Playwright Tanaquil Márquez received the 2025 Barrymore Award for her theatrical piece Nichos in the category of “Outstanding Social Insight,” which recognizes community-building and cultural representation. The award was presented on October 20 at Temple University’s Performing Arts Center. Márquez took the stage alongside actresses Alma Tlacopilco, sisters Emmy and Sofi González, Alia Santos, and Leticia Roa Nixon.
After four years of development based on oral histories from Mexican immigrants in South Philadelphia and their families in Mexico, Nichos featured a cast of 20 actors—only three of whom were professionals, with the rest coming from the local community. The play amplified Mexican culture through historical and fantastical elements to preserve cultural identity. To deepen the narrative, Márquez traveled to Puebla, Mexico, with musical director Ximena Violante.
The production ran from October 17 to 27, 2024, at Teatro Esperanza in North Philadelphia, with performances for students and the public, all at full capacity. Impacto covered the development of the play, its premiere, and performances through the lens of community journalist Leticia Roa Nixon, beginning in the summer of 2023 and continuing through the recent award ceremony.
The production team aimed to highlight the challenges immigrants face when leaving their homeland, exploring the question: “When one leaves their country, what do they bring with them, and what do they leave behind?” The play portrayed the stories of three different families and their journeys across borders through time and space. To symbolize cultural transformation, the narrative was framed around the concept of a “nicho” (niche), brought to life through a monumental set design by artist Calo Rosa and scenic designer Michael Lambui.
Nichos was nominated in three categories: Best Theatrical Production, Original Music (by musicians Ximena Violante, Zindu Cano, and Kevin García), and Social Insight. The Barrymore Awards honor professional theater in the Greater Philadelphia area, recognizing local artists and theater companies while raising public awareness of the city’s rich and diverse theater community. This year’s ceremony theme was “Origins: Roots and Resistance,” celebrating the history and resilience of theater.