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Society & Culture

Is Off-Broadway’s MEXODUS the Next ‘Hamilton’?

podcast August 25, 2025


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Did you know The Underground Railroad went South and America spent 200 years hiding it?

In this episode, we talk to Nygel Robinson and Brian Quijada, creators of the Off-Broadway musical MEXODUS, which reveals how 10,000 enslaved people escaped to Mexico between 1829-1865. This history of Black and Latino solidarity has never been brought to the stage, until now.

We discuss why this musical is an act of resistance today, how they got white allies to fund a brown and black story, and what would happen if schools taught this truth? Plus, they address the inevitable comparisons to ‘Hamilton’ and how the two differ.

Episode Summary (03:54) – 10,000 slaves escaped to Mexico (11:04) – How Bug’s Life explains American racism (12:37) – Writing protest songs from inside (14:18) – People changed from John to Juan (23:23) – How white allies funded MEXODUS (24:18) – We don’t say “white” at all (29:19) – What if schools taught this story? (37:26) – ‘Hamilton’ vs MEXODUS: The differences

 Previews begin Tuesday, September 9th at Audible’s Minneta Lane Theater in New York City.

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