The American Dream

by Juan Ramirez, Jr.

Corina is an immigrant from Guatemala who has smuggled her way across the border guided by Efren, her coyote aka human smuggler. Instead of finding freedom, she finds herself imprisoned by Efren, who now holds her inside a safe house, awaiting the final Western Union payment from her husband. Set in the last hour and twenty minutes, Corina begs for her freedom but letting her go is against everything Efren...

Corina is an immigrant from Guatemala who has smuggled her way across the border guided by Efren, her coyote aka human smuggler. Instead of finding freedom, she finds herself imprisoned by Efren, who now holds her inside a safe house, awaiting the final Western Union payment from her husband. Set in the last hour and twenty minutes, Corina begs for her freedom but letting her go is against everything Efren stands for.

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The American Dream

Recommended by

  • David Davila: The American Dream

    Yo!!!!! This play is a masterpiece. Seriously, a masterclass is dramatic tension. Ramirez sets the clock, raises the stakes as high as he can and pulls the trigger while the audience sits in stunned silence with baited breathe listening to the sound of each other's heartbeats. This is a play for the ages!

    Yo!!!!! This play is a masterpiece. Seriously, a masterclass is dramatic tension. Ramirez sets the clock, raises the stakes as high as he can and pulls the trigger while the audience sits in stunned silence with baited breathe listening to the sound of each other's heartbeats. This is a play for the ages!

Character Information

  • Efren
    Coyote, human smuggler. Suffering from a hard life, he's pessimist and cold.
    Character Age
    30s - 50s
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Guatemalteco,
    Guatemalan
    Character Gender Identity
    Male
  • Corina
    Undocumented immigrant. With dreams of a better life, she struggles to remain optimist and hopeful.
    Character Age
    20s - 30s
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Guatemalteco
    Character Gender Identity
    Female

Development History

  • Type Reading, Organization The Landing Theatre, Year 2018
  • Type Reading, Organization Stage Left Theatre’s Downstage Left residency, Semi-Finalist, Year 2016

Production History

  • Type Professional, Organization Subtext Theater, Year 2023
  • Type Fringe, Organization Broadway Bound Theater Festival, Year 2017