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Comedies

Shakespeare's comedies have been adapted many times over for Latinx cultures. Twelfth Night and The Comedy of Errors both involve immigrants to a new land, and the musicality of Twelfth Night and Much Ado About Nothing allow for a transposition to auralidad, or the aural excess that is a hallmark of Latinx Shakespeares. The shifting of The Taming of the Shrew into a contemporary context allows for its gender-based problematic aspects to be reformulated and revised, and Measure for Measure's heavy righteousness has been rescripted to a more contemporary religious piety.

As You Like It

All ephemera courtesy of The Old Globe

2010 The Old Globe

San Diego, CA

As You Like It

(dir. Patrick Pearson)

After staging a trilingual Romeo and Juliet in 2008, a bilingual Pericles in 2009, The Old Globe staged Twelfth Night and As You Like It for their 2010 Summer Shakespeare intensive. Translator Raul Moncada had passed away, so the 2010 shows contained less Spanish, and the bilingual summer student program ended after this season.

2010 Drew University

Madison, NJ

As You Like It

(dir. Caitlin McWethy)

Director Caitlin McWethy, a student at Drew University in New Jersey, created a semi-bilingual version of As You Like It, turning the Forest of Arden into a barrio in Mexico City.

The Comedy of Errors

All ephemera courtesy of The Old Globe

1987 The Old Globe

San Diego, CA

The Comedy of Errors

(dir. David McClendon)

The setting was 19th century California with high comedy stereotypes from cowboy westerns. John Bolger and Mark Moses played the Antifoli from Monterrey and San Diego, respectively, and when Bolger got a role on TV, Moses played both Antifoli for the rest of the run. Marissa Chibas played Luciana and Melody Rayne was Adriana.

1998 Educational Theatre Company

Arlington, VA

Comedy(A) of Error(es)
by Tom Mallan

(dir. Tom Mallan)

Tom Mallan created two bilingual shows that year, Bottom's Dream and The Comedy(A) of Error(E)s. In both shows, some characters spoke English and others Spanish in order to indicate a greater chasm between characters and locations.  In Comedy(A) of Error(E)s, one bilingual actor played both Antipholi, while another bilingual actor played both Dromios.

Courtesy of Tom Mallan

2008 Windsor Shakespeare

Windsor, CA

The Comedy of Errors

(dir. Jim Du Priest)

The action was set in modern-day Cuba, with the twins from Aruba and Cuba.

2009 University of Indianapolis

Indianapolis, IN

The Comedy of Errors

(dir. Brad Wright)

Alex Oberhide and Mason Absher played both sets of twins, Antipholus and Dromio, respectively. The action was set in 1960s Cuba.

All images courtesy of the University of Indianapolis Frederick D. Hill University Archives and Special Collections
All ephemera courtesy of Joe Falocco
from the 2017 production

2015 Texas State University

San Marcos, TX

The Comedy of Errors / La Comedia de Equivocaciones
by Joe Falocco
Translation by: Luis Astrana Marín, modernized by David Navarro

(dir. Joe Falocco)
Link to full article

This play has been staged three times, directed by Joe Falocco in 2015 and 2017, and by Jerry Ruiz in 2019.

2015 The Public Mobile Unit

New York, NY

The Comedy of Errors

(dir. Kwame Kwei-Armah)

Both Antipholi were played by Bernard Cubría and the Dromios by Lucas Caleb Rooney. The names of the locations were not changed, but Syracuse and Ephesus became white-cowboy Texas and Mexico with some Spanish spoken throughout, and the Duchess of Ephesus (Shakespeare’s Duke) wore a baseball cap with the slogan “Make Ephesus Great Again.”

Photography by Jenny Graham
Courtesy of Oregon Shakespeare Festival

2019 Oregon Shakespeare Festival

Ashland, OR

La Comedia of Errors
by Lydia G. Garcia and Bill Rauch

(dir. Bill Rauch)

La Comedia of Errors is a bilingual play that is featured in Chapter Five of Latinx Shakespeares (esp. p. 136-142). Micha Espinosa writes about her work as vocal coach in her chapter in Shakespeare and Latinidad and she and Cynthia DeCure discuss vocality for Shakespeare in the Folger Shakespeare Library podcast below.

