Freedom Flows South: The Return of MEXODUS to the Daryl Roth Theater

Every so often, a piece of art comes along that is so undeniably vital, so structurally innovative, and so politically defiant that it forces the industry to pay attention.

That piece of art is MEXODUS. And this spring, we are thrilled to help our friends at P3 Productions bring Brian Quijada and Nygel D. Robinson’s masterpiece to the Daryl Roth Theater.

The Story We Weren't Taught

Relevance is vital, and Mexodus is the definition of it. While our history books focus on the Underground Railroad running North to Canada, there was another path - one that led South.

Between 1829 and 1865, thousands of enslaved people crossed the Rio Grande into Mexico, where slavery had already been abolished. Mexodus tells this story through the fictionalized bond between Henry, an enslaved Black man from Texas, and Carlos, a Mexican sharecropper. It is a story of Black and Brown solidarity that transcends borders, history, and the traditional "musical theater" box.

Innovation, Looped

Mexodus isn't just a history lesson; it’s a technical marvel. Brian and Nygel are a two-man orchestra, utilizing live-looping technology to build a massive, hip-hop-infused score in real-time.

This piece is innovative in so many ways, but here are just a few of the reasons Drama Club is onvolved with Mexodus.

• It’s lean: Two performers, one stage, and a "junkyard" of instruments.

• It’s virtuosic: It requires a level of skill—from acting to audio engineering—that most "safe" commercial shows wouldn't dare demand.

• It’s editorial: It doesn't just ask us to look at 1829; it asks us to look at the border agents and racial "hunting" of 2026.

This production represents the "accelerated" future we want for the industry. It’s Black, it’s Brown, it’s loud, and it is a direct challenge to anyone who says that "challenging" stories don't sell.

Join the Movement

This show is protecting a hidden history, and proving that you don't need a twenty-million-dollar budget to make an audience's heart explode with pride and perspective.

MEXODUS begins looping again March 6 at the Daryl Roth Theater. Go to MEXODUSmusical.com for tickets.