Told through storytelling, dance, and music, this famous Mexican folk legend captures the story of a desperate mother who murders her children by drowning them in a river.
Schools: This play is ambitious for schools. Some material may be objectionable, and some students (and parents) may be sensitive to central themes and elements within.
SYNOPSIS
Synopsis
The legend of “La Llorona” is very old and very new. The myth about the desperate mother who drowns her children in a river and then haunts the earth, crying for their lost souls, has roots in Mexican folklore but has spread to become one of the most beloved— and feared— tales of terror that the world has ever known.
In this play, El Diablo guides us through five separate “La Llorona” stories— starting with Doña Marina and the Spanish Conquest of South America, to rural 18th-century Mexico and the story of Araceli, to the halls of 19th-century Mexican aristocracy, to two present-day horrors that were ripped from the headlines.
Las Lloronas is a multi-lingual, multi-disciplinary tale of horror, regret, and the deep dark things inside of people that lead them to the most horrendous of acts.
QUOTE
More Info
Characters:
El Diablo – Our dark master of ceremonies. He guides us through this journey in order to dishearten us and convince us to give up on our humanity.
Doña Marina – 20s/30s. A Nahua woman from the Mexican Gulf Coast, mid-16th century. Inspired by La Malinche– interpreter, advisor, lover, and intermediary for Spanish Conquistador Hernán Cortés.
- Happy Maria
- Witch (dance role)
Araceli Gonzales – 20s. A Mexican flower shop girl, early 19th century. Inspired by the iconic representations of the “La Llorona” folkloric protagonist.
- The Weeping Woman
- Prostitute
- Spanish Lady
- Soldier
- Pia’s Daughter
Lady Amélie – 30s. European royalty living in mid-19th century Mexico. Inspired by Carlota of Mexico, empress consort of Emperor Maximilian I of Mexico, the former Archduke of Austria. (Singing role.)
- Attendant
- Maria’s Mother
- Prostitute
- Council of Aztecs
- Midwife
- Soldier
- Vain Maria
Leigh Wilson – 20s. Mother of two living in 1990s New Mexico. Inspired by Susan Smith, who was found guilty of murder in the drowning deaths of her two sons by strapping them in their car seats and rolling the car into a lake.
- Young Maria
- Lady Amelie Dancer (dance role)
- Council of Aztecs
- Queen of Spain
- Soldier
Pia Faye Thomas – 30s. Mother of four living in present-day Los Angeles. Loosely inspired by Andrea Yates, a convicted murderer who drowned her five children, ages six months to seven years, in the bathtub of her suburban home.
- Lady of the House
- Attendant
- Prostitute
- Council of Aztecs
- Midwife
- Soldier
- Pious Maria
The Men (played by at least two actors) – Ensemble characters who plays many parts throughout the play of varying ages and time periods.
- Maria’s Father
- Young Lord
- Council of Aztecs
- King of Spain
- Soldier
- Maria’s Love
- Soldier
- Mayan Slave Trader
- Hernán Cortés
- Emperor Frederick III
- Pia’s Husband
Casting Note:
Minimum: 5F, 3M (includes the doubling outlined below).
Maximum: 15F, 15M (variable casting depending on doubling and use of additional actors to flesh out groups of people).
Setting: Numerous locations, both real and surreal.
Performance Royalties are based on theater particulars. Please fill out an application for a personalized quote.
Billing responsibilities, pertinent copyright information, and playwrights' biographies are available in the show rider that comes with your license agreement.
Materials: your materials will be sent to you two months prior to your opening date and will include everything necessary for your production and can be ordered in Printed or Digital format. Printed Materials are provided on unbound three-hole punched loose-leaf paper while Digital Materials are provided via email as downloadable PDF files for you to print in-house. All materials are yours to keep! No deposits, no returns.
The required materials for Las Lloronas include:
Production Scripts
Available Products:
Wicked Lit Print Edition - The beautifully designed anthology, available at wholesale costs to sell in your lobby!
Director's Script – Single-sided script with space for director’s notes.
Logo/PR Pack – Includes high-resolution artwork and reference photos. Also, ready-designed posters, reviews and pull quotes, if available.
GALLERY
Gallery
Available Products
Las Lloronas
by Jonathan Josephson
adapted from the Mexican legend of La Llorona
PDF Perusal Script of LAS LLORONAS. Download instantly in the "My Products" or “My Perusals” section of your account. Not intended for production purposes.
| Product | Description | Price |
|---|---|---|
|
PDF Perusal Script of LAS LLORONAS. Download instantly in the "My Products" or “My Perusals” section of your account. Not intended for production purposes. |
$3.00 |
