i didn't make this by jose sebastian alberdi

Alejandra has finally secured a spot in Green Street Studio's emerging dancer development program, Teeny Beans. But so has Virginia. And her best friend Bernardo didn't get a spot. And Alejandra's finally performing something directly connected to her Mexican roots, but why does she feel like such a phony? A play & performance about what it’s like navigating the arts scene in Boston as a...
Alejandra has finally secured a spot in Green Street Studio's emerging dancer development program, Teeny Beans. But so has Virginia. And her best friend Bernardo didn't get a spot. And Alejandra's finally performing something directly connected to her Mexican roots, but why does she feel like such a phony? A play & performance about what it’s like navigating the arts scene in Boston as a Mexican-American artist, the competition inherent to artist "communities", and general immigrant family diaspora feelings.

Originally commissioned and developed through the SpeakEasy Stage Company Boston Project.
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i didn't make this

Recommended by

  • Alicia Margarita Olivo:
    13 Aug. 2021
    “ An exhilarating, hilarious, and loving tribute to being a Mexican artist in the city of Boston. alberdi deftly showcases how predominantly white institutions put us through the wringer, mangling us into something unrecognizable to our own selves, and our desperate journeys in making ourselves right once more. i didn't make this has some of the most uncannily recognizable characters I've read; regardless of who you are, you will see yourself refracted in each person onstage. Gorgeous. I hope to see it onstage, in person someday. ”
  • Shaun Leisher:
    11 Jul. 2021
    “ I really appreciated the specificity of this play. Love how it is unapologetically about Boston and the struggles the city is going through. This is a fascinating look not just about gentrification but about the artistic process and how BIPOC artists are forced to market themselves in not always the most authentic ways. A great ensemble piece for dancer/actors. ”
  • Nick Malakhow:
    18 Jun. 2021
    “ As a queer, multi-racial artist currently based in Boston, I found oh so much to relate to and resonate with here. Even beyond that very specific experience, anyone who reads this will gain important insights into the intersection of identity and art. To be specific--the complexities of feeling like you are commodifying and coopting your own identity to market yourself as an artist to a market that, ultimately, doesn't value what you truly have to give. The conversations in this play are necessary. The satire was funny and gentle. The inclusion of dance is an exciting opportunity. ”

Character Information

  • Alejandra
    25,
    Mexican-American
    ,
    a woman
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Latinx/o/a or Hispanic
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • Bernardo
    25-26,
    Mexican-American
    ,
    a man
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Latinx/o/a or Hispanic
    • Gender: 
      Male
  • Rose
    19,
    Chinese American
    ,
    a woman
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Teens, 20s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Asian, Pacific Islander, or Asian American
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • Daniel
    26,
    Haitian-American
    ,
    a man
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Black, African, Caribbean, or African American
    • Gender: 
      Male
  • Virginia
    26,
    White
    ,
    a woman
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      White
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • Milo
    27,
    White
    ,
    a man
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      White
    • Gender: 
      Male

Development History

  • Commission
    ,
    SpeakEasy Stage Company
    ,
    2020