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...
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:
    16 Jul. 2021
    “ 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:
    22 Jun. 2020
    “ 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. ”
  • Kitchen Dog Theater:
    22 May. 2020
    “ We are pleased to support this play! It was a Finalist for the 2020 New Works Festival at Kitchen Dog Theater in Dallas, Texas. ”
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Character Information

  • Rey/Reyna
    31,
    Brown Latinx, Afro-Latinx
    ,
    Any
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      30s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Black, African, Caribbean, or African American, Indigenous, First Nation, or Native American, Latinx/o/a or Hispanic
    • Gender: 
      Any gender
  • The Cucuy
    Ageless, Array,
    Agender
    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.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s+
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Black, African, Caribbean, or African American, Indigenous, First Nation, or Native American, Latinx/o/a or Hispanic
    • Gender: 
      Female, Non-binary
  • Carlos
    50s ,
    Brown Latinx, Afro-Latinx
    ,
    he/him
    Also plays various ensemble roles.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      50s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Black, African, Caribbean, or African American, Indigenous, First Nation, or Native American, Latinx/o/a or Hispanic
    • Gender: 
      Male
  • Dr. Amy Silver
    50s,
    African American
    ,
    She/her
    Also plays KEE, a patient under Rey/Reyna's care.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      50s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Black, African, Caribbean, or African American
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • Leticia
    70+,
    Brown Latinx, Afro-Latinx
    ,
    She/her
    Also plays various ensemble roles.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      70s+
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Black, African, Caribbean, or African American, Indigenous, First Nation, or Native American, Latinx/o/a or Hispanic
    • Gender: 
      Female

Development History

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

Awards

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