One-on-One Interview with Brian Quijada of MEXODUS
And now we’re going to step into the world and universe of MEXODUS, an Off-Broadway musical that has received several awards and nominations and brings attention to a little-known chapter in United States history: enslaved people who escaped to Mexico by crossing the Rio Grande in search of freedom.
Rebeka Kelly, Journalist and anchor for CNN América:
And to talk about this incredible story, we are joined by Brian Quijada, playwright, actor, and performer in this production as well. Brian, how did you come across this story, and what about it impacted you the most?
Brian Quijada, MEXUDUS:
Good morning, thank you. I found the story on History.com. Someone shared an article about it on Facebook. And when I read it, the first thing I thought about was my parents, who crossed that same line, that same border from Mexico into the United States, coming from El Salvador. I thought, ” This is a border story.” Many people think of that line as people only coming from the south, but in this case, people were crossing the other way — from the United States into Mexico. And I thought it was a tribute to immigrants. That’s why I wanted to write a musical.
Rebeka Kelly:
And what did you feel when you discovered this story?
Brian Quijada:
Well, I saved it on my phone as a musical idea. And when I met my collaborator, my friend, and fellow MEXUDUS actor Nigel D. Robinson, I saw him performing music and singing, and I asked him if he wanted to write this with me. He said yes. It became a blend of both of our cultures.
Rebeka Kelly:
Why do you think this part of history has been told so little, Brian?
Brian Quijada:
Over the last 20 years, historians have started uncovering it. Many professors, like those at the University of Texas and here at Columbia University in New York, have been researching it. It hasn’t been as well-documented as the Underground Railroad that went north into the northern United States and Canada. So now researchers are going to Mexico and speaking with Afro-Latino communities to uncover these stories.
Rebeka Kelly:
Incredible, Brian. And tell me, on a personal level, your story comes from immigration — your parents took this same route. How do you transform such a painful and personal story into a musical?
Brian Quijada:
I believe we have to do it with joy. There’s no other way. I don’t think it’s possible to tell this story with only sadness, without bringing in our pride, our joy, our ability to dance and say, “We’re going to make it through,” especially in times that feel dark. I believe the words being used about immigrants today are painful. The only way through this is hope.
Rebeka Kelly:
Yes, that’s exactly what I was going to ask you — whether telling this story with humor and joy gives you hope. It’s a story from the past that was incredibly painful for humanity, but it’s also repeating itself today in ways that are still very difficult for humanity.
Brian Quijada:
Yes, and the thing is, this happened less than 200 years ago.
Rebeka Kelly:
Incredible, yes.
Brian Quijada:
It’s incredible how quickly people forget. How quickly people forget that this happened not so long ago. Well, not “just” happened — but still. We need to learn these stories so we can prevent them from repeating. Whether it’s the African American or Latino community, they come to the theater, watch the show, and both leave feeling proud of who they are. They also see a moment in history where Mexico helped the United States.
Rebeka Kelly:
Exactly — the reverse of what it seems the story is today. Now, when you were creating this production, did you imagine it would receive this number of nominations and awards?
Brian Quijada:
No, no, no. This never happens. Usually, a play opens and closes in a month or a month and a half, but this one has kept going. We closed, moved theaters, and now we’re running through the summer. After we finish here, we’re going to Los Angeles. It’s incredible. And being recognized like this feels amazing. It’s the dream. I don’t even know what’s happening, but it feels good.
Rebeka Kelly:
It must feel wonderful, especially when it’s something that fills your heart. What reactions have you seen from audiences after watching MEXUDUS?
Brian Quijada:
A lot of people say they didn’t know this history, which is understandable. But what really makes me feel we’re creating meaningful change was this one African American woman who came to the show and spoke with Nigel afterward. She said that before seeing the show, she believed the border should be closed, and a wall should be built. But after seeing the show, she no longer felt that way. And even if that’s just one person — one single person who changed their perspective — I want to believe that in small ways like that, we’re creating a huge impact. Even if it’s just one, two, or three people, imagine what can happen in communities through one person. For me, that’s the real award I want to win: a society and a community truly living in harmony. That’s what matters.
Rebeka Kelly:
A community built on understanding. And I think right now we are deeply lacking that understanding because we believe there is no history — and that is exactly why history matters. Brian, congratulations on what you are doing, whether it reaches one person, ten thousand, one hundred thousand, or a million people. Congratulations not only for what you are saying, but for the way you are telling it. Making it entertaining also makes a difference, allowing the message to spread more easily.
Thank you for this interview, and I wish you all the success in the world.
Brian Quijada:
Thank you so much. It’s been a pleasure.
