The cast of “The Other Americans” has been announced by the Public Theater.
Photos courtesy of the Public Theater
Directed by Ruben Santiago-Hudson in association with Arena Stage, the iconic Public Theater announced the full cast list for the NYC premiere of “The Other Americans,” a gripping new play written by Emmy Award winner John Leguizamo.
Santiago-Hudson, a Tony Award-winning screenwriter and actor, is set to direct the show following the play’s fall 2024 world premiere at Arena Stage in Washington, DC. “The Other Americans” begins performances in The Public’s Anspache Theater with a Joseph Papp free performance on Thursday, September 11th, with the production officially opening on Thursday, September 25th and running through Sunday, October 12th.
Leguizamo plays Nelson Castro, a Colombian-American laundromat owner in Queens grappling with a dark past and failing business. When Nelson’s son Nick Castro returns from a mental hospital after a traumatic event, Nelson must commit himself to protecting his business and family, tackling identity and racial challenges along the way. In a gripping tale of resilience, Nelson navigates morality’s murky waters to salvage his future and not let his secrets consume everything he holds dear.
“So great to be back at the greatest theater in America with my new play,” said Leguizamo. “It’s about the American dream when it smacks into the American reality while being Latino. A laundromat mogul in 90s [sic] Queens has to confront his past as his son, who struggles with mental health issues, inadvertently undoes his web of lies.”
The cast of “The Other Americans” includes Rosa Evangelina Arredondo (Norma), Kimberli Flores (Understudy), Sarah Nina Hayon (Veronica), Jaime José Hernández (Understudy), Rebecca Jimenez (Toni), John Leguizamo (Nelson), Trey Santiago-Hudson (Nick), Bradley James Tejeda (Eddie), Luna Lauren Velez (Patti), and Juan Francisco Villa (Understudy).
“Most importantly it’s about family – the good, the bad, and the ugly,” said director Santiago-Hudson. “It’s about the most sensitive and fragile parts of family, but also the most powerful and joyous parts. I cannot wait to share John Leguizamo’s extraordinary new play with The Public Theater’s wonderfully diverse audience.”
“The Other Americans” marks Leguizamo’s return to The Public Theater following “Latin History For Morons,” his Lortel and Tony Award-nominated hit solo show that premiered at The Public in 2017, moved to Broadway and was filmed for Netflix.
Santiago-Hudson has worked as a playwright, director and actor at The Public and Delacorte Theater for over thirty years. His autobiographical solo play “Lackawanna Blues,” which Santiago-Hudson both performed in and wrote, premiered at The Public in 2001, for which he received an Obie Award.
Following a significant revitalization, the Delacorte, home to Free Shakespeare in the Park, reopened on August 7th with a production of Shakespeare’s classic comedy “Twelfth Night.” Directed by The Public’s Associate Artistic Director, Tony Award nominee Saheem Ali, the show features an all-star cast of Public Theater debuts and alumni, including Peter Dinklage, Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Lupita Nyong’o.
You can buy tickets for “The Other Americans” online or at The Public’s box office, located in the theater’s lobby at 425 Lafayette Street. Full creative production and cast information can be found here.