Beheading Columbus

When Susi's Venezuelan mother lands in the hospital, she and her half-sister Lana go down a DNA rabbit hole that blows their family story apart. Lana's results reveal she may share almost nothing genetically with the family she's always known, while Susi's traces directly back to the documented atrocities of Columbus's first landing. A sharp, funny, and ultimately devastating comedy about identity, epigenetics...

When Susi's Venezuelan mother lands in the hospital, she and her half-sister Lana go down a DNA rabbit hole that blows their family story apart. Lana's results reveal she may share almost nothing genetically with the family she's always known, while Susi's traces directly back to the documented atrocities of Columbus's first landing. A sharp, funny, and ultimately devastating comedy about identity, epigenetics, inherited trauma, and what colonialism leaves in the blood. Set in the Bay Area, Beheading Columbus asks: if your history was built on lies and violence, what do you owe the truth?
WORKSHOP/READING HISTORY
Developed at the Geffen Playhouse Writers' Room (2020–21), Echo Theatre's Playwrights Lab (2021), and Artists Repertory Theatre's Table|Room|Stage new works program. Selected for Orlando Shakespeare's PlayFest 2023. 2023 O'Neill Theater Center Finalist.

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Beheading Columbus

Recommended by

  • Jenny Connell Davis: Beheading Columbus

    We read this for the Perlberg Festival of New Plays at Palm Beach Dramaworks, and were really moved by the characters and intriguing story Burbano is taking on. Big questions in this play, none of which have easy answers. Challenging in the best ways!

    We read this for the Perlberg Festival of New Plays at Palm Beach Dramaworks, and were really moved by the characters and intriguing story Burbano is taking on. Big questions in this play, none of which have easy answers. Challenging in the best ways!

  • Heather Helinsky: Beheading Columbus

    The political is always personal and I highly enjoyed the wild ride Burbano takes us on through two sisters reckoning with identity, and what secrets DNA testing unleashes. Through the sisters, we experience both the humor and pain of complex narratives of colorism in families, discovering DNA relatives on Facebook, and dating the well-intentioned white man. This play will leave audiences asking questions of what happens after we open the chaotic box of family history, and how it transforms us.

    The political is always personal and I highly enjoyed the wild ride Burbano takes us on through two sisters reckoning with identity, and what secrets DNA testing unleashes. Through the sisters, we experience both the humor and pain of complex narratives of colorism in families, discovering DNA relatives on Facebook, and dating the well-intentioned white man. This play will leave audiences asking questions of what happens after we open the chaotic box of family history, and how it transforms us.

  • Shaun Leisher: Beheading Columbus

    This is a great play about ancestry and what it means when your whole sense of self is upended. A funny and moving play about two sisters navigating some shocking realizations. Loved all the different interactions with Lana's relatives. Big questions are being asked here in a very intimate way. With how obsessed our culture is with DNA ancestry testing these days, this is a perfect play to produce and stir up some relevant dialogue.

    This is a great play about ancestry and what it means when your whole sense of self is upended. A funny and moving play about two sisters navigating some shocking realizations. Loved all the different interactions with Lana's relatives. Big questions are being asked here in a very intimate way. With how obsessed our culture is with DNA ancestry testing these days, this is a perfect play to produce and stir up some relevant dialogue.

View all 7 recommendations

Character Information

Mark and Dr. Dover can be doubled. All the siblings and Mama can be played by the same actor.
  • Susi
    Sister to Lana, funny and serious at the same time.
    Character Age
    30's-40s
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Latino
    Character Gender Identity
    Female
  • Lana
    Sister to Susi. Insouciant and privileged.
    Character Age
    30's
    Character Gender Identity
    Female
  • Doctor Christian Dover
    White WASP. VERY VERY WHITE. VERY American.
    Character Age
    70's
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    White
  • Mark
    White WASP. Can double Dr Dover
    Character Age
    50's
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    White
  • Madison, Teddy, Robin, Dude, all other siblings
    Versatile
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Bi-racial/multi-racial,
    BIPOC

Development History

Awards