ISBN 978-0-573-66335-2Carmen Rivera Comedy 3m, 3f Areas La Gringa is about a young woman’s search for her identity. María Elena García goes to visit her family in Puerto Rico during the Christmas holidays and arrives with plans to connect with her homeland. Although this is her first trip to Puerto Rico, she has had an intense love for the island and even majored in Puerto Rican Studies in college. Once María is in Puerto Rico, she realizes that Puerto Rico does not welcome her with open arms. The majority of the Puerto Ricans on the island consider her an American – a gringa -- and María considers this a betrayal. If she’s a Puerto Rican in the United States and an American in Puerto Rico – María concludes that she is nobody everywhere. Her uncle, Manolo, spiritually teaches her that identity isn’t based on superficial and external definitions, but rather is an essence that she has had all along in her heart. This play is published in a bilingual edition, if you are applying for licensing rights please state which version (English or Spanish) you wish to produce. “90 minutes of laughter...Carmen Rivera has captured the spirit of the Puerto Rican experience.”- D.J.R. Bruckner, The New York Times“Carmen Rivera’s deft playwriting delivers Maria from her personality crisis with spiritual transcendence.”- Ed Morales, The Village Voice“Carmen Rivera has succeeded in giving voice to the cultural search of Puerto Ricans raised in the Tower of Babel.”- Juan Mendez, El Diario - La PresaFEE: $75 per performance Character Descriptions:María Elena García – 22 year-old Puerto Rican-American woman, born and raised in New York City. She’s considered a "Nuyorican.” María is young and naïve.Manoloanolo Cofresresí – Early 60s. Her uncle. Manolo had dreams of pursuing acting when he was young. Although he is very ill and near death, he possesses a lively spirit and a great sense of humor.Iris Burgos – María’s cousin. 24 years old. She is very extroverted and a bit jealous of her cousin María.Norma Burgos – María’s aunt; Iris’ mother and Manolo’s sister. Late 50s. She never pursued her dream of being a singer and lives with much bitterness and resentment in her spirit.Victor Burgos – Norma’s husband. Early 60s. He possesses a great deal of positive energy and has a huge capacity for love.Ramon “Monchi” Reyes – A neighbor. 24 years old. He has an entrepreneurial spirit – he started his own farm and falls in love with María.
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