“a travÉs de la magia del teatro de tÍteres y mÁscaras, invitamos al pÚblico a acompaÑarnos en un viaje al aÑo 2047 en una experiencia multimedia que imagina un mundo de seres libres del encierro, las injusticias y la explotaciÓn, y sentir el llamado a organizarnos y tomar acciÓn desde el amor mÁs profundo y el espÍritu revolucionario de la resistencia colectiva. ¡el momento es ahora!”  

funciones:

Jueves, 23 de octubre de 2025 - 8:00pm

Viernes, 24 de octubre de 2025 - 8:00pm

Sábado, 25 de octubre de 2025 - 8:00pm

Domingo, 26 de octubre de 2025 - 3:00pm*  

*Habrá intérprete de lenguaje de señas en esta función

boletos:

Planta Baja - $25.00 - $40.00 + ivu & c.s.
Planta Alta - $25.00 - $30.00 + ivu & c.s.

lugar:

El teatro de la Universidad de Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras

6 Ave. Universidad STE 601 San Juan, PR

Planta Baja - $25.00 - $40.00 + ivu & c.s.
Planta Alta - $25.00 - $30.00 + ivu & c.s.

papel machete

Papel Machete es un colectivo de teatro de títeres y máscaras fundado el 1 de mayo de 2006, durante el cierre del gobierno como respuesta creativa a la crisis económica y política que enfrenta Puerto Rico por su estatus colonial. Desde entonces, han realizado innumerables acciones callejeras y creado un conjunto de obras y piezas cortas, que explora una amplia gama de formas y estilos artísticos, incluyendo Toy Theater o teatro de papel, cantastorias, cranks, teatro de sombras, títeres de mesa, máscaras, objetos escénicos, música y títeres gigantes. Papel Machete denuncia y visibiliza los sistemas de explotación y opresión colonial en nuestro Archipiélago y fomenta la solidaridad y la acción en las luchas de la clase trabajadora y las comunidades más vulnerables. papelmachete.com

agitarte

AgitArte es una organización de artistas y trabajadores culturales de clase trabajadora que desarrollan procesos creativos y de educación popular para fomentar la solidaridad cultural.

Inician y facilitan proyectos artísticos y culturales con comunidades de base que cuestionan la hegemonía cultural estadounidense y proponen alternativas a los sistemas de opresión existentes. agitarte.org

contacto de prensa

Irmaris Rodríguez
787-908-6733
irmarisr@gmail.com

artistas principales


Portrait of Jorge Diaz Ortiz

jorge ‘cano cangrejo’ dÍaz ortiz

Director, Productor, Titiritero

Portrait of Sugeily Rodriguez Lebron

sugeily rodrÍguez lebrÓn

Productora, Equipo de dirección, Titiritera, Mascarera

Portrait of Deborah Hunt

deborah hunt

Diseño y dirección de títeres y máscaras, Equipo de dirección, Titiritera, Mascarera

Portrait of Jose Hernandez Diaz

jose ‘primo’ hernÁndez dÍaz

Mascarero, Titiritero

dey hernÁndez vÁzquez

Mascarero, Titiritero

 francisco iglesias

Titiritero, Mascarero

lizbeth romÁn

Mascarero, Música en vivo

agustÍn muÑoz rÍos

Mascarero, Música en vivo

anÍbal ‘el s.’ vidal quintero

Mascarero, Música en vivo

crÉditos


escrita por papel machete

director

equipo de direcciÓn

producciÓn

diseÑo y direcciÓn de tÍteres y mÁscaras

titiriteres y mascareres

ediciÓn y direcciÓn de vÍdeo

mÚsica en vivo

Agustín Muñoz Ríos, Aníbal “eL S.” Vidal Quintero, Lizbeth ‘Liz’ Román, Mariela Mendoza Solís

luminotÉcnico

Luis Felipe Rivera Santiago

regidurÍa de escena

Arleen Stewart


agradecimientos especiales

A Blade of Grass, Ágora Cultural Architects, Albert Woodfox, Alexis Ortiz, ArtsEmerson, Cara Mía Theater, Dan Fox and Wondersmith Audio, Danza Orgánica, Kathia Castillo, the Jobin-Leeds Family, Kevin Becerra, Natalia Calderón, Noel Hanrahan, MAP Fund, National Performance Network, Oscar Buruca, Pregones/Puerto Rican Traveling Theater, Tamia Rashima Jordan.