Measure for Measure

Photography by Jenny Graham
Courtesy of Oregon Shakespeare Festival

2011 Oregon Shakespeare Festival

Ashland, OR

Measure for Measure

(dir. Bill Rauch)

This production was set in a 1970s bordertown with Angelo, Isabella, Claudio, and Juliet as Latinx. It included performances by the all-female mariachi band, Las Colibrí. This production is featured in Latinx Shakespeares (esp. p. 65-70). Frankie J. Alvarez writes about his role in the show in Shakespeare and Latinidad. An audio version of the production is available.

2013 The Goodman Theater

Chicago, IL

Measure for Measure

(dir. Robert Falls)

Bob Falls set the action in 1970s New York City with Isabella and Claudio as Dominican. Vocal coach Michelle Lopez-Rios writes about her work on the show in her essay for Shakespeare and Latinidad.

2015 UC Riverside

Riverside, CA

Measure for Measure

(dir. Miles Anderson)

The production was set in 1910s Mexico with some Spanish and Spanish vocal music performed during the show.

Image courtesy of UC Riverside Department of Theatre, Film, and Digital Production

2016 San Diego Public Library

San Diego, CA

Measure for Measure / Medida por Medida: A Bilingual Play
by Bernardo Mazón

(dir. Bernardo Mazón)

The readings of this bilingual play were part of the 2016 First Folio tour, in honor of the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death. Mazón mixed contemporary Spanish with Shakespeare's English.

Courtesy of: Bernardo Mazón Daher
Photography by: Liz Lauren
Courtesy of: American Players Theatre

2018 American Players Theatre

Spring Green, WI

Measure for Measure

(dir. Risa Brainin)

The production had an unspecified setting, not Shakespeare's, and not exactly today. Director Risa Brainin wanted to invoke contemporary issues of familial separations and #metoo, and Isabella, Claudio, and Juliet were all portrayed as Latinx by Latinx actors.

2022 Chicago Shakespeare Theater

Chicago, IL

Measure for Measure

(dir. Henry Godinez)
All ephemera courtesy of
Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Link to full article

Godinez's production was set in 1950s Cuba and included a poignant commentary on revolution.

The Merchant of Venice

1993 La Compañía de Teatro de Albuquerque

Albuquerque, NM

The Merchant of Santa Fe
by Ramón Flores and Lynn Butler

(dir. Ramón Flores)
Link to full article

This production incorporated some Spanish and reenvisioned Shylock as a converso.

A Midsummer Night's Dream

1998 Educational Theatre Company

Arlington, VA

Bottom's Dream: The Midsummer Mambo
by Tom Mallan

(dir. Tom Mallan)

Tom Mallan created two bilingual shows that year, Bottom's Dream and The Comedy(A) of Error(E)s. In both shows, some characters spoke English and others Spanish in order to indicate a greater chasm between characters and locations.  In Comedy(A) of Error(E)s, one bilingual actor played both Antipholi, while another bilingual actor played both Dromios.

Courtesy of Tom Mallan

2001 Shakespeare in the Parque

Alexandria, VA

A Midsummer Night's Dream

(dir. Susan Schulman)

A new theatre company opened in 2001 under the direction of Susan Schulman. The production included both Spanish and English and was performed in July with a large cast of twenty-one.

2002 East LA Classic Theatre Company

Los Angeles, CA

A Midsummer Night's Dream

(dir. Tony Plana)
Link to full article

One of the four Latinx Shakespeares from Tony Plana's East LA Classic Theater Company. Read the article and interview.

