TIME, DON’T TAKE IT AWAY
written by Justin Santory
directed by Jorge Merced
musical guest Tony & the Kiki
FEATURING
Léo Sanchez............................................................................................Xavier Reyes
Roxy Rivera/Janet...................................................................................Mildred R. Gil
Mama Sal/Voice......................................................................................SkittLeZ Ortiz
Ruben "Benny" Ortiz...................................................................Pierre Jean Gonzalez
Stage Directions.....................................................................................Zahaira Curiel
Justin Santory (he/him) | is a gay native Nuyorican playwright and performer. Graduate of AMDA New York and Queens College. In July 2021, his first play Three’s a Party had its world premiere as part of the Juntos Project, in collaboration with Teatro Bravo and Mesa Community College in Arizona. He is one of the inaugural recipients of the Creative Access Grant from Primary Stages. His second play, On a Higher Vibration, received a reading at 59E59 Theaters in New York. His third play, Time, Don’t Take It Away was part of the 2023 Latinx Playwrights Circle Intensive Mentorship and received a reading at The Clemente in New York. Justin was a selected playwright for Harlem9 and Pregones’ 48 Hours in El Bronx Festival in 2025. Owner and designer of n.y.see. His goal is to keep writing plays that add a pinch of adobo to the American theatrical canon. Many thanks to my LPC community and my family, both biological and chosen. I don’t know where I’d be without all of you. Thank you times infinity. nysee.co
Jorge Merced (he/him) | is an award winning theater director, actor, cultural activist, and mentor with a strong passion for Latinx communities of practice and LGBTQ free expression. His manner of work draws from the principles of multidisciplinary collective creation, community self-determination, and lifelong learning in the arts. His choice disciplines are theater, music, and dance. He is Associate Artistic Director (1987-present) at Pregones Puerto Rican Traveling Theater, aka Pregones/PRTT – a multigenerational performing ensemble, multidiscipline arts presenter, and steward of arts facilities in The Bronx and Manhattan’s Broadway district. With the company he makes musicals and plays rooted in Latinx cultures, leads the company’s ongoing LGBTQ programming, and presents fellow artists who share a twin commitment to the arts and civic enrichment. His decades-long leadership has been central to the company’s inter-borough NYC season, playing a decisive role in empowering underserved artists and audiences to claim their rightful place at the front of American theater. jorgebmerced.com
Tony & the Kiki | The Queens from Queens! Tony & The Kiki is a New York City born and bred powerhouse band that exploded onto the scene like a supernova of sequins, sass, and sorcery. They blend gritty NYC glamour, disco decadence, and high-voltage anthems into an irresistible force of fabulosity. Their soul-shaking live shows, as well as their unapologetic songwriting, have earned them notable acclaim, captivating audiences from the underground to the world stage.
The glam rock band has garnered praise from pop icons like Lady Gaga, Celine Dion & Cyndi Lauper, rock goddess Grace Slick, press outlets like LOGO & QUEERTY (among others), even reaching outside their corner of the genre to gain praise from Fred Durst of all people. With over 64k followers on TikTok and over 200,000 views on YouTube, their music has been featured globally, gaining syncs on major networks like ESPN as well as the Australian TV series ‘Colin From Accounts.’ Tony & The Kiki are often referred to as the “Yassifacation of Rock’n’Roll” and “NYC’s most arena-ready band.” tonyandthekiki@gmail.com. tonyandthekiki.com
Xavier Reyes (he/him) | is a proud born and raised Puerto Rican! Having worked all over the US, Puerto Rico, Japan, and Canada, selected credits include: Off-Broadway: CATS: The Jellicle Ball (Jennyanydots). Broadway: Kinky Boots (First National Tour). Regional: Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (The Old Globe), Rafael in Lynn Nottage's Clyde’s (George Street Playhouse and Playmakers Repertory Company), Oscar in Sweat (Pioneer Theatre Company), Anna in the Tropics and New Play Festival (Barrington Stage), Che in Evita (Virginia Musical Theatre), In the Heights and Hair (Geva Theatre), Moliere's Scapin (Pioneer Theatre Company), Trading Places, directed by Kenny Leon (Alliance Theatre). Education: B.F.A. Ithaca College. @XavierReyesActor on Instagram.
Mildred R. Gil (she/her) | is a NYC based actress with a background in classical theater such as Macbeth (Target Margin Theater), Twelfth Night (The Flea), and As You Like It (Teatro LATEA). TV & Film includes: “Billions,” “Succession,” “You,” “King of Games,” and her original short film in which she produced, wrote, and starred in, “Loved & Lost.” Founder & Producer of Brookmil Productions. @brookmilpro.
