENGTH] Alex, a comic book artist whose ideas might be "too Puerto Rican," has begun secretly dressing up as his creation: El Coquí Espectacular, defender of Nuyoricans in all five boroughs! When his brother Joe is fired from a project for not being Puerto Rican enough, the two, with the help of a young photographer named Yesica, hatch a plan: to debut El Coquí at the Puerto Rican Day Parade and...
    [FULL LENGTH] Alex, a comic book artist whose ideas might be "too Puerto Rican," has begun secretly dressing up as his creation: El Coquí Espectacular, defender of Nuyoricans in all five boroughs! When his brother Joe is fired from a project for not being Puerto Rican enough, the two, with the help of a young photographer named Yesica, hatch a plan: to debut El Coquí at the Puerto Rican Day Parade and prove themselves to the world. El Coquí Espectacular and the Bottle of Doom examines the ways in which we define our heritage and ourselves.
  • The Venetians by Matt Barbot
    Recommendations: 14
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    Cast: 
    11–15
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    Genre: adaptation, dark comedy + 4 more
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    Keyword: Shakespeare, Othello + 7 more
    Genre: adaptation, dark comedy, drama, period, political, tragedy
    Keyword: Shakespeare, Othello, Shylock, merchant of venice, racism, Jewish, interracial, Muslim, Elizabethan
    [FULL LENGTH] Othello, the Moorish general, wants to give his beloved Desdemona the beautiful secret wedding she deserves... but that means borrowing ducats. Unfortunately for him, the Jewish moneylender Shylock has spent too long among the terrible people of Venice to see this marriage as anything but a death sentence for Othello. Unbeknownst to Shylock, however, his own daughter has begun an illicit romance...
    [FULL LENGTH] Othello, the Moorish general, wants to give his beloved Desdemona the beautiful secret wedding she deserves... but that means borrowing ducats. Unfortunately for him, the Jewish moneylender Shylock has spent too long among the terrible people of Venice to see this marriage as anything but a death sentence for Othello. Unbeknownst to Shylock, however, his own daughter has begun an illicit romance that may bring the whole world crashing down on all their heads. A crossover between Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice and The Tragedy of Othello, The Venetians uses two classical outsiders to ask questions about immigration, assimilation, national identity, and what acceptance truly means.
  • Princess Clara of Loisaida by Matt Barbot
    Recommendations: 10
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    Cast: 
    4
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    Genre: comedy, drama + 1 more
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    Keyword: Latinx, family + 5 more
    Genre: comedy, drama, fantasy
    Keyword: Latinx, family, video games, fairy tale, magic, magical realism, New York
    [FULL LENGTH] With Mamá long gone and Papá catatonic (and only able to sing old sitcom theme songs), aspiring baseball player and high school super-senior José finds himself in charge of his video-game obsessed little sister, Clara. Scraping by together on the Lower East Side, the siblings try to stay distracted from their bleak reality through José’s fanciful stories: that she was a fairy princess of a magical...
    [FULL LENGTH] With Mamá long gone and Papá catatonic (and only able to sing old sitcom theme songs), aspiring baseball player and high school super-senior José finds himself in charge of his video-game obsessed little sister, Clara. Scraping by together on the Lower East Side, the siblings try to stay distracted from their bleak reality through José’s fanciful stories: that she was a fairy princess of a magical realm, left in Central Park for their parents to find. Unbeknownst to him, Fefu, a magical fairy scout embedded in New York to keep an eye out for the lost princess when she comes of age, has identified her target to bring her home. When the siblings realize José’s stories might be true – that, in fact, he may be making them come true – Clara is faced with a choice, and José will fight a magical battle for his sister’s destiny.
  • Saints Go Marching by Matt Barbot
    Recommendations: 9
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    Cast: 
    7
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    Genre: comedy, drama + 1 more
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    Keyword: Latinx, religion + 6 more
    Genre: comedy, drama, fantasy
    Keyword: Latinx, religion, family, afterlife, supernatural, ghosts, large cast, funeral
    [FULL LENGTH] Jo's grandfather—a decorated veteran—has died, leaving emotional wreckage and unpaid debts in his wake. As she prepares for the funeral, Jo's heart is set on keeping grandpa's burial flag; to get it, she'll have to deal with her despondent mother, an attempted exorcism, and competition from a secret aunt young enough to be her little sister. It won't be easy, but nothing...
