This weekend, OLA of Eastern Long Island and Guild Hall in East Hampton will present “Cruce de Caminos (Crossroads),” a new series of short plays developed and performed by members of Long Island’s Latino community.
The production will premiere on Friday, June 12, and Saturday, June 13, 2026, at Guild Hall.
“Cruce de Caminos,” created through Guild Hall’s Community Artist-in-Residence (CAiR) Program, builds upon last year’s bilingual collaboration between OLA and Guild Hall of “Fuenteovejuna,” the story of a community that fights back against a tyrant, eventually taking collective responsibility for his overthrow.
Co-directed by OLA Executive Director Minerva Perez and Teatro Yerbabruja founder Margarita Espada, “Cruce de Caminos” brings together community organizing and theater-making to create a work rooted in the experiences of Latino families on Eastern Long Island.
The show is part spoken word performance, part movement theater and part musical experience, “blending humor, irreverence, and moments of reflection,” according to the organizers. “Characters and narratives were developed directly from participants’ lived experiences, creating a production that is at both intimate and expansive.”
“‘Cruce de Caminos’ is about honoring the experiences, voices, and wisdom that already exist within our community,” said Ms. Perez in an announcement of the production. “At a time when many immigrant families are facing uncertainty and challenges, creating space for our community to gather, reflect, laugh, and tell our own stories is more important than ever. This production demonstrates the power of art to bring people together across differences and remind us of our collective strength.”
The show features a cast of 19 community actors, including participants with roots in Peru, Chile, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Colombia, Ecuador, Costa Rica, and beyond.
It was developed using techniques inspired by Brazilian theater visionary Augusto Boal and the tradition of devised theater, in which a performance is built from the ground up by an ensemble, without a pre-existing script.
“‘Cruce de Caminos’ emerged from the stories, memories, humor, and courage of the people who created it,” said Ms. Espada. “Our cast members are not simply performing characters—they have helped shape them. Through movement, improvisation, music, and conversation, we built a piece that honors the complexity of our communities while celebrating our shared humanity.”
The 90-minute production will be performed primarily in Spanish (approximately 80 percent), with English-language elements woven throughout and an English libretto available for audience members.
Guild Hall’s Community Artist-in-Residence commissions regionally based artists “to develop socially engaged or participatory work. Artists are provided with creative mentorships, administrative support, commissioning fees, and a shared studio/workspace on the Guild Hall campus. This project is funded in part by the Suffolk County Department of Economic Development and Planning.
“Cruce de Caminos (Crossroads),” appropriate for ages 7+, will be performed on Friday, June 12 and Saturday, June 13 at 7 p.m., with receptions preceding the shows at 6 p.m. Guild Hall is located at 158 Main Street in East Hampton. Tickets are $15 or $13.50 for Guild Hall members, and are available online here.
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