The Sin Muros: A Latinx Theater Festival features a range of Latinx voices and stories that reflect the diversity of Texas. It features a variety of play-readings, workshops, and celebrations led by Latinx artists and creators.

Committee members hand-selected four plays that explore humanity, heartbreak, the cultural conflicts within the Latinx communities and acceptance of life-changing news.

As part of the festival, Stages hosts the Premio Puente (the Bridge Award), which was created in order to recognize the exceptional contributions of leaders in the Houston area Latinx arts community.

2024 PLAYS

• Escobar’s Hippoby Franky D. Gonzalez (May 23 at 7:30 pm and May 25 at 11 am) - A Colombian town along the Magdalena River plunges into chaos after a flatulent, destructive, easily offended, and adventurous hippo comes to town and wreaks havoc. The crisis worsens when people begin transforming into hippos themselves causing, not only chaos, but the beginnings of a revolution where humans are trampled by these new Hipposapiens. As this shifting of civilization unfolds, three friends try to figure out how to deal with the transforming population and solve the connection between the hippos and a notorious drug lord.
• Aniana del Mar Jumps In by Jasminne Mendez & Rosarito Rodríguez-González (May 24 at 7 pm and May 25 at 2 pm) - Thirteen-year-old Aniana del Mar belongs in the water like a dolphin belongs to the sea. But she and Papi keep her swim practices and meets hidden from Mami, who has never recovered from losing someone she loves to the water years ago. That is, until the day Ani’s stiffness and swollen joints mean she can no longer get out of bed, and Ani and Papi are forced to reveal the truth. Mami forbids her from returning to the water, but when Ani is diagnosed with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis, her physical therapist suggests that swimming along with medication will help Ani manage her disease. With the support of her best friend Maria Teresa and the guidance of her godmother Madrina, Ani finds the strength to go for what she wants even if it means disappointing the ones she loves. “Aniana Del Mar Jumps In” is a play for young audiences exploring chronic illness and disability, bodily autonomy, the secrets between mothers and daughters, the harm we do to the ones we love the most—and all the triumphs, big and small, that keep us afloat.
• that drive thru monterey by matthew paul olmos (May 25 at 7 pm and May 26 at 2 pm) - Inspired by the life of Matthew’s mother, this is a story of a Mexican-American woman in 1971 Los Angeles as she experiences her first, nerdy love. Throughout the courtship, she experiences mysterious premonitions of what lies ahead in her life and how the ever-present machismo will ultimately bring her heartbreak as it gets passed down from fathers to sons; generation to generation.
• Waitin’ for Gato by Diego Lanao (May 26 at 2 pm - virtual reading) - Waitin’ for Gato follows Victor, a South American Latino from the Bronx, Ken, a half Mexican half Caucasian from Hartford, Connecticut and Jhonny, a Central American Afro-Latino from the Brox, on a journey of conflict and discovery. The odd trio attempts to enter the popular Latin nightclub, Club Malo, to watch the famous and world-renowned reggaeton artist, Serio Loco. However, the door is heavily guarded by the Carribean and Washington Heights-bred hostess (and Jhonny’s long-time crush), Mia, who rejects them. The only way the guys will be able to enter the club is if they find Gato and convince him to come into the club. Tension and hostility rise between the trio as they argue amongst themselves over the differences within their Latinx community during their search for Gato. As the night continues and Gato is still nowhere to be seen, the guys are forced to attempt to understand one another or suffer Mia’s wrath by denying all of them the chance to watch Serio Loco live.