By AARON KRAUSE

Murderous astronauts. DNA mutants. Alien zoo-goers. Sex-crazed robots.

These are just a few of the oddball characters in Latiné Theater Lab’s (LTL) upcoming world premiere professional production of South Florida playwright Brian Harris’s sci-fi comedy Last of the Red Hot Robots.

Billed as a campy, satirical, and unexpectedly emotional ride, Last of the Red Hot Robots promises a fresh theatrical experience for fans of offbeat humor and bold storytelling. With burlesque-inspired flair, multimedia design, and a sharp comedic ensemble, LTL’s second professional production celebrates the weird and wonderful in a big way.

Directed by LTL’s founding artistic director Alex Gonzalez, the show runs Sept. 11–27 at Empire Stage’s intimate space in Fort Lauderdale. The cast features Wendy Chamorro, Samuel Krogh, Ryan Townsend, Susanna Ninomiya, Quinn Colón, and Brian Shaer.

Latiné Theater Lab is a new South Florida company dedicated to amplifying Latiné voices and expanding opportunities for underrepresented artists in the region. Committed to bold, impactful storytelling, the company celebrates the richness and diversity of Latiné culture while fostering collaboration, artistic excellence, and community engagement. Latiné (pronounced lah-tee-neh) is a gender-inclusive term derived from Latino and Latina, embracing the full spectrum of Latin identities. With a vision to cultivate a thriving artistic community, Latiné Theater Lab believes in theater’s power to bridge divides, spark dialogue, and inspire meaningful change.

From Mud to Moonbases

LTL made a splash earlier this summer with its debut production of María Irene Fornés’s Mud, which garnered rave reviews from critics and audiences.

“Audiences really connected with Mud,” says Gonzalez. “We received a lot of positive feedback and genuine excitement as people were leaving the theater—the overwhelming sentiment was, ‘Please, more!’”

Now, the company turns its attention from poetic realism to interstellar absurdity.

“We’re thrilled to present the out-of-this-world premiere of Brian Harris’s wild new play,” Gonzalez says. “It’s unlike anything else on stage right now—clever, campy, and completely off-the-wall. The kind of theater you don’t see very often.”

The Structure: Four Sci-Fi Satires

Last of the Red Hot Robots is a madcap journey told in four interlocking tales:

• The Uplifting – Two zoo-goers encounter an alluring alien.
• The Wrong Stuff – Too much time on a spaceship leads to strange pastimes.
• Your DNA and You – A social media influencer discovers she’s genetically… unique.
• Last of the Red Hot Robots – A temperamental domestic robot disrupts a married couple’s routine.

Harris originally wrote these short plays separately.

“I wrote The Wrong Stuff a few years ago—it’s been produced in multiple countries,” Harris says. “It was the only sci-fi play I’d written, and I thought, if I could write three more, someone might stage them together.”

That “someone” turned out to be Gonzalez.

“When Brian reached out, I instantly fell in love with the scripts,” Gonzalez recalls. “They’re clever, outlandish, and smartly written. For us, producing it was a no-brainer.”

Creative Collaboration

The working relationship between playwright and director has been key to the production’s development.

“Brian’s development work on the script has been incredibly thorough,” says Gonzalez. “That allowed me to focus fully on staging. We haven’t made major changes—maybe a line or two for practical reasons—but my job is to bring Brian’s vision to life, not workshop it.”

Having direct access to the playwright during rehearsals has been a gift, Gonzalez adds. “I’ve been able to ask questions, understand his hopes for the piece, and explore my own vision alongside his.”

Harris, in turn, praises Gonzalez’s creative leadership:
“He has an excellent read on the scripts and has transformed them into a living show—and hopefully a great evening of entertainment.”

Actors on Camp, Comedy, and Truth

Cast member Susanna Ninomiya says performing in this world premiere has been a dream.

“I’ve always wanted to act in a sci-fi show, and to do it in such a stylized, campy way feels like the best of both worlds.”

Ninomiya is no stranger to camp, but says working with science fiction as a base is a first.

“‘Camp’ is all about exaggeration, irony, and performance style—but to make it work, you have to ground it in truth,” she explains. “Even though the world is heightened and absurd, the characters believe in their circumstances completely.”

Fellow cast member Quinn Colón agrees.

“When something is larger than life, it’s important to keep the truth—but heighten it,” they say. “That balance is what makes it work.”

Ryan Townsend adds that sincerity is the key to good comedy.

“Comedy is grounded. It’s truth. The more seriously our characters perceive their circumstances—no matter how far-fetched—the funnier it becomes. Audiences should expect to laugh, to be shocked, and to be entertained. But the piece also has heart.”

Behind the Scenes: Design and Direction

Townsend credits Gonzalez and intimacy director Nicole Perry with creating a “positive and safe environment” in rehearsals.

“They’ve gone above and beyond,” he says. “It’s a room where we can experiment and play—exactly what a show like this needs.”

He also praised set and costume designer Andrew Rodriguez-Tirana for building a world that supports and inspires the actors.

“Andrew’s work has been vital to my success on stage. The design really helps me find my characters,” he says.

Gonzalez acknowledges the design challenges of staging science fiction — “a genre not often produced on stage,” he notes.

“Sci-fi often calls for outer space or tech-heavy environments that can feel daunting. But Andrew and I have worked to find a cohesive visual identity that ties the pieces together while letting each story shine.”

Why This Play, Why Now?

Gonzalez says the inspiration behind Last of the Red Hot Robots includes The Twilight Zone and Black Mirror— but filtered through a burlesque, comedic lens.

“If you like to laugh and watch people navigate ridiculous situations, you’ll have a great time,” he says. “It’s more sci-fi than absurdist—think The Twilight Zone, but as a campy comedy.”

For Gonzalez, producing Last of the Red Hot Robots aligns with LTL’s mission to take bold creative risks and defy theatrical expectations.

“Our first season already shows range—from a Fornés classic to this wildly inventive sci-fi comedy,” he says. “We’re not here to produce straightforward realism—South Florida has plenty of companies doing that beautifully. We’re here to create theatrical productions, spectacle, and reimagined classics. I want to introduce more magical realism and experimental work to local audiences, and this show is a perfect fit.”

If You Go

WHAT: Latine Theater Lab’s world premiere professional production of Brian Harris’s sci-fi comedy, Last of the Red Hot Robots.

WHEN: Sept. 11-27.

WHERE: Empire Stage, 1140 N. Flagler Drive in Ft. Lauderdale.

TICKETS: $15-$35. For more information, visit www.latinetheaterlab.com.