Carmen Rivera's incredible piece, La Gringa. has been running off Broadway for over 25 years and yet it is unknown in so many cities across this country. The most vital aspect of this work may lie in how it lifts our sense of identity and belonging. It is a hearty and hilarious celebration of community while at the same time asking nuanced questions about misperceptions and acceptance from those both inside and outside of the Puerto Rican community. Who are we? Are we where we grew up? Are we where our ancestors come from? Are we the language we speak? All of these are questions you may find yourself asking after you see La Gringa. I am excited to welcome the creative team and cast of La Gringa, and our audiences, as we come together around a piece that embraces these questions and keeps joy at its heart.
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La Gringa
by Carmen Rivera
directed by Tatyana Marie-Carlo
Winner of the 1996 Obie Award La Gringa is about a young woman’s search for her identity. When Maria Elena Garcia goes to visit her family in Puerto Rico for the first time she arrives with plans to connect with her homeland. Once home though, she realizes that Puerto Rico does not welcome her with open arms. If she is seen as a Puerto Rican in the United States and an American in Puerto Rico, Maria concludes that she is nobody everywhere.