QUARTER RICAN
Book by Gabriel Diego Hernández
Music and Lyrics by Gabriel Diego Hernández and Rachel Elmer
Featuring Gabriel Diego Hernández and Arabelle Luke AKA AirLoom Beats
Gabriel Diego Hernández is an actor, rapper, playwright, and educator who originally hails from Hoboken, NJ. After receiving a bachelor's degree in Latin American Studies and a master's in Education, both from Yale University, he taught social studies in the New Haven public school system before coming back to teach and make theater in his hometown. As an actor, he is a proud ensemble member of Pregones Theater in the Bronx. Recent credits include El Coquí Espectacular and the Bottle of Doom (Two River Theater), CasablancaBox (HERE Arts), La Canción (Repertorio Español), and Layer the Walls (Abrons Arts Center). His hip hop musical Quarter Rican had its world premiere in 2023 at Mile Square Theatre before transferring to the Puerto Rican Traveling Theater, getting published, and touring nationally. He currently serves as the Director of Education at Mile Square Theatre and lives in Jersey City Heights with his wife and writing partner Rachel and their two children.
Rachel Elmer is an educator, songwriter, and recovered performer based in Jersey City, NJ. As a singer, she has performed around the country and at more weddings than she can count; as a songwriter, she has written for everyone from up-and-coming hip hop artists needing a hook to middle schoolers performing in their school play. She is a graduate of Yale University and soon-to-be graduate of Rutgers University’s Master of Information program, and devotes her non-creative time to helping teenagers tell their stories. Quarter Rican is her professional writing debut in musical theatre.
Arabelle Luke, aka AirLoom Beats, is a Brooklyn based beatboxer and educator featured in publications such as Elle and BET. Working with various organizations, she facilitates professional developments, workshops, and classes in beatboxing, loop station song production, and hip hop culture with participants of all ages across the tristate area. When AirLoom isn't teaching, she incorporates her melody-driven beatbox style into original music for plays, media content, beatbox battles and improvised performances. Along with performing at iconic venues like, La Mama Theatre, and The Blue Note, she’s opened for Rakim at the Stanhope House. During the quarantine, AirLoom performed on virtual platforms as a “one-woman house band” for MAAAD Late!: The Improvised Late Night Show and PROPS!: The Hip Hop Gameshow. In 2022, AirLoom completed her first international residency as a US Hip-Hop Ambassador for Next Level USA in Buenos Aires, Argentina. In 2023, AirLoom scored the HOLA award-winning original musical Quarter Rican, and participated in the first ever 50th Anniversary of Hip-Hop Battle Royale in Times Square NYC. Emphasizing community, AirLoom moves forward with the desire to build hip hop consciousness and positivity.
THE PARSNIP SHIP CREW
Artistic Director + Host Iyvon E. (she/her)
Associate Artistic Director Al Parker (they/them)
Marketing Director SkittLeZ Ortiz (they/them)
Digital Operations Director Todd Kirkland (he/him)
Special Projects Director Jesse Manning (he/him)
Sound Engineer/Editor Luke DiCola (he/him)
MUSICAL THEATRE FACTORY
Artistic Director Brisa Areli Muñoz (she/her)
Director of Community Relations + Communications Andrea Negrete (she/they)
Development Manager Aridy Nox
Interim Managing Director Abigail Grubb (they/she)
Artistic Projects Manager Sidney Erik Wright (he/him)
MTFxR Projects Manager Brandon Powers (he/him)
Administrative Assistant Falan Nuhring (he/him)
Creative Producer Kelindah Schuster
Creative Producer Cynthia L. Dorsey (she/her)
Creative Producer Sara Ornelas (she/her)
Quarter Rican is produced by special arrangement with TRW Plays and in collaboration with Business Lunch Productions.
Thank you to A.R.T./NY, Music Attic, Bryan Joseph Lee, our subscribers, our collaborators, and our audience!
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