All My Mothers Dream in Spanish: A Play with Drums

by AZ Espinoza

Inspired by Afro-Venezuelan folk history, All My Mothers Dream in Spanish is about three generations of an Afro-Latinx family and their encounters with their ancestor named Guiomar. An Afro-Venezuelan folk hero, Guiomar was queen of Buría, a kingdom established by Africans who rebelled against enslavement in 1552. Guiomar also had the capacity for magic and has passed this on to her descendants who are: A...

Inspired by Afro-Venezuelan folk history, All My Mothers Dream in Spanish is about three generations of an Afro-Latinx family and their encounters with their ancestor named Guiomar. An Afro-Venezuelan folk hero, Guiomar was queen of Buría, a kingdom established by Africans who rebelled against enslavement in 1552. Guiomar also had the capacity for magic and has passed this on to her descendants who are: A Grandmother who worked as a housekeeper and now listens to the birds who visit her mango tree… A Mother who is a successful physician in the United States and never taught her daughter her mother tongue… A Daughter who dropped out of law school to join a revolution in the same forest where Guiomar reigned as queen. This play is made of midnight conversations, Spanglish, and dreams that leave visible scars.

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All My Mothers Dream in Spanish: A Play with Drums

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  • Heather Helinsky: All My Mothers Dream in Spanish: A Play with Drums by AZ Espinoza
    “

    This was a compelling read about matrilineal ancestral power, seeking wisdom and magic (but not always finding answers). It's full of imagery around birth, revolution, fruit, birds, and homeland. The tough questions asked of the next generation, such as: "what do you want, to heal or seek power?" still sit with me. Told in a stylistically innovative way with highly poetic and rhythmic language, this multilingual play about intergenerational tensions should be read widely and produced.

    This was a compelling read about matrilineal ancestral power, seeking wisdom and magic (but not always finding answers). It's full of imagery around birth, revolution, fruit, birds, and homeland. The tough questions asked of the next generation, such as: "what do you want, to heal or seek power?" still sit with me. Told in a stylistically innovative way with highly poetic and rhythmic language, this multilingual play about intergenerational tensions should be read widely and produced.

    ”
  • Playwrights Foundation: All My Mothers Dream in Spanish: A Play with Drums by AZ Espinoza
    “

    The community of national & local readers for the 45th Bay Area Playwrights Festival in 2022 enthusiastically recommends ALL MY MOTHERS DREAM IN SPANISH: A PLAY WITH DRUMS as a Semi-Finalist at Playwrights Foundation. We were deeply moved by this play's generational and familial story and themes of healing. We were compelled by this play's promise in its language, music, choreography, and worldbuilding. We hope this play is widely read, finds dedicated collaborators, and moves swiftly towards production. #BAPF2022

    The community of national & local readers for the 45th Bay Area Playwrights Festival in 2022 enthusiastically recommends ALL MY MOTHERS DREAM IN SPANISH: A PLAY WITH DRUMS as a Semi-Finalist at Playwrights Foundation. We were deeply moved by this play's generational and familial story and themes of healing. We were compelled by this play's promise in its language, music, choreography, and worldbuilding. We hope this play is widely read, finds dedicated collaborators, and moves swiftly towards production. #BAPF2022

    ”
  • National New Play Network: All My Mothers Dream in Spanish: A Play with Drums by AZ Espinoza
    “

    All My Mothers Dream in Spanish: A Play with Drums by Alexandra Espinoza was a finalist for NNPN's 2022 National Showcase of New Plays, and we are pleased to recommend it.

    All My Mothers Dream in Spanish: A Play with Drums by Alexandra Espinoza was a finalist for NNPN's 2022 National Showcase of New Plays, and we are pleased to recommend it.

    ”
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