    [FULL LENGTH] Jo's grandfather—a decorated veteran—has died, leaving emotional wreckage and unpaid debts in his wake. As she prepares for the funeral, Jo's heart is set on keeping grandpa's burial flag; to get it, she'll have to deal with her despondent mother, an attempted exorcism, and competition from a secret aunt young enough to be her little sister. It won't be easy, but nothing an aspiring saint like Jo can't handle.
  • Infallibility by Matt Barbot
    Recommendations: 6
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    Cast: 
    2
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    Genre: commedia dell'arte, dark comedy + 2 more
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    Keyword: religion, Catholic + 4 more
    Genre: commedia dell'arte, dark comedy, docudrama/historic, political
    Keyword: religion, Catholic, History, metatheatrical, commedia dell'arte, props
    [FULL LENGTH] After being whisked off to Rome and tricked into playing a role in an infamous trial, aspiring actor Carlo has been thrown in a dungeon, guilty of committing a crime on behalf of the corrupt and vulgar medieval Pope Stephen VI, who has become obsessed with undoing his predecessor's work. (Sound like anyone you know?) With the help of Saint Genesius - the Patron Saint of Actors, Clowns, and...
    [FULL LENGTH] After being whisked off to Rome and tricked into playing a role in an infamous trial, aspiring actor Carlo has been thrown in a dungeon, guilty of committing a crime on behalf of the corrupt and vulgar medieval Pope Stephen VI, who has become obsessed with undoing his predecessor's work. (Sound like anyone you know?) With the help of Saint Genesius - the Patron Saint of Actors, Clowns, and Lawyers - Carlo must perform the story of how he wound up in this situation, regain his faith, and find a happy ending. Based on the true story of the Cadaver Synod.
  • The Tragedy of Sultan Khalid bin Barghash; or, The Entire Anglo-Zanzibar War in Real Time by Matt Barbot
    Recommendations: 3
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    Cast: 
    10
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    Genre: adventure, biography + 6 more
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    Keyword: Race, History
    Genre: adventure, biography, comedy, dark comedy, farce, period, political, satire
    Keyword: Race, History
    [ONE ACT] The Anglo-Zanzibar War lasted less than forty minutes. This play isn't much longer. On the morning of August 27th, 1896, the British fought a thirty-eight minute war for control of the sovereign archipelago nation of Zanzibar. Now, a group of performers have come together to tell the story of this war from start to finish...plus a little extra.
  • Natalie Wood Was Not Puerto Rican by Matt Barbot
    Recommendations: 5
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    Cast: 
    3
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    Genre: comedy, musical + 1 more
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    Keyword: puerto rico, nuyorican + 6 more
    Genre: comedy, musical, romantic comedy
    Keyword: puerto rico, nuyorican, west side story, Hurricane Maria, Latinx, hamilton, Latino, puerto rican
    [ONE ACT] An unsuspecting Sam falls head over heels during a game of dominos: Ana, recently displaced from her home in Puerto Rico, is going for a run in the park where Sam and his elderly friend Herbie play. These new feelings lead Sam to talk about his first crush, and he and Herbie reminisce about love, Broadway musicals, and heritage. When Ana adds her perspective to the mix, Sam slips up, and becomes less...
    [ONE ACT] An unsuspecting Sam falls head over heels during a game of dominos: Ana, recently displaced from her home in Puerto Rico, is going for a run in the park where Sam and his elderly friend Herbie play. These new feelings lead Sam to talk about his first crush, and he and Herbie reminisce about love, Broadway musicals, and heritage. When Ana adds her perspective to the mix, Sam slips up, and becomes less and less sure he can turn this into a love connection.
  • Stoo's Famous Martian American Gumbo by Matt Barbot
    Recommendations: 11
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    Cast: 
    5
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    Genre: adventure, comedy + 4 more
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    Keyword: Martians, food + 6 more
    Genre: adventure, comedy, fantasy, movement/physical, science fiction, young audiences
    Keyword: Martians, food, sports, multilingual, music, immigration, Heritage, diversity
    [THEATER FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES] Stoo is a Martian boy who discovers that he can’t grow his favorite fruit from Mars now that his family lives on Earth. Together with his diverse group of human friends, Stoo sets out to invent a brand new “special food” from delicious things on Earth. The result is a “Martian-American gumbo” – and a tale about the unifying power of friendship, music, and sharing a meal.