apoyo a esta presentaciÓn

on the eve of abolition: scene-by-scene

Click arrow for scene description

Introduction

“The quest for abolition: How do we arrive at this place we call abolition? What are the roads to such a destination? We arrive from the almost lost lessons of history shaped by generations of ancestors who struggled their whole lives for that rare breath of freedom, and yearned with all their hearts that we, their prodigy, would one day breathe free air. For abolition stands for the long hard struggle against slavery, abolition meant the destruction of that system and the beginning of freedom. For a brief moment in time, freedom dawned over the land, but it was a mirage, a lie usurped by the greater lie of white supremacy, which plunged people into the darkness of terror and death, in fact, slavery by another name. Those unholy origins lead to the specter of mass incarceration. The greatest incarceration of juveniles in global history. The systems of white supremacy, of ruthless capitalism and labor exploitation, led to the monster now before us, what activists rightly call DBI, Death By Incarceration or lifeless sentences of life, forever. The presence and threat of prisons doesn’t create, it doesn’t treat, it doesn’t help, it feeds, it harms, it cripples, and yes it kills, it is the institutionalization of meanness, plain and simple. Prison abolitionist and noted scholar Dr. Ruth Wilson Gilmore stated: ‘Abolition requires we change one thing, which is everything.’ Now is the time. With Love, Not Fear. This is Mumia Abu-Jamal.”

Scene I: The Fleet: Tanco and the Caribbean Revolution

Led by Tanco, a delegation of the Liberation Fleet rises in a maritime rebellion against imperial forces, forging alliances, reclaiming freedom, and uniting the Caribbean in a journey toward abolition.

“There are still many stories to be told about the revolution of our peoples. Even more so, when the defeat of the empire which consumed the Caribbean, seemed impossible. Yet, it happened, “pasó”…

In the face of the imminent collapse of the Empire, those of us on the path of the struggle for liberation, united. We fulfilled the dreams of our ancestors. “Nuestra fuerza revolucionaria”. Our revolutionary fervor raised the seas in an upswell of victories. 

It all began with a maritime blockade at the ports in response to the constant hikes of food prices and basic necessities. We continued the rebellion by intercepting their shipping routes and taking over their cargo ships and boats. We formed a small fleet, fueled by the necessity of our survival. Our successful efforts of solidarity throughout the Caribbean grew into a larger Liberation Fleet, “Nuestra Flota Libertaria.” Our Fleet enabled us to free the seas and defeat the monster choking us. 

Navigating the Caribbean, Imani, abolitionist and organizer from Bulbancha, seeks support from Neva, revolutionary of La Brigada Vejigante and Tanco, Commander of La Flota Libertaria. Imani lays out her strategy to free the people incarcerated in Angola Prison. Neva and Tanco pledge their support and together they embrace their collective struggle for liberation.   

Probamos la libertad 

en los labios de una boca que no calla

que no calla (2X)

Nos miramos a los ojos

el reflejo reafirmó

el destino, que trazamos

florecieron los capullos 

y se izaron las banderas

En victoria, cantando: 

(Choir) 

 “¡Viva la libertad!,   ¡Viva la libertad!,  

  ¡Viva la libertad!,   ¡Viva la libertad!

Now, we forged the Caribbean Alliance. In Matanzas, Cuba, we sealed our pact of solidarity for a new Caribbean. Under a majestic flock of birds, we set sail. “¡Zarpamos!”

A delegation of The Liberation Fleet, now heads from the Caribbean to Bulbancha, to join forces with the Liberated Peoples Front of Southern North America.

 (Choir) 

“Viva la Alianza Antillana, Viva la Libertad”

Scene II: Uprising

In the year 2047, an uprising unfolds inside a water bottling facility beneath the WGS Supermax Correctional Facility. Imani, a seasoned resistance leader captured in the abolition of Angola Prison in Bulbancha,  and her comrade Red, a revolutionary, long imprisoned at the correctional facility together with inmates, Soledad and Ángel, lead a revolt against the prison system, only to face a crushing annihilation.

Scene III: Guard suit-up / Wind Green Springs News Radio

As a guard suits up for his shift, a broadcast of Wind Green Springs News Radio covers the recovery from the recent “prison riots” and the corporation’s efforts to secure the water supply essential for the United Space Colonies.

Scene VI: The Lockdown

The guards enforce a prison lockdown. Meanwhile, an infomercial about Wind Green Springs paints a stark contrast between the idyllic image of the community and the harsh realities of the prison system.

