By Phanésia Pharel

Directed by Gabrriella Moses

On the Caribbean island of Quisqueya (Haiti and the Dominican Republic), where war has erupted, vulnerable bodies are under the reign of soldiers and fire. A Waitress escapes onto a resort in the midst of writing her novel; telling the story of a luminous young woman named Lucky. As the Waitress writes the novel comes to life, shifting between the resort and Lucky’s world. As the Waitress weaves Lucky’s path to womanhood, Lucky is forced to redefine home and sacrifice her body. What does triumph look like in a world numb to Black girls suffering?” The women of Lucky refuse to burn.

Phanésia Pharel writes from a Caribbean feminist perspective on the divine metaphysical dilemma of colored girlhood. Through Afro-futurism her plays span revolutions, islands and combat gendered violence. She explores futures built on love by centering women's pleasure, safety and joy. Honors include City Theatre National Short Playwriting Finalist, Jane Chambers Finalist, O’neill Semi-Finalist, Blank Stage “Future of Playwriting” Semi-Finalist, Bay Area Playwrights Festival Semi-Finalist. Commissions include City Theatre Miami and Thrown Stone Theatre. Residencies include New York Stage and Film, Echo Theater Company of Los Angeles and the Playwrights Center. Publishing: Concord Theatricals, Smith and Kraus Best Plays of 2020, Reset Coalition 2020 Anthology and the City Theatre Anthology.

This program features four emerging Latinx Playwrights mentored by four legends of our field to shape four new plays. There were a series of roundtables that actively engaged the playwright in our Cohort's process. And now we have reached the final stage in our Intensive with the Industry Reading at the Kabyitos Theater in The Clemente Soto Vélez Cultural & Educational Center.