  • Boldly Go by Matt Barbot
    Recommendations: 14
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    Cast: 
    2
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    Genre: comedy, romantic comedy + 1 more
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    Keyword: space, aliens
    Genre: comedy, romantic comedy, science fiction
    Keyword: space, aliens
    [10 MIN] Aboard a familiar starship, a bravefaced medic and a bookish linguist must untangle their differences, past feelings, and a curious superstition about away teams.
  • O, Little Town by Matt Barbot
    Recommendations: 11
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    Cast: 
    2
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    Genre: adaptation, comedy + 6 more
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    Keyword: christmas, Jesus + 4 more
    Genre: adaptation, comedy, dark comedy, fable/folktale, holiday, parody/spoof, romantic comedy, satire
    Keyword: christmas, Jesus, holiday, the nativity, The Bible, faith
    [10 MIN] Joe, a stressed out soon-to-be father, just can't seem to get a break. His wife's due any minute, now, all the hotels and inns are booked, and this friendly concierge has suggested his wife give birth in a barn of all places. This is the kind of crap that made Joe leave Bethlehem in the first place...
  • A List of Some Shit I've Killed by Matt Barbot
    Recommendations: 7
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    Cast: 
    7–10
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    Genre: adaptation, comedy + 2 more
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    Keyword: Greek mythology, Hercules + 4 more
    Genre: adaptation, comedy, dark comedy, satire
    Keyword: Greek mythology, Hercules, Classic, masculinity, Trojan War, war
    [10 MIN] The story of Heracles' Bow, told in reverse. A play about the Trojan War, and how men ruin everything.
  • A Mostly True Story About F. Scott Fitzgerald's Penis by Matt Barbot
    Recommendations: 3
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    Cast: 
    3
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    Genre: adaptation, biography + 2 more
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    Keyword: F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway + 4 more
    Genre: adaptation, biography, comedy, period
    Keyword: F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, novelist, Sex, literature, Paris
    [10 MIN] In a fit of panic, F. Scott Fitzgerald asks his friend Ernest Hemingway for help with a *small* problem. Loosely based on Hemingway's account in "A Movable Feast."
  • Faith by Matt Barbot
    Recommendations: 16
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    Cast: 
    1
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    Genre: adaptation, dark comedy + 4 more
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    Keyword: Bible, religion + 3 more
    Genre: adaptation, dark comedy, drama, faith-based, fantasy, satire
    Keyword: Bible, religion, judaism, christianity, History
    [10 MIN/MONOLOGUE] Abraham's son won't talk to him, and it's all God's fault. Now Abraham's got a bone to pick with God. Does faith always mean doing the right thing? Does faith make things that seem wrong right?
  • Breeches Role by Matt Barbot
    Recommendations: 5
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    Cast: 
    1
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    Genre: comedy, docudrama/historic + 4 more
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    Keyword: gender, coming out + 4 more
    Genre: comedy, docudrama/historic, parody/spoof, period, romantic comedy, verse
    Keyword: gender, coming out, verse, Shakespeare, Cymbeline, iambic pentameter
    [MONOLOGUE] Somewhere between being forced to disguise herself as a boy and learning that there's more to life than iambic pentameter, poor Rosiola is beginning to realize that the old definitions she's grown so accustomed to aren't big enough to contain everything she is.

    A monologue in verse about gender, sexuality, and counting syllables.
  • Somewhere a Place by Matt Barbot
    Recommendations: 2
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    Cast: 
    1
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    Genre: adaptation, drama + 1 more
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    Keyword: Latinx, west side story + 4 more
    Genre: adaptation, drama, melodrama
    Keyword: Latinx, west side story, puerto rico, latina, women, Hurricane Maria
    [MONOLOGUE] María is trying to win back an old friend after tragedy ripped them apart years ago. She tries to remember her home in Puerto Rico, and most of all a song she once sang with her lover. Except...no one sings anymore.

    A new West Side story.