(PHILADELPHIA, PA) — Philadelphia Theatre Company (PTC) continues its 51st season with Havana Hop, a high-energy, one-woman performance written, choreographed, and performed by Paige Hernandez, a multidisciplinary artist acclaimed as a performer, director, choreographer, and playwright. The show features original music by Nick “Nick tha 1da” Hernandez and Kris Funn. Directed by Danielle Drakes, there are three performances from January 17-18, 2026, at PTC’s Suzanne Roberts Theatre.
A joyful and inclusive experience for families, Havana Hop invites young audiences into a friendly, participatory environment where kids are encouraged to move, dance, and respond freely. In the show, Young Yeila (Paige Hernandez) dreams of being a superstar, but her lack of confidence gives her awful stage fright. With advice from her mother and grandmother, Yeila embarks on a lively journey from Washington, D.C. to Cuba to find her roots, gain confidence, and discover her unique rhythm. In this dynamic, interactive performance blending hip-hop, salsa, storytelling, and movement, audiences of all ages are invited to dance along as one actress brings three generations of spirited women to life.
“Paige Hernandez’s Havana Hop is full of heart, rhythm, and joy,” says PTC Co-Artistic Director Tyler Dobrowsky. “It’s a celebration of identity and imagination, told through a performance that radiates warmth and inclusivity. This is the kind of theater that connects kids, families, and communities.”
Photo by Jack Roman
Tickets start at $20 and are available for purchase online, by calling (215) 985-0420, or in person at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre, 480 S. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA. Performances take place Saturday, January 17 at 11:00am & 2:30pm; and a Relaxed Performance on Sunday, January 18 at 3:00pm. Running time: 60 minutes, with no intermission.
This show is recommended for ages 3 and up. Everyone, regardless of age, must have a ticket to enter the theater. Lap Passes are available for $5.00 each, allowing families to bring babies in arms.
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Pre-Show Programming: Beginning 30 minutes prior to each performance, families can explore the sounds and movements of Cuba in an interactive pre-show experience that blends literacy, music- making, and movement—designed to be friendly, accessible, and engaging for children.
Relaxed Performance: Sunday, January 18 at 3:00pm. A sensory-friendly performance designed for those with autism, sensory sensitivities, or other needs. House lights remain dimmed, sound levels are adjusted, and audience members are free to move or take breaks as needed. The Relaxed Performance is sponsored by Popcorn for the People, and Unfurling Littles is PTC’s official accessibility partner.
A complete schedule of performances and special event programming can be found here.
Photo by Jack Roman
Paige Hernandez is known nationally for her unique fusion of theatre, hip-hop, dance, and education. Named one of American Theatre Magazine’s “Six Theatre Workers You Should Know” and a Kennedy Center Citizen Artist Fellow, she has performed and directed on stages across the country, from The Kennedy Center and Lincoln Center to the Glimmerglass Festival and La Jolla Playhouse. Through her company, B-FLY Entertainment, she develops and tours original works that uplift multicultural and multigenerational voices, using movement and rhythm as universal languages of connection. Havana Hop, commissioned by Wolf Trap Institute for Early Learning, has become one of her most beloved touring pieces, inspiring young audiences worldwide to celebrate their roots and embrace confidence through creativity.
Director Danielle Drakes brings a deep understanding of Havana Hop’s creative and emotional core, having developed and directed both of Hernandez’s acclaimed solo shows, Paige in Full and Havana Hop, which continue to tour nationally and internationally. She is dedicated to using theater as a tool for empathy and equity. Drakes’s directing credits include recent world premieres The Wilting Point (Keegan Theatre) and Ghost/Writer (Rep Stage), as well as work with The Kennedy Center and Ford’s Theatre, where she originated the role of Elizabeth Keckley in History on Foot, recipient of the Helen Hayes/The Washington Post Award.
In addition to the public performances of Havana Hop, PTC will present five school-day performances of Paige in Full, Paige Hernandez’s celebrated hip-hop multimedia solo show designed specifically for high school students. These performances offer teens a dynamic blend of dance, spoken word, video, and music, exploring identity, family, history, and self-expression. Schools interested in booking Paige in Full should contact PTC’s Education Department at [email protected].
Photo by Jack Roman
PTC would like to thank their Havana Hop honorary producers, whose generosity makes our work possible and powers our mission: Steven Engelmyer and Lisa Wershaw. PTC would also like to thank the Dolfinger-McMahon Foundation’s support for Paige Hernandez programming, and our 2025/26 season sponsors who make the art possible and power our mission. Support is made possible through The Suzanne Roberts Cultural Development Fund, David and Nancy Colman, Glenn Gundersen, Sally Katz and David Price, Dale Penneys Levy and Richard Levy, Daryl and Ellen Morey, The Ann B. Ritt Charitable Foundation, Daniel M. Ritt, The Shubert Foundation, and Center City Film & Video.
Founded in 1974, Philadelphia Theatre Company (PTC) is a vital civic institution creating extraordinary theatrical experiences that reflect the essential issues and ideas of our time. Led by Co-Artistic Directors Taibi Magar and Tyler Dobrowsky and Managing Director Margo Moskowitz, PTC performs at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre on the Avenue of the Arts and has premiered more than 100 new works, while championing countless others through initiatives like the biennial Terrence McNally Award for early- career Philadelphia playwrights. These efforts have helped cement Philadelphia’s reputation as a national hub for new play development. Beyond the stage, PTC engages the community through dynamic education programs and civic partnerships. PTC is a proud member of the League of Resident Theatres (LORT), the national association of the country’s leading professional theatres.
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