Krystina Alabado & Daphne Rubin-Vega in La Jolla Playhouse’s world-premiere production of Miss You Like Hell

Daphne Rubin-Vega will star in Miss You Like Hell at the Public Theater

The New York premiere of the new musical Miss You Like Hell will officially open on April 10, 2018.

Tom Millward
Tom Millward

The Public Theater has added another production to its already jam-packed 2017-2018 Off-Broadway season. Two-time Tony Award nominee Daphne Rubin-Vega will star in the New York premiere of new musical Miss You Like Hell, which begins previews at the Public's Newman Theater on March 20, 2018, before an official opening on April 10 and a limited engagement through to May 6, 2018.

Miss You Like Hell previously staged its world premiere production at La Jolla Playhouse in California in fall 2016. The musical features book & lyrics by Quiara Alegría Hudes (who co-created Lin-Manuel Miranda's In the Heights and won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama for Water By the Spoonful) and music & lyrics by singer/songwriter Erin McKeown.

Synopsis: "Beatriz, a flawed mom to 16 year-old Olivia, is an undocumented immigrant on the verge of deportation. After living estranged from each other for years, a mother and daughter embark on a road trip that crosses state lines. Together they meet Americans of different backgrounds, shared dreams, and complicated truths in this powerful new show with vast heart and fierce humor."

The Public's Artistic Director Oskar Eustis commented: "No other piece I know speaks with such powerful, personal insight into our current immigration debate. Quiara Alegría Hudes, Erin McKeown, and director Lear deBessonet have created a mother/daughter story for the ages. We are proud to celebrate the voices of these extraordinary women."

Joining Daphne Rubin-Vega (as Beatriz) on stage will be Danny Bolero (as Manuel), Latoya Edwards (as Pearl), Gizel Jiménez (as Olivia), David Patrick Kelly (as Higgins), and Michael Mulheren (as Mo), alongside ensemble members Andrew Cristi and Shawna M. Hamic. Additional casting will be announced at a later date.

Under the direction of Public Theater Resident Director Lear deBessonet, the creative team behind Miss You Like Hell features choreography by Danny Mefford, scenic design by Riccardo Hernandez, costume design by Emilio Sosa, lighting design by Tyler Micoleau, and sound design by Jessica Paz.

Daphne Rubin-Vega made her Off-Broadway and subsequent Broadway debut originating the role of Mimi Marquez in Rent. She picked up a Tony Award nomination for her performance in 1996. She earned a second Tony Award nomination in 2004 for Anna in the Tropics. Her other Broadway credits include The Rocky Horror Show, Fantine in the 2006 revival of Les Misérables and Stella Kowalski in the 2012 revival of A Streetcar Named Desire. On screen, her most notable credits include "Wild Things", "Flawless", and the role of Agnes in the Broadway-centric TV series "Smash".

(Photo by Jim Carmody)

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