The Cold Sweat: A New Sick Family Comedy!

At The Players Theatre, March 6-23 2025. Get your tix NOW!

About

LA GOTA FRÍA:THE COLD SWEAT is a dramedy set in 1990s Queens, NY. When the matriarch of the Gonzalez family falls ill, her loved ones rally around her: a blind but hyperaware grandfather, a frenzied daughter and her doting husband. And the meddlesome family friend with a particular interest for the Gonzalez women, including the cat. LA GOTA FRÍA:THE COLD SWEAT is a new sick family comedy that will have you rethink your choices for cancer treatments. So let's go back in time to Queens, NY in the 1990s when you, your family and your friends were dancing to new and classic Salsa, Merengue and Latin Pop!

LA GOTA FRÍA: THE COLD SWEAT by Anna Capunay is one of 72 projects to receive funding through the NYC Women’s Fund for Media, Music and Theatre, a groundbreaking initiative from The City of New York Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment (MOME) that has targeted the underrepresentation and equity challenges that women have historically faced in the media and entertainment industries.Follow us on Instagram and Bluesky for news and updates!

Principal Cast

Pilar Valdés as
Josefina Gonzalez

Pilar Valdés is a bilingual actor and writer with a background in law. A graduate of the Stella Adler Studio of Acting in NYC, she has performed at The Pasadena Playhouse, The Los Angeles Theater Center, Greenway Court Theater, and more. Her solo dramedy show ¡Hija de su Madre! was presented at UCB Sunset and Highways Performance Space in Los Angeles. On screen, Pilar has appeared in projects for HBO (Gordita Chronicles), Netflix (Neon), and Peacock (Fantasy Island). As a writer, she co-wrote Something Kind of Wonderful, produced by Prentice Penny and Sundial Pictures, and adapted Sin Filtro for MACRO and UnbeliEVAble Entertainment. She wrote and starred in the short film Familia, which was selected for the Oscar-qualifying Rhode Island Flickers Film Festival and as a finalist at New Filmmakers Los Angeles in partnership with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences. As a WIF Mentee, a THREAD at Yale University Storytelling Scholarship recipient, a FOX Networks Writers Lab alum, and a fellow of Univisión, Televisa, and NALIP Latino Lens, Pilar has also written for Latina magazine and remezcla.com.Pilar Valdés is appearing as courtesy of
Actors Equity Association

Yessenia Rivas as
Irene Gonzalez

Yessenia Rivas (She/They) is a NYC-based Actor and Creative. Her recent credits include originating roles in the world premieres of CANARY by Donald Wollner and WHERE WOMEN GO by Tina Howe. They have also been seen in EL BACALAO at The Flea Theatre, MANIC PIXIE NIGHTMARE at the Women's Theatre Festival in North Carolina, and COWL GIRL at The Player’s Theatre. Short films include ONE SUGGESTION by Alyssa Kurtzman, SHELL SHOCKED by Paula Cajiao, YOUR SILENT FACE by Anna Capunay, and THE RETURN TO WHY by William Phelps. Yessenia was also a finalist in the NBC Nosotros 'Ya Tu Sabes' Showcase. They are so excited to be coming back to the family of LA GOTA FRIA. @YesseniaSRivas

J. Santiago Suárez as
Manuel Gonzalez

After an intensive summer at SONY Pictures Studios and filming the live-action feature Dora In Search of Sol Dorado in the Colombian jungle, J. Is excited to return his old stomping grounds, the New York theatre community. As a tv and film veteran he fully immerse himself into becoming Manuel Gonzalez. While
preparing and researching Manuel’s journey in La Gota Fría/The Cold Sweat, he volunteered time teaching an acting class for members of Visions at Selis Manor a non-profit organization for the blind and visually impaired. J’s television appearances include Will Trent, FBI, S.W.A.T., Criminal Minds, Ghostwriter, Blue Bloods and The Chosen among others. Considering himself a
“Vegan in transition” he has an interest in creating organic herbal tinctures as dietary supplements.
Representation: Stewart Talent, Los Angeles/Atlanta, and Brandon Cohen, Manager

