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Just Like Us

  • Karen Zacarías
  • Full Length Play, Drama, New Millennium/21st Century
  • 2M, 7F
  • ISBN: 9780573710360

Based on Helen Thorpe's bestselling book, this documentary-style play follows four Latina teenage girls in Denver -- two of whom are documented and two who are not -- posing difficult yet essential questions about what makes us American.

More information

Description

  • Full Length Play
  • Drama
  • 120 minutes

  • Time Period: New Millennium/21st Century
  • Target Audience: Teen (Age 14 - 18), Adult
  • Set Requirements: Unit Set/Multiple Settings
  • Cautions: Mild Adult Themes, Strong Language

  • Performance Group:
  • Community Theatre, Blackbox / Second Stage /Fringe Groups, Professional Theatre
Based on Helen Thorpe’s bestselling book, this documentary-style play follows four Latina teenage girls in Denver—two of whom are documented and two who are not—through young adulthood. Their close-knit friendships begin to unravel when immigration status dictates the girls’ opportunities, or lack thereof. When a political firestorm arises, each girl’s future becomes increasingly complicated. Just Like Us poses difficult yet essential questions about what makes us American.
REVIEWS:

"One of the finest things about this wise play… is its generous, even celebratory sense of humor, a plus for a tale that carries with it a great deal of hurt."

 The Denver Post

"Insightful and important... the play has a ripped-from-the-headlines feel... viscerally captures the personal impact of U.S. immigration laws on people such as Marisela."

 The Munro Review (Fresno State)

Premiere Production: Just Like Us premiered at the Stage Theatre at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts on October 10, 2013.

Characters

  • Casting: 2M, 7F
  • Casting Attributes: Roles for Teens
  • Casting Notes: Can be performed by 9 actors (7F and 2M) with doubling, or by 15 actors (9F and 6M) without.

  • HELEN THORPE – 40s. The Reporter: Irish American Quaker, very smart, confident, unfussy woman with a penchant for interesting eye glasses. Highly educated, career woman married to the Mayor of Denver. Mother of one small child. Much more comfortable as a thoughtful observer than as the center of attention. Prefers being a reporter than First Lady of Denver. Has strong conviction of principles, is self-aware about her role, and is consistently fair-minded.

  • MARISELA – 18-22. Fully bilingual and bicultural Mexican. Colorful! Does not have legal status to be in the country. Emotional, sassy, intelligent, energetic, ambitious, yet sometimes insecure, a bundle of contradictions, attracted to bad boys yet a great student. She craves excitement, wears a lot of makeup, tight jeans, and loves loud music (Ranchera especially) and is an excellent student. Also plays RAUL GOMEZ GARCIA.

  • YADIRA – 18-22. Fully bilingual-bicultural Mexican. Does not have legal papers to be in the country. Still waters run deep. Beautiful, lean, reserved, smart young woman who craves stability and security. Marisela’s best friend, yet polar opposite in manner and look. Wears skinny jeans and bare midriff shirts, yet isn’t a party girl at all.

  • CLARA – 18-22. Bilingual-bicultural Mexican. In the US legally. Innocent, religious, earnest girl. Good student. Hard worker. Discreet clothes, no make-up, wears a cross every day. The peacemaker and dreamer.

  • ELISSA – 18-22. Bilingual and bi-cultural. In the US legally. The go-getter, team captain of the group. Good student. Hard worker. Also plays ZULEMA, Yadira’s younger sister.

  • FABIA?N – 30-40s. Marisela’s hardworking, sometimes grouchy father. Spanish- and non-English-speaking. A janitor at a supermarket who loves his family and worries about Marisela’s wild ways. In the US without legal status. Also plays TOM TANCREDO, a 2nd generation Italian-American Congressman born in a working class neighborhood in Denver who now represents a very affluent neighborhood in Colorado. The leading voice in Congress against illegal immigration. Charismatic, smart, loud, affable, and very single-minded in his fervor against illegal immigration., Also plays: RECRUITER (Tom Johnson), CEZAR MESQUITA, CARLOS (Alma’s husband), FEDERICO PEN?A, COP, ensemble.

  • JOSEFA – Late 30s, early 40s. Marisela’s Mexican mother. Spanish- and non–English-speaking. A devoted mother and hardworking cleaning lady who looks after her four kids in the US. Also plays MRS. SMITH, CAROL VIZZI and maybe LISA MARTINEZ.

  • YOLANDA – early 30’s. Brassy bilingual hairdresser. Also plays ANA, CYNTHIA POUNDSTONE, LUCY, BUSINESS WOMAN and maybe LISA MARTINEZ.

  • JULIO – 20s. Latino. Also plays RAMIRO, MIKE McGARRY, ensemble.

    • Available Material

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    Just Like Us Script This is optional. Order Now

    Based on Helen Thorpe’s bestselling book, this documentary-style play follows four Latina teenage girls in Denver—two of whom are documented and two who are not—through young adulthood. Their close-knit friendships begin to unravel when immigration status dictates the girls’ opportunities, or lack thereof. When a political firestorm arises, each girl’s future becomes increasingly complicated. Just Like Us poses difficult yet essential questions about what makes us American.

    		$24.95

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