EastLine Theatre
in association with the
Babylon Citizens Council
on the Arts presents
The Hours Are Feminine
by José Rivera
September 20 - October 5, 2025
BACCA Arts Center,
Lindenhurst
Setting: Lake Ronkonkoma, NY
Summer - Fall of 1960
There will be one intermission.
Please be aware the play deals with death, alcoholism, sexual assault, and illness.
Racial slurs are used and a simulated firearm is present.
Evalisse Abril López Ruiz
Fernán Hector Rivera
Jaivín Aiden Falco
Charlie Carl DiModugno
Little Anthony James Brautigam
Mirella Christina Thompson
Director Megan Laguna
Stage Manager Michael Devereaux
Set Design Michelle Savin
Costume Design Wendy Grimm
Lighting Design Nicole Savin
Construction Remi Watts, Josh Shy,
Morgan Moffitt, Lisa Wangel
Photography Jessica Allers
Videography Paul DeFilippo
Evalisse Abril López Ruiz
Fernán Hector Rivera
Jaivín Aiden Falco
Charlie Carl DiModugno
Little Anthony James Brautigam
Mirella Christina Thompson
Director Megan Laguna
Stage Manager Michael Devereaux
Set Design Michelle Savin
Costume Design Wendy Grimm
Lighting Design Nicole Savin
Construction Remi Watts, Josh Shy,
Morgan Moffitt, Lisa Wangel
Photography Jessica Allers
Videography Paul DeFilippo
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@EastLineTheatre
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This performance is taking place on unceded Native land. Long Island has been and still is home to Indigenous communities including the Lenape, the Shinnecock, the Unkechaug, the Montauketts, and the Matinecock, amongst others. You can find out more about Native American history and culture on Long Island at On This Site.
EastLine Theatre
Nicole Savin,
Artistic Director
Paul DeFilippo,
Associate Artistic Director
The EastLine Theatre Board of Directors is: Larry Meneses (President), Nicholas Ciuffo (Vice President), Matt Rosenberg (Treasurer), and Nicole Savin (Secretary)
The EastLine Theatre Creative Associates are: Anik Alam, Anna Stacy, Aly Kantor, Anjor Khadilkar, Anthony Noto, David Bullen, Deanna Ibrahim, Jill Linden, John Brautigam, Julianna Frasca, Lynn Adler, Matt Rosenberg, Melanie Lipton, Michelle Osojnak, Nicole Savin, Paul DeFilippo, Sheilah Barksdale, and Remi Watts.
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The Hours are Feminine takes place in the year 1960. Three years after the Puerto Rican Gag Law, Ley de la Mordaza, a statute that made owning or displaying the Puerto Rican flag illegal, was deemed unconstitutional after being in effect for nine years. It is why displaying our flag means so much. It is why we do it so boisterously today.
This play highlights several powerful themes. The treatment of immigrants, the need to speak English, not Spanish, when it wasn’t even a Boricua’s choice to speak Spanish. It was thrust upon us in 1493. However, we chose to keep it and make it our own. We included the words of the Taino, a people wiped away by colonization. Since 1898, Puerto Rico has been seen as a bargaining chip. Used for its fertile land and its people who made pennies working on sugar plantations because Charles Herbert Allen, the first US-appointed governor of Puerto Rico, sought to make his fortune to help fund the modern-day sugar juggernaut known as Domino. Although US citizens, Puerto Ricans can not vote in the presidential elections. The words of Pedro Albizu Campos ring true: “We stand as a nation surrounded by industry, but with little of it belonging to our people.” It is a controversial topic that deserves to be acknowledged. Puerto Rico has been through much, and continues to, but what I learned is that the pride for the island will never go away.
The Hours are Feminine is a biographical story told from the perspective of José Rivera, the playwright, and is dedicated to his mother, a powerful woman who learned to adapt to a country that was not always kind to her, but she grew to find joy in it. My story is one of the same. I took all I knew of my grandmothers, who gave all of themselves to raise children in a city, not the campo they knew. A land of better opportunities. The American Dream. I take pride knowing my grandmother gave everything for my mother, who gave everything for me. The life I live now is surrounded by abuelas, mothers, and tias who have shaped me. It’s what makes this “no sabo” kid, a term to reference someone who doesn’t speak Spanish, just as Puerto Rican. I never felt less than.
“Que este sea el año que todos los puertorriqueños se resuelvan a ser dignos de haber nacido en esta tierra santa” - Pedro Albizu Campos
It’s not a floating pile of garbage. It is home.
Megan Laguna, Director
Abril López Ruiz, Hector Rivera, Aiden Falco,
Carl DiModugno, James Brautigam, Christina Thompson
James Brautigam (he/him) is very excited to be back with EastLine Theatre for this brilliant, thought-provoking play. James was last seen with EastLine in their staged reading of the new play Murdering Medea by Aly Kantor as AJ last November. Previous credits include original musical adaptations of Beauty and the Beast (Chance) and Frankenstein (Hermit/Ensemble), both Off-Broadway, Dance Nation (Luke) also with EastLine Theatre, The Lion in Winter (Geoffrey), Twelve Angry Men (Juror #12), The Wedding Singer (Glen Guglia), 1776 (James Wilson), and Crimes of the Heart (Barnette Lloyd). James has a B.A. in Theatre and Speech with a Concentration in Performance from Wagner College. A huge thanks to Megan, Nicole, Michael, and to the entire cast of The Hours are Feminine for putting together such an outstanding production. Instagram: @james.broadwaygams
Carl DiModugno (he/him) has been treading the boards of Long Island theater for over 20 years. Some of his most favored roles include Ebenezer Scrooge with the Caravan Players; Frank in Over the River and Through the Woods at Hampton Theatre Company; Man in Now and Then; and Robert in Proof, both at Clare Rose Playhouse. This production marks his debut at EastLine Theatre. He is honored to be working alongside such a talented and dedicated creative team.
