The Harlem Hellfighters’ extraordinary valor and musicianship made the 369th Infantry the most celebrated regiment of the First World War era. A motley and multicolor crew, they tumble on stage with a marvelous ruckus of ragtime jazz, military bugle calls, and Latin rhythm trailing behind them. Among them are legends James Reese Europe and Rafael Hernández—two musical giants of the 20th century—always eager to relive the adventures that brought them together in the fabled summer of 1917.
Harlem Hellfighters on a Latin Beat is inspired by the 16 Puerto Rican musicians recruited to join the famously all-Black regiment as the U.S. prepared to enter World War I. Created by members of Pregones Theater and first produced by the company in 2010, this musical tells the story of the Harlem Hellfighters pieced together by the ghosts of Black and Puerto Rican men long gone but not forgotten.
Harlem Hellfighters on a Latin Beat Cast
- VICTORIA HERNÁNDEZ/SOLDIER
- Yaraní del Valle Piñero
- RAFAEL HERNÁNDEZ
- José Joaquín García
- DIANA YAGER/SOLDIER
- Claudia Ramos Jordán
- COL. HAYWARD/GOV. YAGER
- Pat D. Robinson
- RAFAEL DUCHESNE
- Miguel Ángel Vázquez
- LT. JAMES REESE EUROPE
- Michael “MJ” Jones
- STAGE NOTE READER/GHOST
- Kimberly Gómez
- Piano
- Desmar Guevara
- Bass
- Álvaro Benavides
- Trumpet
- Dennis Hernandez
- Trombone
- Hommy Ramos
- Drums
- Keisel Jiménez Leyva
- Clarinet
- Christopher Evans
Harlem Hellfighters on a Latin Beat Creative
- Book and Lyrics, Director
- Rosalba Rolón
- Assistant Director
- Leyma López
- Production Stage Manager
- Alejandra Ramos Riera
- Assistant Stage Manager
- Vanessa Rebeil
- Production Manager
- Jessica Moya
- Production Assistant
- Luissana Carreño
- Production Assistant
- Kaelani Burja
- Sound Engineer
- Eduardo Reséndiz Gómez
- Supertitles
- Emily Cassler
Harlem Hellfighters on a Latin Beat Musicians
- Music
- Desmar Guevara
- Additional Music
- James Reese Europe, Rafael Hernández, and Harlem Hellfighters 369th Infantry Band
Theatre Talk: Harlem Hellfighters
Learn more about the show's history through a lively discussion with the company of Harlem Hellfighters, featuring Rosalba Rolón, José Joaquín García, and Calvin Thompson.
James Reese Europe
Rafael Hernández
369th Infantry Harlem Hellfighters
Leadership support for The Refocus Project is generously provided by the Ford Foundation.
Additional funding provided by Eugene and Joann Bissell and the Lillian Lincoln Foundation, R. Martin Chavez and by Bank of America.
The Refocus Project is made possible by the Champions for Inclusive Theatre and Roundabout’s Forward Fund. We acknowledge the generous friends who support our many efforts to increase representation and inclusion in all aspects of theatre: Elizabeth Armstrong, Eugene and Joann Bissell and the Lillian Lincoln Foundation, Bank of America, R. Martin Chavez, Herbert W. Engert Jr. and Timothy Miller, EY, the Ford Foundation, Kenny Leon, Gina Maria Leonetti, Beryl Snyder, Denise Littlefield Sobel, and Charles Randolph-Wright.
