The Ortiz Twins Are Coming Home

by Andrew Siañez-De La O

FULL LENGTH: Andrea and Mateo Ortiz have always seen their abuelo as a hero, but when an ancient Zapotec God appears to them and reveals a dark family secret, the twins must journey back to the land of their ancestors to right a long-forgotten wrong. The Ortiz Twins Are Coming Home is an otherworldly adventure play for all audiences, a fantasy rooted in the reality of crossing borders in order to recover...

FULL LENGTH: Andrea and Mateo Ortiz have always seen their abuelo as a hero, but when an ancient Zapotec God appears to them and reveals a dark family secret, the twins must journey back to the land of their ancestors to right a long-forgotten wrong. The Ortiz Twins Are Coming Home is an otherworldly adventure play for all audiences, a fantasy rooted in the reality of crossing borders in order to recover memories, both personal and cultural, before they are gone for good.

Or, it’s like James and the Giant Peach, but everyone’s Mexican.

The Ortiz Twins Are Coming Home was developed as part of Pipeline Theatre Company's 2019 PlayLab.

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The Ortiz Twins Are Coming Home

Recommended by

  • Playwrights Foundation: The Ortiz Twins Are Coming Home by Andrew Siañez-De La O
    “

    Playwrights Foundation enthusiastically recommends this play, THE ORTIZ TWINS ARE COMING HOME, as a Semi-Finalist for the Bay Area Playwrights Festival 2020. We were moved by the quality of the writing and the relevant and compelling themes that spoke to the mission of our festival. It excelled in a competitive process of 735 plays submitted this year and rose to the top after a six month long process discussing its merits with both national and local Bay Area readers, and we hope it moves swiftly towards production.

    Playwrights Foundation enthusiastically recommends this play, THE ORTIZ TWINS ARE COMING HOME, as a Semi-Finalist for the Bay Area Playwrights Festival 2020. We were moved by the quality of the writing and the relevant and compelling themes that spoke to the mission of our festival. It excelled in a competitive process of 735 plays submitted this year and rose to the top after a six month long process discussing its merits with both national and local Bay Area readers, and we hope it moves swiftly towards production.

    ”

Character Information

It's possible to have the actor playing ABUELO also play EL COCODRILO in staged productions as well as the voice of EDWARD JAMES OLMOS during staged readings where audio of the "Selena" scene is not available.
  • La Mariposa
    Mid 30s
    Latinx/o/a or Hispanic
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      30s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Latinx/o/a or Hispanic
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female
  • Pitáo Cocijo
    Late 30s, Early 40s
    Latinx/o/a or Hispanic
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      30s,
      40s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Latinx/o/a or Hispanic
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female
  • El Cocodrilo
    This character can also be played by the actor playing El Jaguar.
    Late 20s, Early 30s
    Latinx/o/a or Hispanic
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Latinx/o/a or Hispanic
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male
  • Guillermo
    Any Age
    Latinx/o/a or Hispanic
    Any
  • Alejandro
    Any Age
    Latinx/o/a or Hispanic
    Any
  • Andrea
    13
    Latinx/o/a or Hispanic
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Child,
      Teens,
      20s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Latinx/o/a or Hispanic
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female
  • Mateo
    13
    Latinx/o/a or Hispanic
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Child,
      Teens,
      20s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Latinx/o/a or Hispanic
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male
  • Abuelo
    Late 50s
    Latinx/o/a or Hispanic
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      40s,
      50s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Latinx/o/a or Hispanic
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male
  • The Pitáo
    Late 30s, Early 40s
    Latinx/o/a or Hispanic
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      30s,
      40s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Latinx/o/a or Hispanic
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male
  • El Jaguar
    Mid 30s
    Latinx/o/a or Hispanic
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      30s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Latinx/o/a or Hispanic
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male

Development History

  • Residency, Corkscrew Theater Festival, 2020
  • Residency, Pipeline Theatre Company, 2019
  • Reading, Pipeline Theatre Company, 2019

Awards