Mexodus
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Mexodus is a hip-hop musical with music, lyrics, book, and orchestrations by Brian Quijada and Nygel D. Robinson which premiered at the Baltimore Center Stage in 2024 before premiering Off-Broadway in 2025, and again in 2026. The show tells the story of the Underground Railroad's southern route that crossed the Rio Grande into Mexico, and received widespread acclaim.
Synopsis
The musical draws from the true accounts of African Americans who fled slavery by journeying south into Mexico on the Underground Railroad. Creators Nygel D. Robinson and Brian Quijada perform every role themselves and provide all the music, infused with hip-hop, using a looping station to build each song’s arrangement live on stage for the audience each night.
Robinson portrays Henry, an enslaved man in Texas following its annexation by the United States. Seeking freedom, Henry escapes across the Rio Grande into Mexico, where slavery had been abolished. There he encounters Carlos, played by Quijada, and the two form a deep connection, shaped in part by their shared anger toward a common oppressor. Eventually, they choose to join forces in their struggle, even as events ultimately lead them down separate paths.
Productions
The production first premiered at Baltimore Center Stage in 2024, running from March 14 to April 7, featuring Quijada and Robinson and directed by David Mendizábal. It received praise, with the Maryland Theatre Guide calling it "thrilling" and DC Theatre Arts calling it "electrifying." Sound designer Mikhail Fiksel's work with live-looping was also singled out for praise.
Following its run in Baltimore, the show premiered in Washington, DC at the Mosaic Theatre Company, running May 16, 2024 to June 15, 2024 with the same creative and performance team. Following further acclaim, it moved to the Berkeley Repertory Theatre, where director Mendizábal served as Associate Artistic Director.
In 2025, the show premiered Off-Broadway in New York City at the Minetta Lane Theatre produced by P3 Productions and Audible Theatre, running September 18 to November 1. This production was also recorded for the Audible platform as an Audible Original.The show received rave reviews, with The New York Times calling it "a dazzling showcase not just for what music can be, but also for the ecstasy of making it" and New York Theatre Guide naming it a "stunning musical spotlight."
The original Off-Broadway production was nominated for nine Lucille Lortel Awards, the most of any production.
The production returned Off-Broadway for a revival, running March 6 to June 14, 2026 at the Daryl Roth Theatre, and has also announced a national tour, kicking off at the Pasadena Playhouse in July 2026.
Awards and nominations
2024 Washington, D.C. production
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Helen Hayes Award | Outstanding Production - Musical | Won | ||
| Outstanding Lead Performer in a Musical | Brian Quijada | Won | |||
| Outstanding Director of a Musical | David Mendizábal | Won |