Mar 11–Apr 9, 2023

Modesto Flako Jimenez

Mercedes

Performance times:

April 7th: 3pm
April 9th: 6:30pm
April 10th: 6:30pm

Mercedes is a multidisciplinary installation inspired by Modesto 'Flako' Jimenez’s grandmother Mercedes. After immigrating to America as a kid, Flako was raised by his grandmother in Bushwick, Brooklyn. As an adult, he served as her main caregiver as she battled dementia. In the process of taking care of his “mama," he uncovered years of letters, receipts, and papers that documented her impact on the Latine community. Mercedes includes a visual exhibition, a documentary, and a theatrical performance that honors the legacy of Latine individuals Mercedes helped migrate to the country. Mercedes is a multidisciplinary experience that explores our relationship to the matriarchy and our ancestors, familial bonds and inherited trauma, and how our own identity can impact our mental health.

Modesto ‘Flako’ Jimenez is a Dominican-born, Bushwick-raised, multi-hyphenate artist. As a poet, playwright, educator, actor, producer, and director, his work exists in and explores the intersections of identity, language, mediums, cultures, and communities found in his personal life and beyond. Jimenez’s recent work includes Taxilandia, an Obie Award winning, multifaceted Bushwick community tour and poetic experience from the back of a taxicab that earned the New York Times Critics’ Pick and rave reviews from Time Out New York. Jimenez is the founder of ¡Oye! Group, a nonprofit that serves as an incubator for artists both native and immigrant to New York City. Jimenez is currently a 2023-2024 Mary Mackall Gwinn Hodder Fellow at Princeton University, and in 2021, Jimenez received a Jerome Foundation Fellowship and Foundation for Contemporary Arts Award in performing arts and theater.

Mercedes is co-presented by ¡Oye! Group. Thanks to Musical Theatre Factory for developing original music for the performances, with composition and music direction by Pedro Fortunato. The lead role of Mercedes was played by actress Zuleyma Guevara.

MERCEDES TEAM

Modesto Flako Jimenez - Writer & Creator of Mercedes

Pedro Fortunato - Composer & Music Director

Zuleyma Guevara - Mercedes

Brisa Areli Muñoz - Director of Mercedes

Kevin Torres - Managing Director, ¡OYE! Group

Cricket Brown - Associate Director + Gallery Curator

Adriana Ascencio - General Manager, ¡OYE! Group

Lluridia Jimenez - Marketing Director, ¡OYE! Group

Maribel Garcia - Production Intern, ¡OYE! Group

Mari Solis - Vocalist

Brian Toribio - Piano

Christopher Sanchez - Drums

Troy Anthony - Musical Dramaturg

Juan “Wamoo” Álvarez - Video & Sound Designer

Bryan Joseph Lee - Executive Producer; MTF

Sidney Erik Wright - Line Producer; MTF

Devin McCallion Fletcher - Production Manager

Megan Lang - Lighting Designer

Justin Allen - Stage Manager & Operator

David Pabon - Production Load-in

Samuel Taveras - Production Load-in & Load-Out Support

Eliut Ortiz - Lead Tech Support + Load-In Support

Marnie Pagter - Production Intern, KAJE

Erin Leland - KAJE Co-Director + Stage Manager

Jacques Louis Vidal - Founder and Owner of KAJE

Kate Levant - Founder and Owner of KAJE

Mallika Chandaria - Performance photography documentation

Chris Gurinsky - Performance video documentation