2007 Cornerstone Theater Company

Holtville, CA

A Holtville Night's Dream
By: Alison Carey in collaboration with the people of Holtville, California

(dir. Laurie Woolery)
Link to full article

One of Cornerstone's community inspired Shakespeare adaptations, the company collaborated with Holtville residents.

All ephemera courtesy of Cornerstone Theater Company

2009 Arclight Repertory Theatre

San Jose, CA

A Midsummer Night's Dream

(dir. David Koppel)

The setting of the production was contemporary Piste, Mexico, nearby to the Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza, although dramaturgical elements from various time periods intersect in the performance.

2009 Cuban Office of Scenic Arts and

The University of Alabama

Tuscaloosa, AL and Havana, Cuba

Un Sueño de Una Noche de Verano
by Seth Panitch

(dir. Seth Panitch)
Link to full article

Part of the UA Cuba-Alabama Initiative, this production included Cuban and American actors.

Photography by: Mr. Porfirio Soloranzo
Courtesy of: Seth Pantitch

2014 Vortex Theatre & City of Albuquerque for "Shakespeare in the Plaza"

Albuquerque, NM

A Midsummer Night's Dream

(dir. David Richard Jones)
Link to full article

Director David Richard Jones set the action in 1850s New Mexico. 

2015 Teatro SEA

New York, NY

Sueño: A Latino Take on Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream
by Norge Espinosa

(dir. Manuel Morán)

This adaptation celebrates Afro-Caribbean culture with dance, movement, puppetry, and a live orchestra. Sueño was performed on alternating nights in contemporary English or Spanish. It is featured in Chapter Five of Latinx Shakespeares (p.142-147).

Photography by: George Riverón
Courtesy of: Teatro SEA

2018 Texas Light Opera (TLO) and Killer Productions

San Antonio, TX

A Midsummer Night's Dream

(dir. Ashley Rose Trevino)

The play was performed in April for Fiesta in San Antonio with Day of the Dead themes and music in Spanish.

Photography by: JPL Productions / Julián P. Ledezma
Courtesy of: Ashley Rose Trevino & Dave Cortez

2019 Something from Abroad Theatre Company

New York, NY

Sueño de Una Noche de Verano

(dir. Lorena Marín)

This Spanish-language production was part of the FRIGID NY festival that included six different versions of A Midsummer Night's Dream, including burlesque, improvisational, queer, and other adaptations of the play. Sueño de Una Noche de Verano was set in the 1950s in a Pueblo Mágico and performed in Spanish by eleven Latinx actors.

Photography by: Mateo Salcedo Cancino
Courtesy of: Something from Abroad Theatre

2022 NYU Libraries

virtual

Midsummer Sueño
Arranged by: Emily Stone

(dir. Antonio Disla)
Link to full article

Emily Stone integrated different Spanishes for different characters into this bilingual play.

Image courtesy of: Emily Stone

Much Ado About Nothing

1987 The Acting Company

Washington, DC

Much Ado About Nothing

(dir. Gerald Gutierrez)
Link to full article

The action was set in 1930s Cuba. The production was successful and toured across the country in 1987-88.

Rene Laigo, Oliver Barreiro, and Peter Lewis (Dogberry)
Photo by: Adam Newman, Courtesy of: Carla Della Gatta

1998 Illinois Shakespeare Festival

Bloomington, IL

Much Ado About Nothing

(dir. Robert E. Leonard)

The action is set in Messina, New Mexico, in 1917, with Don John, Benedick, and the men as U.S. Army troops returning from their pursuit of Pancho Villa.

1999 East LA Classic Theatre Company

Los Angeles, CA

Much Ado About Nothing: Mariachi Style
by: Tony Plana and Bert Rosario

(dir. Tony Plana)
Link to full article

One of the four Latinx Shakespeares from Tony Plana's East LA Classic Theater Company. Read the article and interview.

2002 University of Texas at Austin

Austin, TX

Much Ado About Nothing

(dir. Gavin Mundy)

The setting was the Mexican Revolution (1910-1917) in South Texas. Elena Araoz, then an MFA student, played Hero.