Beginning performances Sept. 30 at the Labyrinth’s Bank Street Theater, Empanada Loca is inspired by the legend of murderous barber Sweeney Todd. Rubin-Vega, whose other Broadway credits include A Streetcar Named Desire, Les Misérables and Anna in the Tropics, will play Dolores, a woman living deep under Manhattan in an abandoned subway tunnel. Dolores lives by one rule only: eat or be eaten.
Performances of Empanada Loca will run through Nov. 8 with an official opening night set for Oct. 21.
The second show to be announced is the Off-Broadway premiere of Mona Mansour’s The Way West, directed by artistic director Mimi O’Donnell. The play centres on a mother whose life is an all-round mess: her finances are in ruins, her health is failing and her house is in tatters. Can the arrival of her daughters save her? The cast is led by Deirdre O’Connell, who originated the role of Mom in the world premiere of The Way West at Steppenwolf Theatre. Performances are scheduled for Feb. 2016.
"I'm very excited about these plays," commented O'Donnell in a press statement. "Not only because Labyrinth will be producing the work of two up-and-coming writers with original voices, but also because the plays provide wonderful opportunities to showcase the talents of some of our most illustrious Company members." Both Rubin-Vega and O'Connell are company actors.
More programming will be announced by the Labyrinth Theater Company soon; for more information visit LabTheater.