The Cucuy Will Find You

by Jaymes Sanchez

The Cucuy, in Mexican-American folklore, eats bad children. But what does it mean to be a good child? For a seven-year-old in the back of a 1990 Ford Aerostar, it means shutting up every now and then. For a successful 30-something, like REY/REYNA, who has a fraught family history and lives far away from home, the answer is more complicated. When the Cucuy shows up and disrupts Rey's life and the very fabric of...

The Cucuy, in Mexican-American folklore, eats bad children. But what does it mean to be a good child? For a seven-year-old in the back of a 1990 Ford Aerostar, it means shutting up every now and then. For a successful 30-something, like REY/REYNA, who has a fraught family history and lives far away from home, the answer is more complicated. When the Cucuy shows up and disrupts Rey's life and the very fabric of reality, Rey must prove that they are a good child. But even if they succeed, the ordeal might still consume them.

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The Cucuy Will Find You

Recommended by

  • Nick Malakhow: The Cucuy Will Find You by Jaymes Sanchez
    “

    The piece straddles such a fine line between tender humanity, lyricism, bold and funny theatricality, and a heightened/slightly magical fabulistic feel. Rey's coming of age/adulthood, complex and multi-pronged grief, and generational journey is so beautifully laid out throughout the piece. I loved how the play crossed boundaries of time and space with an effortless feel, the Cucuy and Leti truly anchoring the transitions in this aesthetically interesting world--so much exciting work here for designers to contribute essentially to the storytelling. I'd love to see this realized onstage!

    The piece straddles such a fine line between tender humanity, lyricism, bold and funny theatricality, and a heightened/slightly magical fabulistic feel. Rey's coming of age/adulthood, complex and multi-pronged grief, and generational journey is so beautifully laid out throughout the piece. I loved how the play crossed boundaries of time and space with an effortless feel, the Cucuy and Leti truly anchoring the transitions in this aesthetically interesting world--so much exciting work here for designers to contribute essentially to the storytelling. I'd love to see this realized onstage!

    ”
  • Eugene O'Neill Theater Center: The Cucuy Will Find You by Jaymes Sanchez
    “

    It is the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center's pleasure to recommend Jaymes Sanchez and their play The Cucuy Will Find You as a finalist for our 2020 National Playwrights Conference. This particular work emerged from a highly competitive, anonymous, and multi-tiered selection process to become one of 63 finalists out of more than 1,500 submissions. This enthralling piece galvanized the hearts and theatrical imaginations of our reading teams and is fully championed by our offices. We are honored to put our enthusiastic support behind this writer and their ongoing contributions to the American...

    It is the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center's pleasure to recommend Jaymes Sanchez and their play The Cucuy Will Find You as a finalist for our 2020 National Playwrights Conference. This particular work emerged from a highly competitive, anonymous, and multi-tiered selection process to become one of 63 finalists out of more than 1,500 submissions. This enthralling piece galvanized the hearts and theatrical imaginations of our reading teams and is fully championed by our offices. We are honored to put our enthusiastic support behind this writer and their ongoing contributions to the American Theater.

    read more
    ”
  • Kitchen Dog Theater: The Cucuy Will Find You by Jaymes Sanchez
    “

    We are pleased to support this play! It was a Finalist for the 2020 New Works Festival at Kitchen Dog Theater in Dallas, Texas.

    We are pleased to support this play! It was a Finalist for the 2020 New Works Festival at Kitchen Dog Theater in Dallas, Texas.

    ”
View all 7 recommendations

Character Information

  • Rey/Reyna
    31
    Brown Latinx,
    Afro-Latinx
    Any
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      30s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Black, African, Caribbean, or African American,
      Indigenous, First Nation, or Native American,
      Latinx/o/a or Hispanic
  • The Cucuy
    The Cucuy is a supernatural being that eats bad children. It is ageless and genderless. The character should be played by an actor 30+, Brown or Black Latinx woman or non-binary.
    Ageless
    Agender
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      30s,
      40s,
      50s,
      60s,
      70s+
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Black, African, Caribbean, or African American,
      Indigenous, First Nation, or Native American,
      Latinx/o/a or Hispanic
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female,
      Non-binary
  • Carlos
    Also plays various ensemble roles.
    50s
    Brown Latinx,
    Afro-Latinx
    he/him
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      50s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Black, African, Caribbean, or African American,
      Indigenous, First Nation, or Native American,
      Latinx/o/a or Hispanic
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male
  • Dr. Amy Silver
    Also plays KEE, a patient under Rey/Reyna's care.
    50s
    African American
    She/her
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      50s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Black, African, Caribbean, or African American
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female
  • Leticia
    Also plays various ensemble roles.
    70+
    Brown Latinx,
    Afro-Latinx
    She/her
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      70s+
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Black, African, Caribbean, or African American,
      Indigenous, First Nation, or Native American,
      Latinx/o/a or Hispanic
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female

Development History

  • Workshop, Teatro Vivo Latinx New Play Festival, 2020
  • Workshop, The Lark's Playwrights' Week, 2019

Awards

  • The Keene Prize for Literature
    Winner
    2020
  • O'Neill National Playwrights' Conference
    Finalist
    2020
  • Princess Grace Playwriting Fellowship
    Semi-Finalist
    2019