Now living deep under Manhattan in an abandoned subway tunnel with the Mole People, a very hungry Dolores recounts her early years selling weed with her boyfriend, her return to Washington Heights after thirteen years in prison, her fortuitous reunion with an old stoner friend who gives her room and board and lets her give massages for cash in the basement under his empanada shop, and the bloodbath that ultimately sends her fleeing underground. Loosely inspired by the legend of Sweeney Todd, Empanada Loca is contemporary Grand Guignol horror in the style of Spalding Gray.
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Empanada Loca was originally produced by Labyrinth Theater Company (Mimi O'Donnell, Artistic Director; Danny Feldman, Executive Director), opening on October 21st, 2015. It was directed by Aaron Mark; the costume advisor was Michael Growler; the scenic design was by David Meyer; the lighting design was by Bradley King; the sound design was by Ryan Rumery; and the production stage manager was Lily Perlmutter. The play was performed by Daphne Rubin-Vega.
Outer Critics Circle nomination for Outstanding Solo Performance (Daphne Rubin-Vega)
Drama Desk nominations for Outstanding Lighting Design For a Play (Bradley King),
Outstanding Sound Design In a Play (Ryan Rumery),
and Outstanding Solo Performance (Daphne Rubin-Vega)
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"Exuberantly macabre...A creepy urban-myth drama that doesn't seem all that mythical. I'll be shuddering as I enter the subway for a while yet." - New York Times
"Utterly transfixing...Empanada Loca is a real hair-raiser. Anyone looking for a good fright won't want to miss it, but beware: This show is not for the faint of heart or weak of stomach." - Theatermania
"Spine-tingling and stomach-churning...Mark's dialogue is unnervingly authentic." - TimeOut NY
"This is a terrific night of theater, quite literally." - Huffington Post
"As gruesome and sordid as any ever portrayed on a New York stage." - CurtainUp
"If you're looking for a bedtime story guaranteed to keep you up, shuddering, far into the night, Empanada Loca is the show for you." - Lighting and Sound America
"Empanada Loca is the exhilarating haunt you've been looking for." - TheaterScene
"Delectably chilling...With a kicker finish, Empanada Loca is a terrifyingly creepy tale." - BroadwayWorld