Danny Borba as
Alfredo

DANNY BORBA (he/him/el) is an actor, singer, and dancer based in New York City. He just got done performing as Carlos in the National Tour of The Magic School Bus. He has also recently appeared in Escape to Margaritaville, Bright Star, and Stellaluna and Other Tales, all at Mill Mountain Theater in Roanoke, Virginia, and as El Mountain Lion with the National Tour of El Otro Oz, produced by TheaterWorks. He has worked with multiple organizations like the Latinx Playwrights Circle and LAByrinth Theater Company, among others. He is a recent graduate of the Actor Training Program at the University of Utah. Past credits also include Ensemble of Elf The Musical at Pioneer Theater and also as Frog in A Year With Frog and Toad and Ryker in SLACabaret: Down the Rabbit Hole, both at Salt Lake Acting Company and he has also recently been working on the TV show High School Musical: The Musical: The Series. He is represented by Act One Management in New York. He thanks his family and friends and God for their ongoing support.Danny Borba is appearing as courtesy of
Actors Equity Association

Jared Treviño as
Enrique "Moco"

Jared Treviño is a proud native of Corpus Christi, Texas, where he spent countless nights on stage, either rehearsing or performing. Inspired by the local greats who came before him, he eventually moved to Los Angeles, where he continues to reside and pursue his calling.After winning the 3rd Annual NOSOTROS Ya Tú Sabes Monologue Slam presented by NBCU, Jared was introduced to an ever-expanding Latino community that led him to collaborate with many talented directors, writers, and producers who continue to inspire his work in a multitude of ways.Most recently, Jared wrapped filming on the feature La Frutera: The Fruit Girl and concluded a successful festival run with Death in Training, a short film in which he starred. The film earned multiple awards, with recognition from festivals such as NYLFF and The Mexican American Film and TV Festival, among others. He also has two independent feature films, Addy Daddy and The Chemists, both of which he led and are set to release on February 14th.On stage, Jared portrayed Bernard in Casa 0101's production of Death of a Salesman and has since performed in multiple sketch comedy shows with Single Riders Only. He has also been actively involved with The Amapola Players in Pasadena, participating in numerous staged readings that showcase the work of talented local playwrights.Jared is immensely grateful for the unwavering support of his family and extends a special thanks to Anna Capunay for the opportunity to be part of La Gota Fría: The Cold Sweat, which marks his debut in the New York theatre scene.He is represented in Los Angeles by LA Talent and in Texas by The Blanco Agency.

Understudy Cast

Cintra Batchoo as
Josefina Gonzalez

Cintra Batchoo is thrilled to be understudying the role of Josefina Gonzalez in the producton of ‘La Gota Fria: The Cold Sweat’. Trained at The Barrow Group, she is excited to support and contribute to this dynamic cast and the show’s success.

Abril López as
Irene Gonzalez

Abril López Ruiz is a Mexican singer, actress, and dancer. She has participated in multiple productions in Mexico, including the roles of Amalia in “Amalia” and Regina in “Rock of Ages”. In 2023, Abril moved to New York City and graduated from The American Musical Dramatic Academy. After making her NYC Debut in Hamlet isn’t Dead’s "Pericles", she has performed in the worldwide premiere of "La Mano del Mono" at the New York Winter Fest, and The Green Room 42. She’s extremely grateful for everyone in “La Gota Fria”’s team. Con amor, para mi familia. @abrilopezz

Plinio Villablanca as
Manuel Gonzalez

Plinio has studied with Anthony Mannino, Salem Ludwig (Actors Studio) and Gene Frankel. His theatre credits include the following: Miguel Pinero’s “The Sun always Shines for the Cool,” Othello and Macbeth at LA TEA (New York), and “The Cubans” at Iati Theater workshop. His film credits include: “The Making of the Mob” (AMC Channel), Millie and the Lords, Sunnyside (Cannes Film Festival) and “The Riverside Bench.”

