Episode 2.06: Manuel Lopez, Morir Soñando

This month we are talking to Manuel Lopez, a bilingual Boston playwright by way of the Dominican Republic, Washington Heights, and Lawrence. His play Morir Soñando introduces us to El Cuco, a Latin American boogeyman/trickster type which Lopez intertwines into the lives of a group of friends.

Like LIvian Yeh last episode, Mani was involved in Artists Theater of Boston’s This Place/Displaced, and he talks about the process of pairing up with a community partner for inspiration for his play which he wrote in verse because the assignment wasn’t difficult enough or something.

Former featured playwright Jecenia Isis Figueroa joins us as co-host, and together we talk about bilingual theater, life as an immigrant, writing in verse, Buzz Lightyear, and the challenges of moving from New York to Boston as a kid. We stump him with the Fictional Latinx Bostonian question.

Mentioned: Artists Theater of Boston, TCSquared, Escena Latina Teatro, Boston Red Sox, Morir Soñando drink recipe

Co-Host

• Jecenia Isis Figueroa

Cast

• El Cuco was played by Michael Saenz

• Rafi was played by David Quiroz

• Leyla was played by Nicole Ventura

• Stage Directions were read by Jecenia Isis Figueroa