SkittLeZ Ortiz (they/them) | is a trailblazing Latine artist from the Bronx, New York. Over the past 12 years, SkittLeZ has amassed over 150k followers across various platforms by creating uplifting content that celebrates community and pride. They first gained viral fame in 2012 with the acclaimed “Sh*t Spanish Girls Say,” which earned a Telemundo Premios Tu Mundo nomination. Their work has garnered numerous awards and recognitions, including two Bronx Recognizes Its Own Awards (2020 and 2023), the City Artist Corps Grant (2021), a YouTube Latino Creator Spotlight celebration at YouTube Space NY (2019), a TECLA Award nomination (2019), being a featured creator at Vidcon (2017) and a Youtube Next Up winner (2016). SkittLeZ’s acting experience includes stage performances in Locked Up Bitches at The PIT and The Flea in New York City, as well as television roles in HBO's High Maintenance (seasons 2 and 3). They also voiced Debbie in SyFy's Wild Life and Juni in the Rattlestick Theatre’s MTA Radio Plays: The Miseducation of Juni Rodriguez. SkittLeZ also played a key role in co-producing and co-hosting the vibrant Ladies Who Bronché podcast. Through their diverse talents, SkittLeZ continues to inspire and engage their community with authenticity and creativity. To learn more check out SkittLeZOrtiz.com
Pierre Jean Gonzalez (he/him) | is a stage, film and television actor, singer, and producer. He portrayed the role of Alexander Hamilton in the National North American Tour of Hamilton. Pierre’s television credits include NCIS:NOLA, FBI, Gotham, The Mysteries of Laura, The Detour and P.O.S.E. Some of his favorite theater credits include the role of Usnavi de la Vega in In The Heights and Mace in The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity. Pierre received his BFA in Acting from Rutgers University’s Mason Gross School of the Arts. Pierre founded DominiRican Productions in 2020 with his partner Cedric Leiba, Jr. out of a need to see more Afro-Latinx and Queer representation behind and in front of the camera. Pierre was born in the Bronx and continues to make NYC his home. pierrejeangonzalez.com
Zahaira Curiel (she/her) | is a proud daughter of immigrants. A native New Yorker, born and raised in Washington Heights, with roots from the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. She is a graduate of Hunter College, where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Music. In 2018, she co-created, co-wrote, performed and co-produced two sold out all women of color productions at The Pit: CrazySexyCruel and Mama Always Said. She has toured the country with Platanos and Collard Greens and Mexico Beyond Mariachi's: Sugar Skull. She has worked with multiple non profits in New York City, including: People’s Theatre Project, S.T.A.R. at the Director's Company, Dance Project Of Washington Heights and Statement Arts; where she co-created a free college prep program and a performing arts program for at-promise young people. She’s a lover of desserts and created a cupcake company: Sassy’s Sweets! She is a roller coaster enthusiast, and loves traveling around the world for thrills. zahairacuriel.wixsite.com/zahairacuriel
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)
Production Assistant Niyafa Boucher (she/her)
Social Media Assistant Gerard Minaya (they/them)
House Manager Wafiyyah Ali
LATINX PLAYWRIGHTS CIRCLE
Founder, Co-Artistic Director Guadalís Del Carmen (she/her/ella)
Founder, Co-Artistic Director Oscar A. L. Cabrera (he/him)
Executive Director Janio Marrero (he/him)
Producing Artistic Director Alisha Espinosa (she/her)
Literary Director Nelson Diaz-Marcano (he/him)
Grant Manager/Artist-In-Residence Rebecca Aparicio (she/her)
Social Media Manager Danny Borba (he/him)
Thank you to The Entertainment Community Fund, Music Attic, Bryan Joseph Lee, Jorge Merced, Lorena Jorge and Morena's Kitchen Bar & Restaurant, the DCLA Cultural Development Fund (City of New York), Brooklyn Arts Council, Abby Armstrong and the Armstrong Family Fund, our subscribers, our collaborators, and our audience!
HELP CELEBRATE THE PARSNIP SHIP’S TEN YEAR ANNIVERSARY!
For over a decade, we have platformed FREE arts programming with no cost to attend our live theatre and music series or access our digital offerings online, and we’re keeping that commitment to our community. Please consider donating to help us keep audio storytelling accessible for artists and audiences. Thank you for your support!
Latinx Playwrights Circle
Our mission is to build a network of Latinx Playwrights nationwide in order to promote, develop and elevate their work while making their plays accessible to theater makers looking to find the next generation of American storytellers. A simple donation is anything but simple for the work we do and the lives we touch.