Aiden Falco (he/him) is excited to be in his first-ever theater production! He also gets to eat throughout most of it (it’s his favorite part!). Aiden is now in third grade, and hopes he can continue to grow his love for the performing arts. Through this show, he is learning more about Puerto Rico, which is 50% of his heritage through his Mom’s side! He would like to thank his Mom, Dad, and little brother Alex for their support.
Abril López Ruiz (she/her) is a Mexican singer, actress, and dancer based in NYC. Off-Broadway: Mike and Mindy’s Wild Weekend Jam (The Players Theatre), Friend, Girlfriend, Friend… UGH! (MCC Theater), Pericles, Prince of Tyre (The Center at West Park), Villain Flair (The Green Room 42). TV/Film: I Think I’m Good (Storybrook Productions). International Credits: Rock of Ages, Amalia: El Sinuoso Caso de la Muñeca de Celuloide (México). Training: The American Musical Dramatic Academy. Con amor, para mi familia. @abrilopezz
Hector Rivera (he/him) is a New York City–based actor and U.S. Marine Corps veteran. After four years serving in the infantry, he pursued his passion for performance at the Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute, graduating from the two-year conservatory in June 2025. His credits include multiple short films and the feature Ketchup on Waffles.
Christina Thompson (she/her) Union: SAG-AFTRA. Education/Training: Associates of the Arts in Theatre, magna cum laude (Nassau Community College), Studied with Michael Lavine and Bryce Pinkham. Regional: John W. Engeman: Seussical (Sour Kangaroo), Alice In Wonderland (Knave of Hearts), Frosty (Pierpot u/s). TV/Film: No Hard Feelings, Evil Lives Here (Season 13 Episode 6), Curious Cases with Beth Karas (Season 1 Episode 4), Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin (Season 1 Episodes 6-10). Original Works: roller rink death kink sex cult (Theatre for the New City), roller rink death kink sex cult (La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club), The Composer’s Melody (The Hudson Guild), With Power (Ripley Grier Studios). In 2022, she made her directorial debut with a sold out run of Starkid’s The Trail To Oregon. Check her out on Instagram to see her latest projects and endeavors! @thatbroadwaybabe
Next up for EastLine, the closing of our 2025 season: A shocking assassination in the heart of London. In a bizarre mix of high-stakes global politics and radioactive villainy, a man pays with his life. At this time of global crises and a looming new Cold War, this thriller sends us careening through the shadowy world of international espionage from Moscow to Mayfair. From the Emmy-winning writer of Succession. Tickets available now.
Michael Devereaux (he/him) is grateful to be back with EastLine Theatre for another wonderful production! Previous credits include Theatre Box’s The Lion in Winter (Richard), Harvey (Stage Manager), and The Diary of Anne Frank (Peter). When not in the realm of community theater, he is a Stagehand at the Tilles Center. He also had the honor of working on the Lucille Lortel winning production of Our Class (CSC), and multiple other Off-Broadway shows. He would like to thank Megan and Nicole for being the absolute best, his family and friends for all their love and support, and Miranda!
Megan Laguna (she/her) EastLine Theater directorial debut! Recent credits include: 1776 (George Read), The Rocky Horror Picture Show (Director/Columbia), Hamlet (Ophelia), Firebringer (Shwoopsie), Dance Nation (Zuzu), and Curious Incident…(Judy). Thanks aren’t enough to Nicole, Michelle, Michael, Wendy, Remi, Morgan, Paul, & Lisa for all they’ve done for this production. To Josh, I love you most. This production is for my hero, my Mom.
Michelle Savin (she/her) is a Long Island-based visual artist. Previous scenic and prop design credits at EastLine include Trouble in Mind, Our Leading Lady, Amadeus, Intimate Apparel, and Indecent. Other previous production credits include work at the Brooklyn Academy of Music as well as Into the Woods, I Remember Mama, and Noises Off. In addition to her artistic pursuits, Michelle is a handler with Pet Partners Therapy Animal Program, where she is teamed with her loyal pup, Sadie. With gratitude to Caitlin, for everything.
Nicole Savin (she/her) is EastLine’s Artistic Director. EastLine directing credits include: Emma, Trouble in Mind, God of Vengeance, Men on Boats, The Truth, Treasure Island, Pride & Prejudice, and Yentl. She holds a BA (Hons) from Royal Holloway, University of London in Drama and Theatre Studies. She is an Associate Director with Theatre of the Gentle Furies, and on the literary team at The Playwrights Realm. She is proud to serve her hometown on the Babylon Citizens Council on the Arts Advisory Committee.
This work is supported by Long Island Grants for the Arts through funds provided by the office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature, and administered by The Huntington Arts Council.
Public funding provided by Suffolk County.
Paint generously provided by Aboff’s Paints of Lindenhurst.
Check out our friends at Debut Theater Company!
“One of the boldest, bravest theatre companies on Long Island,” according to Fire Island News, the nonprofit EastLine Theatre aims to create theatre in unlikely spaces while re-examining the canon, exploring modern plays, and bringing original works to the attention of the community. EastLine is committed to creating opportunities for women, people of color, and LGBTQIA+ people.
EastLine Theatre is a proud member of the Huntington Arts Council and the Alliance of Resident Theatres / New York.
With thanks to
Nicole Laguna, Alex Falco, Lynn Adler, Nicholas Savin, Erik Villatoro,
Kevin Falco, Ron Becker, Jason Jenkins, and everyone at BACCA