Edoardo Miranda as
Alfredo

Originally from New York City and an alumnus of The Stella Adler Studio, Edoardo Miranda is an actor and writer renowned for his roles in films like Eating with The Enemy and For Lila. Broadway/New York highlights: The Last Boy (BDWY); Arrivals (Center for Jewish History / Seattle Jewish Theater Company); La Gota Fría (The Players Theatre); Goodville (Hudson Guild Theater / New York Theater Festival); Wilde Shakespeare (The Playroom Theater / Parnassus Theater Company); Aladdin and Little Red Riding Hood (Galli Theater New York). Miranda’s distinctive and multicultural background includes polyglotism, psychology, poetry, suicide prevention hotline volunteering and martial arts. edoardomiranda.com

David Fernandez as
Enrique "Moco"

Creative Team

Anna Capunay
Playwright/Producer

Anna Capunay is a Queens, NY native. Her plays include: A Cat’s Tale (Roy Arias Stages), and Cowl Girl (The Players Theatre). These works were adapted for the screen -- A Cat’s Tale winning Best Director for Comedy and Best Ensemble Cast for Comedy at the San Francisco’s Best Actors Film Festival. The indie feature debuted at the Chelsea Film Festival in NYC, 2016. Cowl Girl was shot as a TV pilot and was included as Best of the Fest finalist at the Chicago International REEL Shorts Film Festival, 2017. Anna’s directorial debut was for the short film she also wrote, Your Silent Face. The short won multiple awards via the film festival circuit, most notably for Best Screenwriting at the Festival of Cinema NYC and Best LGBTQ Film at the L.A. Punk Film Festival, both in 2023. Anna has received multiple grants over the years supporting her projects. Most recently, she was awarded the NYC Women's Fund for Media, Music and Theatre via the New York Foundation for the Arts. This grant has fully funded this stage production of La Gota Fria: The Cold Sweat. Additionally, Anna was awarded a Queens Arts Funds grant (her third) to help produce her short film, Sombras, later this year. Anna’s upcoming project includes writing her first feature film to be produced with her partner, Bill McDonald, called Contigo. annacapunay.com

Gregory Lipson
Director

Gregory Lipson is a lifelong lover of the arts. Select credits include: Buntlett Wedding Weekend, Cowl Girl, Arm’s Length Romance, But I Met You On TV, Kaldi, SQUAD, The Diary of Anne Frank, Edges, … Spelling Bee, and Love Letters. He studied Theater and Economics at Harvard. He has travelled the world as a singer with the Krokodiloes, the Harvard University Choir, and the Young People’s Chorus of New York City. Gregory is a Ticketing Manager at Insight Tix, where he works on Hamilton, SIX, Dead Outlaw, and more. He loves his job. gregorylipson.com

Ella Loyd
Stage Manager

Ella Loyd is delighted to be back in the theater after exploring the world of film. She brings her experience from projects like Roy Koshy's WorkHomePlay (where she served as assistant director) and her film studies at The New York Film Academy. She previously collaborated with Anna Capunay and The Players Theatre on Cowl Girl as assistant stage manager and puppeteer. Ella is enthusiastic about this opportunity to return to the stage.

Sydney Dubitsky
Assistant Stage Manager

Sydney Dubitsky, is a stage manager and director who loves both theater and film. She has a B.A. in Theater Studies and a B.A. in Digital Media & Design from the University of Connecticut, and also attended the National Theater Institute Advanced Directing program in the Fall of 2023. When she’s not directing, you may find her in a variety of other roles, including playwright, costume shop hand, photographer, sound designer, and many more. You can find her work at Sydney.dubitsky.com

Sam Grocock
Production Assistant

Sam Grocock (she/her) is a Manhattan based stage manager and 2nd year MFA candidate at Columbia University. Originally from Granger, IN, she graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a BA in Film, Television, and Theatre and a minor in Korean. Recent credits include: Three Sisters (dir. Talia Feldberg), Sally (dir. Calvin Atkinson) and NuWorks Play Festival (DeSotelle Studios). She is grateful to be a part of the inspiring team bringing to life La Gota Fría: The Cold Sweat.

Bill McDonald
Producer

Bill McDonald has over 35 years of experience in media finance and strategic operations, having held numerous executive positions and provided strategic support to business operations, sales and marketing. At MTV Networks and Viacom, he had direct involvement with the global growth of MTV, VH1, & Nickelodeon, and the integration of Comedy Central, CMT/TNN, and Paramount. At AMC Networks, he oversaw global expansion and new business development as well as the $1 billion international acquisition of Cello Media. He is currently CFO and co-founding partner of London-based White Light International Media, a leading music production & distribution company whose credits include the SKY TV series Record On as well the theatrically released Pet Shop Boys: Dreamworld: Live in Copenhagen. He is a 2022 Telly Award recipient for producing Tomorrow is a Long Time: Chrissie Hynde Sings Bob Dylan. Bill has also produced the multi-award-winning short film, Your Silent Face. Upcoming projects include the short film, Sombras, and the feature film, Contigo.

