Criminal Queerness Festival

National Queer Theater

Three New Plays in Repertory

The Criminal Queerness Festival (CQF) is an Obie Award-winning annual event produced by National Queer Theater that showcases the works of international LGBTQ+ playwrights from countries where queer identities are criminalized or censored. Since its inception in 2019 during WorldPride, CQF has provided a vital platform for these artists to share their stories, fostering global awareness and solidarity.

HERE Arts Center
New York, NY
June 11 – June 28, 2025

Creative Team
Dan Daly — Props/Scenic Designer
Alejandro Fajardo — Lighting Designer
Jeremy Kadetsky — Sound Designer
Jason Goodwin — Co-Costume Designer
Jasmine Canjura — Co-Costume Designer
Peter Dunn — Casting Director

Production Team
Dmitri Barcomi — Production Manager
Adam Odsess Rubin - Founding Artistic Director
Rose Oser - Producing Director

frikiNation

by Krystal Ortiz

Music & Lyrics by EsKoria

Directed by Rula A. Muñoz

Music Direction, Arrangements, & Orchestrations by Alan Mendez

June 24 – June 28

Materials: snare drum echo, Sure SM57, Dead Kennedys, waves, radio disk jockey, Sennheiser Evolution SKM 100 EW

Sound Designer

Cast
Adriana Gaviria
Claudia Quesada
Frances Inés Rodríguez
JoJo Fleites
Mateo d'Amato
Nico Raimont
Ryan Ruffing
Marcelo Camacho

Production Team
Stage Manager: Valeria Llaneza
Dramaturg: Khristián Méndez Aguirre

What You Are to Me

by Dena Igusti

Directed by Keng S. Meateanuwat

June 13 – June 22

Sound Designer

Cast
B. Bastian
Debbie Tjong
Grace Duah
Julyana Soelistyo
Lei Nico
Michele Selene Ang

Materials: crowd chants, Sennheiser Evolution SKM 100 EW, voice over, camera shutter, cassette rewind, subway brakes

Production Team
Stage Manager: Mars Neri
Dramaturg: Begs Inal

Tomorrow Never Came

by Jedidiah Mugarura

Directed by Ogemdi Ude

June 11 – June 22

Cast
Dillon Daniel Mutyaba
Imani Pearl
Jason Kisare
Natasha Hakata
Odera Adimorah
Petrina Ampeire
Shiro Kihagi

Materials: bird calls, egalabi drums reverb, impacts

Sound Designer

Production Team
Stage Manager: Angela Salazar
Dramaturg: Achiro P. Olwoch