By Isabel M. Castro

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“Art is never silent in times of political upheaval.” — Sarah O’Connell

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Directed by Sarah O’Connell, the production stars an accomplished trio of performers — Gigi Guizado, Lizette Hunter, and Jackie Hoopz Lakoudis — portraying Paquita, Carmen, and Encarnación, three women who host a weekly radio program dedicated to culture, poetry, and public discourse during one of the most volatile periods in European history. As censorship intensifies and fascism creeps into everyday life, the women must confront impossible choices: remain silent, publicly resist, or flee into exile.

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Gigi Guizado Is Paquita. An internationally recognized actor, writer, and director, Guizado is Resident Playwright for The Asylum Theatre and a member of the Out of the Wings Collective, she has become known for championing translated and international works. Her own translation work includes The Therapist by Gabriela Yepes, published through Inti Press, while her poetry has appeared in journals such as "The Emerson Review," "Rogue Agent Journal," and "Salamander Ink Magazine."

 

Lizette Hunter is Carmen. Las Vegas-based performer whose emotional honesty grounds the production. Born in Juárez, Mexico, and raised in Las Vegas, Hunter discovered storytelling through music videos, cinema, and creative writing. For Hunter, acting has always been rooted in transformation and emotional connection. She gravitates toward intense, emotionally charged roles that challenge both performer and audience. Fans of the Nevada Women's Film Festival remember her standout performance in the award winning short "Session" in 2025.

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Jackie Hoopz Lakoudis is Encarnación. Hoopz Lakoudis built her career gradually through community theatre before moving into commercials, film, and stage productions including The Asylum's world premiere of Complemento, translated by Gigi Guizado. For Hoopz Lakoudis, storytelling is fundamentally about connection and representation. She is especially drawn to projects that challenge traditional expectations and expand the perspectives audiences encounter onstage regardless of genre. Audiences can currently her in Vegas Theatre company's ClueX at Notariety. 

 

Mónica Maffía is the playwright.

While the production’s emotional immediacy belongs to its performers, the play itself reflects the artistic depth of playwright Mónica Maffía. A respected Argentine scholar, musician, and theatre artist, Maffía studied at London’s Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and Middlesex University before earning a Doctorate in Literature from the University of El Salvador. Her work often blends poetry, music, political history, and theatrical experimentation, giving The Anemone and the Boar its lyrical structure and emotional complexity.

 

Sophie Stevens is the translator.

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Sarah O'Connell is the Director.

O'Connell assumed the role of The Asylum's Artistic Director in 2003. Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, she served as the Associate Artistic Director of Impact Theatre. She holds an MDra in Directing from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (RCS). Her work includes several regional and world premieres. O'Connell is an alumnus of the Director's Labs in Los Angeles and Chicago, and La Mama ETC in Umbria. In addition to teaching at UNLV, she has worked at American Conservatory Theatre, TheatreWorks Silicon Valley, the SF Mime Troupe, and Glasgow's Theatre Cryptic. O'Connell is also the founder and publisher of Eat More Art.

 

The Asylum was founded in 1996 to develop new ideas and support emerging artists, connecting audiences to new work and artists with one another. We are a haven in Southern Nevada for partners, both nationally and internationally, providing the public access to tools which empower us to create, heal, and communicate.

 

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