Latinx Portrayal on the American Stage

Despite the recent rise in Latin American representation on the stage, there continues to be limited theatrical work that focuses on the Latinx narrative. This thesis aims to shed light on the underrepresented voices of the Latinx community by focusing on six plays, written by Quiara Alegría Hudes, George Brant, María Irene Fornés, Tanya Saracho, Luis Alfaro, and Kristoffer Diaz. Each of the plays cast a Latin American individual as the play’s main character, and deliver a unique message about what it means to be Latinx in the United States. While some of these plays tackle the realities of immigration, others focus on the under-resourced communities many Latinx youth grow up in, while others shed light on the ways in which racist stereotypes affect the American perception of Latinx people. The first chapter of the thesis focuses and analyzes plays which portray broken Latinx families. These plays include "Water By Spoonful" by Quiara Alegría Hudes, "Tender Age" by George Brant, and "Letters From Cuba" by María Irene Fornés. Each of these play’s main conflict originates from a character’s prioritization of their personal benefit, a practice that is often frowned upon in traditional Latin American households. At the end of each play, each family is unable to heal from their trauma, and ultimately remains broken. The second chapter of the thesis analyzes "Fade" by Tanya Saracho, "Oedipus El Rey'' by Luis Alfaro, and "The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity" by Kristoffer Diaz. Each play follows a Latinx character who is determined to achieve a personal goal, but is suddenly met with the harsh realities of systematic racism. The chapter takes a deep dive into each play’s main character and discusses how their Latinx identity contributes to their destiny of failure. Through the analysis of these six plays, this thesis aims to unpack one of the most underrepresented voices in American literature.

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