Scene V: Bulbancha

In an abolitionist camp outside the prison walls, Mawa, an abolitionist organizer, announces the latest updates from the Caribbean Alliance and the Vejigante Brigade. Neva, an abolitionist organizer and storyteller from Borikén, and her comrades, the Vejigantes, journey to Bulbancha to meet with Salamanquesa, of the Unitarian Guerrilla, elder organizer of the collective efforts to liberate Angola Prison. There and after she traced for them the safe passage to the Free the Springs Abolition camp and the prison, they make plans to disrupt the water distribution to the wealthy space colonies and liberate the waters from Wind Green Springs.

Scene VI: Journey to Appalachia

Neva embarks on a trek through a post-cataclysmic landscape from Bulbancha to Appalachia towards the abolitionist camp.  On her way, she meets with Atsila, Commander of The Liberated People’s Front as the abolitionists prepare for the next phase of their fight.

Scene VII: Neva Arrives at Free the Springs Abolition Camp

After arriving at her tent, Atsila hands Neva a letter from comrade Red with news from inside.

Scene VIII: Red’s Letter to Neva and The Prison Blueprint

Red writes to Neva from prison, expressing his sorrow about Imani and others who died in the January uprising.  However, he remarks on the prison’s struggles with power and the mass exodus of guards which complicates the Warden’s control. Meanwhile, at the abolitionist camp, Ramón, the logistics commander and Mawa present the prison’s blueprints to Commander Atsila and discuss strategies to take down the WGS Supermax Correctional Facility.

Scene IX: Red’s Letter to Neva and The Prison Blueprint


The Warden discovers the abolitionist camp being set up outside the prison walls, causing panic as the guards report difficulties in restoring power to their defense systems.

Scene X: State of WGS Supermax Correctional 


During a live broadcast, the Warden announces an “unprecedented attack” by abolitionists and reveals that inmate Red is scheduled for execution.

Scene XI: The Powells


In a sitcom-style sequence, Susan Powell, Vice President of Operations for Wind Green Springs, expresses her frustration about their dwindling town and the exodus of its residents to her husband Joe Powell, a Lieutenant who works at WGS Correctional.

Scene XII:  The Abolitionists


As night falls at the Free the Springs abolitionist camp, Mawa and Ramón mobilize the group, emphasizing the urgency of their preparations. Guadalupe, a member of Las Adelitas Liberated Peoples Front speaks about her role as a Water Protector, recounting the struggles of her people during the Great Aridification and rallying the abolitionists to unite in their fight against the prison’s exploitation of water resources.


Scene XIII: Neva at Free the Springs Abolition Camp


Neva shares powerful stories of survival, resistance, and solidarity with her fellow abolitionists, calling for unity and action to dismantle oppressive structures, while honoring those who sacrificed for liberation.

Scene XIV: Glitches in the Virtual Imaging System


The Warden, increasingly agitated by the security monitor’s glitchy footage and a haunting call, orders her guards to stabilize the situation and heads to the Water Plant.

“Sometimes in the shadowed night I become spirit.

The walls, the bars, the gratings dissolve into light

and I unloosen my soul

and fly through the inner darkness of my being.

I become transparent,

a bright shadow,

a bird of dreams singing from the tree of life.”

–Leonard Peltier


Scene XV:  The Prison Water Bottling Facility


The Warden visits the water bottling facility plant, where prisoners labor under harsh conditions. As tension escalates, a child suffers an injury and the prisoners unite to strike.


Scene XVI: The Vejigantes Have Arrived


A guard informs the Warden of the arrival of abolitionists who have breached the virtual imaging systems heading towards the town.


Scene XVII: The Vejigante Hack Attack


The Vejigantes gather to set up the scramblers and hack the Virtual Imaging Systems. 


Scene XVII: The Train Take Over


The Vejigantes ambush a train headed towards the WGS Supermax Correctional Facility and liberate the prisoners on board.


Scene XIX: July Eclipse Liberation


The Warden prepares for the end as the prisoners revolt, overpowering guards and initiating the July Eclipse Liberation, the last day of the last prison of The Remaining States of the US.

La abolición no es un ave Fénix que resurge de las cenizas, es una mariposa, una brillante metamorfosis hacia una nueva realidad”.

¡Viva la Alianza Antilla!

¡Viva la libertad!  

¡Viva la libertad!

¡Viva la libertad!

¡Viva la libertad!

¡VIVA LA LIBERTAD!