Cultural Compass
OUR DEAR DEAD DRUG LORD
A pitch-black comedy about four Miami teens who gather to summon the ghost of Pablo Escobar. A New York Times Critic’s Pick by South Florida’s own Alexis Scheer.
The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts concludes the 2021–2022 Theater Up Close season with the Florida premiere of OUR DEAR DEAD DRUG LORD, a dark comedy by Miami playwright Alexis Scheer about a gang of viciously vulnerable teens who try to resurrect the spirit of Pablo Escobar. Playing in the Arsht Center’s intimate Carnival Studio Theater, OUR DEAR DEAD DRUG LORD is a rollercoaster ride through the dark and dangerous mind of the modern American teenage girl by a gifted Miami playwright. The teenage wasteland has never been so much twisted fun.
“We are incredibly excited at presenting the homecoming of Miami-native playwright Alexis Scheer’s beguiling and thought provoking play Our Dear Dead Drug Lord to the community of South Florida,” said Zoetic Stage Artistic Director Stuart Meltzer. “The play is a whirlwind of comedic, dramatic and magical moments exploring that complicated yet mystical space between girlhood and womanhood. Our Dear Dead Drug Lord is a true Miami play of courage, culture and connection.”
Whiplashing back and forth between laugh out loud humor and stop-you-in-your-tracks drama, this play explores the darkest corners of the human heart. Intimate in nature, yet universal in its ability to explore the need to connect, the play is an unflinching and powerful reminder of what it means to be human. As it races to its startling conclusion, audiences will be left catching their breath.
The play enjoyed a highly successful, extended run Off-Broadway, a co-production of Second Stage and WP Theater. Theatre Scene called the play “the work of a born playwright and a unique new voice.”
Alexis Scheer
A proud Miami native and New World School of the Arts alum, her plays include Our Dear Dead Drug Lord, Laughs in Spanish, The Sensational, and A Very Herrera Holiday. Her work has been developed at the Kennedy Center, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, McCarter Theatre Center, Boston Playwrights’ Theatre, Cleveland Playhouse, and more. Alexis’ favorite acting credits include the Boston premiere of Blasted, a storefront Equus, and Fiddler on the Roof at Actors’ Playhouse which she did when she was 13 instead of getting Bat Mitzvah’ed (true story). Alexis holds a BFA in Musical Theatre from The Boston Conservatory and MFA in Playwriting from Boston University. She is currently under commission by Miami New Drama, Second Stage, and Manhattan Theatre Club. In television, she writes on Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin, and has a project in development at HBO Max.
Founding Artistic Director of Zoetic Stage
Stuart Meltzer is the proud recipient of numerous Carbonell Awards for Best Director. He is also a Carbonell Award winner for Best New Work for his play The Goldberg Variations. Altogether, he has been honored with eighteen Carbonell nominations. He is the recipient of five Silver Palm Awards for his work as the Resident Director of Zoetic Stage. He received his MFA in Directing from the Actors’ Studio in 2002.
Cast
Sofia Duemichen (Pipe.) Rachel Eddy (Zoom.) Mikayla Queeley (Squeeze.) Gina Fonseca (Kit.) Tai Fruitstone (Pipe’s Little Sister.) Rio Chavarro (Pablo Escobar.)
Arsht Center Commitment to Safety
The Arsht Center remains deeply committed to the health and peace of mind of our guests, artists and staff. Face coverings remain required at this performance. Learn more here.
Where? When? How?
Carnival Studio Theater.
Tickets to OUR DEAR DEAD DRUG LORD are $55-$60. Tickets may be purchased at the Adrienne Arsht Center box office by calling (305) 949–6722, or online at arshtcenter.org.
May 6, 2022, 7:30 p.m. through Sunday, May 22, 2022.
