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about the project

On the Eve of Abolition is an original, bilingual (Spanish-English), multimedia, and mask/puppet theater performance by Papel Machete. The story is about the last day of the last prison in transnational liberated lands of what used to be known as the U.S. and Mexico after a movement of abolitionists have created the conditions to end the prison industrial complex. The play is set in 2047 and imagines abolition camps, formerly incarcerated people, families, and organizers outside of the prisons, and from within, prisoners organized in this final moment to end all prisons.

We use puppets, masks, miniature sets, stop-motion, shadow puppets, and video projection to create an immersive experience for the audience. The play is a radical imaginary sci-fi story based on current conditions in the US and Puerto Rico. The project is developed and performed by artists and collaborators of Papel Machete.

papel machete

Papel Machete is a radical workers’ street theater and puppetry collective that produces and performs original work in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Members are puppeteers, writers, musicians, visual artists and organizers who have worked together since 2006. Using papier mâché as our main medium, we explore toy theater, cantastorias, shadow theater, table-top puppetry, masks, performing objects and giant puppets. papelmachete.com

artists

Portrait of Jorge Diaz Ortiz

jorge “cano cangejo” diaz ortiz

Director, Puppeteer, Performer

Portrait of Deborah Hunt

deborah hunt

Puppet & Mask Design/Director, Puppeteer, Performer

Portrait of Sugeily Rodriguez Lebron

sugeily rodriguez lebron

Producer, Associate Director, Visual Artist, Performer

Portrait of Jose Hernandez Diaz

jose “primo” hernandez diaz

Visual Artist, Puppeteer, Performer

Portrait of Dey Hernandez Vasquez

dey hernÁndez vÁzquez

Puppeteer, Performer

Portrait of Carlos 'Gandul' Torres Lopez

carlos ‘gandul’ torres lopez

Puppeteer, Performer

Portrait of Marian Annette Rodriguez

marian annette rodriguez

Set & Costume Designer

Portrait of Tina Orlandini

tina orlandini

Assistant Director, Documentation

Portrait of Osvaldo Budet

osvaldo budet

Video Editing, Documentation

Portrait of Juan Pablo Vizcaino

juan pablo vizcaino cortijo

Vejigante Mask Construction

Portrait of Joe Therrien

joe therrien

Puppeteer, Video Direction & Editing

Portrait of Pitt Panther

pitt panther

Visual Artist

Portrait of Anibal "El S." Vidal Quintero

anibal “el s.” vidal quintero

Music

community engagement

A major component of On the Eve of Abolition is engagement with prison abolitionists, their organizations, and currently and formerly incarcerated people and their families. Our commitment for this project is to create a vision of an abolitionist future and then offer pathways to engage in real time organizing toward the abolition of the prison industrial complex and the creation of transformative, community-led processes that address harm. We do this with our community partners, most of whom we’ve been building with for many years and through direct communication with survivors of the prison system.

community partners:

AgitArte

Prison Radio

Southerners On New Ground (SONG)

Sisters Unchained

Gallery of the Streets

tour

December 8, 9, 10, 2023
Victoria Espinosa Theater, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Sept. 30 – Oct. 2, 2022
Work-in-progress presentation at Cara Mía Theater | 2600 Live Oak, Dallas, TX 75204

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