Atlantic Theater Company has announced it will present the Judith Champion Caribbean MixFest, a series of free readings showcasing Caribbean voices, September 14-20 at the Off-Broadway company's Stage 2. The series is co-curated by Cristina Angeles and Patrice Johnson Chevannes, and co-produced by Jean Carlo Yunén A.

The MixFest will include readings of full-length plays by Nelson Diaz-Marcano, Fedna Jacquet, Iraisa Ann Reilly, Karl O’Brian Williams, and La Daniella. Atlantic Theater Company has also commissioned Karina Billini, Nehassaiu deGannes, Juliette Jeffers, and Phanésia Pharel to write short one-acts, which will be presented alongside a short play by Erlina Ortiz.

“For decades, the Atlantic has been a leading force in the development of new work, and I couldn't be more excited to join the team in shedding light on Caribbean voices this September," Angeles said in a statement. "MixFest has been a huge opportunity for artists of varying backgrounds to tell their stories and, next month, we are so proud to be showing the depth and breadth of what it means to come from the Caribbean. The diversity in the languages we speak, the food we eat, the music we make, and the stories we tell is vast. As a result, I hope this year's MixFest encourages audiences to learn more, dive deeper, and support the stories that may seem unfamiliar at first, while still revealing the countless commonalities we share."

“This is a vitally important festival that endeavors to augment the voices of Caribbean-American writers whose work span the gamut of the human experience peppered with Caribbean accents, attitudes, rhythms and dialects," added Chevannes. "People of Caribbean descent make up close to 25% of New York’s population. Yet so few plays are produced in NYC theaters that augment our voices and experiences. This is not because the plays and playwrights don’t exist but the opportunities, outlets and financial support to showcase them are few. Caribbean-American playwrights need allies. I am honored and grateful for the opportunity to help open the door for other Caribbean-American artists in this year’s festival!”

The event is underwritten by Judith Champion, an architect, violinist, and dedicated supporter of the theatre who passed away in July 2022. 

Admission is free, with reservations required. 

Visit AtlanticTheater.org for more information.