Anna Marcus-Hecht
Associate Producer

Anna Marcus-Hecht is a composer, playwright, and general creative. Producing credits include Cowl Girl (2023), Macha (2023), Moving On (2022), and Time's Apprentice (2021). Outside of theatre, she can be found writing scores for video games, with credits such as Gloire et Pot au Feu (2025) and Friendsim 2 (2022). Anna has an MFA in Musical Theatre Writing from NYU Tisch and a Bachelors in Composition from Ithaca College. Her last couple years have been occupied with writing music for a musical adaptation of Jane Austen's Persuasion, so she is excited to get out of the writer's room and back to the stage!
annamarcushecht.com

Laine Flores
Fight Director

Laine Flores (Fight Director): Laine Flores is a Brooklyn-based actor and educator with a focus in immersive, classical theater. La Gota Fria is her first production at Players Theater, and she is thrilled to be a part of the team. A student of stage combat since 2018, Laine now teaches with Arte Violenta (@arteviolenta) in the West Village. Notable work includes teaching at PACE University, and choreographing with the New York Renaissance Faire and the Metropolitan Opera. @lainefloresactor

Kat Sinclair
Intimacy Director

Kat is a NYC based intimacy Director and Actor. Trained in Trauma Informed Practices, Kink/BDSM, Cultural Competance, Considerations for Trans and Non-Binary performers, and more through Theatrical Intimacy Education and Intimacy Directors and Coordinators. Some of her favorite Intimacy Director credits are The Full Monty (Heights Players), Spring Awakening (Catawba College), The Wild Party (Broadway Bods), Cinderella (Heights Players), Sprawl (The Tank), and Coming Out (Emerging Artists New Work Series). Special thanks to Sam, SLee, and BOP.
Instagram: @katlynwithak

Danis Zhang
Scenic Designer

Danis Zhang is a scenographer, creative producer, and director leading Out On The Run Studio, an independent production and creative direction company based in London and New York. His recent work includes set design and art direction for editorials such as GQ Portugal, Numéro Netherlands, and Fucking Young!. In addition to his editorial work, Danis has creatively produced and directed for rising artist I'MMORTAL. He is excited to return to his theatrical roots and collaborate with the La Gota Fria family to bring this story to life. Danis extends his heartfelt thanks to Anna and the team for the opportunity to join this incredible project!

Jonaya Riley
Photographer

Jonaya Riley (photographer) has shot set and promotional photography for Cowl Girl by Anna Capunay and Macha by Anna Marcus-Hecht. She also has a history of both photojournalistic and architectural photography, having covered protests in 2016, 2017, and 2020 and photographed abandoned buildings and urban landscapes all over the American northeast for the past 15 years.

Rehana Khan
Photographer

Rehana Khan is a professional photographer who grew up in Queens, New York. As a child, Rehana loved spending her time doing art, playing outdoors with friends and exploring. On rainy days, she would curl up with a good book (and still does to this day), or watch movies, listening to music and play video games . During her teen years, she discovered her love for photography by always being the person to take photos on family vacations. Although she originally studied other fields as a career, she was always drawn back to the arts (no pun intended) and photography. She never gave it up whether it was a hobby or a side gig or just for fun, and now, it is her passion.Rehana loves taking candids and special moments. She likes capturing images that would make her audience feel as if they were at an event and never missed a beat. She can be seen all over New York City taking photos for various groups, individuals, festivals and organizations with her camera capturing memories immortalized in her photographs. She works as a photographer for the biggest graduation company in the United States. In her free time she volunteers for different charities and loves going to concerts and street festivals.She has contributed photos in local newspapers and online sites. She is highly recommended by her clients and peers who organically promote her by word of mouth and their social medias. Rehana teaches art and photography to young teens when she is not working her other jobs. She believes and hopes that alongside people being happy with their photos, that they also develop an appreciation for the art of photography and realize the true value of a photographer and artist.

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