Working together for the first time, Playwright Jon Marcantoni and acclaimed Director Anadina Saladino will be presenting an excerpt performance of Pitiyanki in February 2027 in New York City. The purpose of the performance will be to showcase the work for prospective sponsors, investors, and producers in order to mount a full production later in 2027.

Mr. Marcantoni is also the founder of Flamboyan, which is co-producing the play, and the presentation will demonstrate to New York audiences the company's philosophy of theatre being a multidisciplinary community experience. The performance will be preceded by an Puerto Rican artist market and pop up bookstore featuring writers and artists from both the island and the diaspora, and there will be a local poet who will open the show.

The performance will conclude with a Q&A.

We are seeking funding for this event in order to pay our cast and crew, as well as materials for the performance and the bookstore and artist market. We are currently in talks with venues in El Barrio, East Harlem.

Summary of Pitiyanki: Inspired by author Jon Marcantoni's transition to civilian life after 4 years in the Army, as well as works like Do the Right Thing and The Fire Next Time, Pitiyanki tackles race, class, and the lie of the American Dream through the prism of Diaspora Puerto Ricans searching for meaning, love, and justice in a country that was never made for them. The team at Amani’s Café in Ybor City are a tight-knit community of artists and activists whose lives are altered when Uxbal, a recently-separated Army veteran, enters their lives. Uxbal brings new perspectives and energy to the community, even as he is haunted by his mistakes. When a violent event threatens the community, past and present wounds will be exposed, friendships tested, and Uxbal will be forced to face his demons.

Cast:

6 Latine and Afro-Latine Actors

UXBAL: Puerto Rican. 28. Army veteran looking for a new start after a difficult transition to civilian life. Haunted, clear-minded, good hearted.

NORA: Puerto Rican. 22. College student and barista. Raised by a single mom and pursuing a career as a

photographer. Witty, perceptive, yet carries the burden of her life’s struggles in her body.

AMANI: Puerto Rican. 50. Owner of Amani’s Cafe. An Army veteran and mother to her community.

Gentle but takes no shit, with the best of hearts.

MARCEL: Afro-Puerto Rican. 21. Barista and political activist. Fiery and confrontational, but even moreso, deeply loyal and loving to the community he sees as the family he wishes he had.

ZAHI: Puerto Rican-Dominican. 22. Works at the nearby pizzeria. A childhood friend of Nora and Marcel, who, like Nora, comes from a working class background. He aspires to become a soldier and wants a life with Nora. Deeply sincere, with a cool confidence and sweet demeanor.

OFFICER LOPEZ: Puerto Rican. 25. Beat cop who idolizes the military and the United States.

Development history: Pitiyanki had a staged reading in Tampa, FL at Stageworks Theater on Sept 5, 2026. This will be the first performance of the work in New York.

Excerpt Performance of Pitiyanki

Team Members