Thalia Spanish Theatre at 41-17 Greenpoint Ave. in Sunnyside is bringing back Subcampeón, a stand-up comedy show by former Spanish professional soccer player Zuhaitz Gurrutxaga, for four performances starting Thursday, Oct. 29, at 7 p.m. Tickets are $25, and two of the four nights will be performed in English.

Who is on stage

Gurrutxaga, born in 1980, came up through Spain's youth national teams. Thalia's program notes that he won the European Under-16 championship and a bronze medal at the Under-17 World Cup with Spain. As a professional with Real Sociedad, he was part of the squad that finished second in Spain's first division. That runner-up finish gives the show its title: subcampeón means runner-up, or sub-champion.

According to the theatre, Gurrutxaga spent those playing years quietly dealing with anxiety, depression and severe obsessive-compulsive disorder. After retiring, he turned to the stage. His monologues take audiences inside professional soccer and walk through his own setbacks on and off the field, his mishaps and his mental health, played for laughs while staying honest about the hard parts. Thalia describes the show as an autobiography that moves between comedy and anxiety, and compares it to riding a slide: quick, fun and a little bit scary.

Back by request

Thalia lists this run as a return engagement that it is staging because audiences asked for it. The new dates are part of a busy fall at the theatre, which is also presenting its drama Poncia from Oct. 16 to Nov. 8.

Performance dates and languages

There are four performances only, all at 7 p.m.:

  • Thursday, Oct. 29, in Spanish
  • Thursday, Nov. 5, in English
  • Thursday, Nov. 12, in English
  • Friday, Nov. 13, in Spanish

The English-language nights make the show open to neighbors who don't speak Spanish, in keeping with Thalia's description of itself as a bilingual house.

Tickets

General tickets are $25. Thalia offers special pricing for groups of 10 or more. Tickets are sold online through the theatre's OvationTix box office and can also be arranged by phone at 718-729-3880. The theatre notes that tickets are non-refundable.

About Thalia Spanish Theatre

Thalia was founded in 1977 and calls itself the first and only bilingual Hispanic theatre in Queens. Over 48 years, the company says it has produced more than 255 world and American premieres, including Spanish plays, original musicals, zarzuelas and music and dance programs, and has received 252 awards for artistic excellence. Its stated mission is to celebrate Spanish and Latin American culture through theatre, music and dance. The theatre also runs arts and education programs and an annual free community festival, Made in Nueva York, held in the summer.

Getting there

The theatre is at 41-17 Greenpoint Ave., between 41st and 42nd streets, two blocks south of Queens Boulevard. By subway, take the 7 train to 40th Street/Lowery Street, use the exit for the southeast corner of Queens Boulevard, walk one block east to 41st Street, turn right and walk two blocks to 48th Avenue, then make a sharp left onto Greenpoint Avenue. The Q32 and Q60 buses stop at 41st Street and Queens Boulevard. Drivers coming from Manhattan can take the Queensboro Bridge lower roadway onto Queens Boulevard, and drivers on the Long Island Expressway can use the Greenpoint Avenue exit.

Plan your night

Subcampeón plays Thursday, Oct. 29, and Friday, Nov. 13, in Spanish, and Thursdays, Nov. 5 and Nov. 12, in English, all at 7 p.m. at Thalia Spanish Theatre, 41-17 Greenpoint Ave., Sunnyside. Tickets are $25 through the theatre's website, with group rates for 10 or more. Questions can go to info@thaliatheatre.org or 718-729-3880.

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