I HATE F*CKING MEXICANS Makes U.S. Premiere at The Flea, 10/9

The Flea Theater announces the U.S. Premiere of I HATE f-ing MEXICANS by Luis Enrique Gutiérrez Ortiz Monasterio "the enfant terrible of contemporary Mexican theater." Translated by Debbie Saivetz, Ana Graham, and Danya Taymor and directed by Ms. Taymor, a Flea Resident Director; the production will feature members of The Bats and The Riot Group's Adriano Shapman. Previews begin October 9, with opening night slated for October 18 at 9pm.

In a celebration of bigotry, a woman in a border town recounts the racial tensions that divide her community and lead to an explosive encounter. I HATE f-ing MEXICANS enters a bizarrely poetic world that is both disturbing and funny. Written by one of Mexico's most well known playwrights, it explores the strong sentiment of fear and hatred that comes with the unknown.

Playwright Luis Enrique Gutiérrez Ortiz Monasterio says, "I HATE f-ing MEXICANS is a caricature of Americans written by a Mexican, just like Speedy Gonzalez is a caricature of Mexicans written by Americans. I suppose that some people could feel offended, in the same way that some Mexicans feel insulted when we see ourselves portrayed as a little coked up rat or a lazy sombrero wearing rancher."

The production features members of The Flea's lauded resident acting ensemble The Bats: Janice Amaya, Cristin Eve Cato, Ugo Chukwu, John Paul Harkins, Layla Khoshnoudi, Abraham Makany, Michelle Silvani, alongside veteran performer Adriano Shaplin (The Riot Group). The design team includes Starlet Jacobs (set), Jonathan Cottle (lights), Erica Evans (costumes), and Adriano Shaplin (sound).

Luis Enrique Gutiérrez Ortiz Monasterio (playwright) is better known as LEGOM. As a playwright, occasional poet and storyteller, he is one of the strongest and most complex voices of Mexican contemporary theater. Loved by some and hated by others, his spell has undisputedly marked Mexico's dramatic landscape. Winner of several national awards for playwriting including: The National Prize for Drama of Queretaro, Iberoamerican drama in 2000 (organized by UNESCO and the government of Merida), and The Fringe First Award (theatrical excellence by The Scotsman in Edinburgh Festival, 2005). His plays have had 23 productions in Mexico and abroad, and have been translated into seven languages. He is currently resident playwright of the Universidad Veracruzana Theatre Company. In 2005 he became member of the Mexican National System of Creators. For over fifteen years he has participated in independent publishing projects.

Danya Taymor (director, translator) is originally from Palo Alto, California and studied theater and global health at Duke University where she graduated with highest distinction. Past directing credits include #serials@theFlea, The Flying Latke, Closer, The Shape of Things, and Stop Kiss. She received a grant from the Bill and MeLinda Gates Foundation and spent the summer of 2009 in Medellín, Colombia. For her honors thesis she wrote and directed an original play called You, Me, and the Devil, based on her research and interviews she conducted in Medellín. Since moving to New York she has worked on and off Broadway, assisted Darko Tresnjak and Selina Cartmell on The Merchant of Venice and The Broken Heart at Theatre for a New Audience, and participated in workshops with Peter Brook, Andrew Wade and members of Théâtre du Complicité. She is a recipient of The Van Lier Directing Grant, The Sudler Prize, Benenson Award, The Jody McAuliffe Award for Excellence in Directing and is an SDC observership fellow, and has written for the Huffington Post. Danya is thrilled to be in residence at the Flea and she is currently writing a play about Juarez, Mexico with the award winning photojournalist Dominic Bracco II that will premiere at The Flea. She is also the co-creator of The Shakes, the Flea's newest late night theater series.

The Bats are the resident Acting Company members of The Flea Theater. Each year over a thousand actors audition for a place in this unique company. The Bats perform in extended runs of challenging classic and new plays. The Bats have recently appeared in World Premieres by A.R. Gurney, Will Eno, Adam Rapp, Beau Willimon, Mac Wellman, Elizabeth Swados, Thomas Bradshaw, Itamar Moses, Sheila Callaghan, Julian Sheppard, Ken Urban, Tommy Smith, Jonathan Reynolds, Trista Baldwin, Laurel Haines, Qui Nguyen and Sean Graney.

The Flea Theater, under Artistic Director Jim Simpson and Producing Director Carol Ostrow, is one of New York's leading off-off-Broadway companies. Winner of a Special Drama Desk Award for outstanding achievement, Obie Awards and an Otto for political theater, The Flea has presented over 100 plays and numerous dance and live music performances since its inception in 1996. Past productions include the premieres of Anne Nelson's The Guys; six plays by A.R. Gurney (Post Mortem, O Jerusalem, Screenplay, Mrs. Farnsworth, A Light Lunch and Office Hours); Mac Wellman's Cellophane and Two September; Roger Rosenblatt's Ashley Montana Goes Ashore... and The Oldsmobiles; Elizabeth Swados' JABU and Kaspar Hauser; Karen Finley's Return of the Chocolate Smeared Woman; Adam Rapp's Bingo with the Indians; Will Eno's Oh, The Humanity and other exclamations; Dawn by Thomas Bradshaw; Love/Stories (or But You Will Get Used to it) by Itamar Moses, The Great Recession, Jonathan Reynolds' Girls in Trouble, Bathsheba Doran's Parents' Evening, Looking at Christmas by Steven Banks, the Drama Desk nominated She Kills Monsters by Qui Nguyen, and the Drama Desk nominated These Seven Sicknesses by Sean Graney.

I HATE f-ing MEXICANS runs October 9 – November 4, 2012, performance schedule varies. The Flea is located at 41 White Street between Church and Broadway, three blocks south of Canal, close to the A/C/E, N/R/Q, 6, J/M/Z and 1 subway lines. All tickets are only $20 with $10 Mimosa Matinees on Sunday at 1pm (free mimosa with ticket purchase, available by calling 212-352-3101 or online at www.theflea.org.

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