Groundbreaking, Award-Winning New Hip-Hop Musical “Mexodus” to Make Chicago Premiere

Studebaker Theater, P3 Productions and Audible, in collaboration with Teatro Vista Productions, will present the Chicago premiere of the groundbreaking, award-winning new hip-hop musical Mexodus this fall. Written and performed by Brian Quijada and Nygel D. Robinson, choreographed by Tony Thomas, and directed by David Mendizábal. Mexodus is told through live looping, bold storytelling and sick beats. It reimagines the Underground Railroad heading south to Mexico—unearthing a powerful, untold chapter of American history. Called an “electrifying theatrical experience” by The New York Times, “thrilling” by The Washington Post and “genius in motion” by the San Francisco Chronicle, this is theater you feel in your body and your bones. Created and performed by Brian Quijada and Nygel D. Robinson, this groundbreaking musical follows a freedom seeker and an unlikely ally as they forge a remarkable bond that transcends borders.

This year Mexodus won four Lucille Lortel Awards including Outstanding Musical, four Outer Critics Circle Awards including Outstanding New Off-Broadway Musical, three Drama Desk Awards including Outstanding Music, one Off Broadway Alliance Award for Best Musical, and one Drama League Award for Outstanding Production of a Musical—the first Off-Broadway musical to win the award in 30 years. 

The Chicago premiere follows the musical’s critically acclaimed twice-extended run at Audible’s Minetta Lane Theatre in New York in 2025 and return Off-Broadway engagement at the Daryl Roth Theatre earlier this year.

The Studebaker Theater engagement of Mexodus represents a homecoming for Brian Quijada and Nygel D. Robinson. Quijada is from the Chicago area, and Robinson previously called the city home. An early workshop and developmental performances of the musical were held in Chicago in 2021 and 2023.

“We couldn’t be more excited to bring Mexodus to Chicago,” said Brian Quijada and Nygel D. Robinson. “Not only do we both have connections to the city, but much of the development of Mexodus happened there. Chicago, pull up!” 

Ben Holtzman, Sammy Lopez, and Fiona Howe Rudin of P3 Productions added, “After building such a strong community around the show in New York City, we’re thrilled to now bring this bold, original musical to Chicago audiences, especially at the historic Studebaker Theater. It’s an honor to continue sharing the show’s joy, energy, and message of solidarity with a city that feels so deeply connected to the spirit of Mexodus.”

Mexodus was developed in previous productions at New York Stage and Film (2021), Baltimore Center Stage & Mosaic Theater Company of DC (Spring 2024), and Berkeley Repertory Theatre (Fall 2024). 

The creative team for Mexodus includes Riw Rakkulchon (Scenic Design), David Mendizábal (Costume Design), Mextly Couzin (Lighting Design), Mikhail Fiksel (Looping Systems Architecture and Sound Design), Johnny Moreno (Video/Projections Design), Tony Thomas (Choreographer), and Claire Yenson, C.S.A. (Casting). Hope Villanueva is the Production Stage Manager, and theatrical supervision is by Cath Bates with general management by Pemberley Productions.

Mexodus plays a limited three-week run at Chicago’s historic Studebaker Theater at the Fine Arts Building, 410 S. Michigan Avenue, from November 7 to November 21, 2026.

Tickets for the Chicago premiere of Mexodus, November 7–21, 2026, are now on sale starting at $36, with discounted student tickets for $20, at FineArtsBuilding.com/Mexodus.