A Plausible History of Xicotencatl II

by Jaymes Sanchez

Xicotencatl II, an indigenous military leader from (the lands that are now called) Mexico, has been reliving his execution at the hands of Spanish colonizers for the last 500 years. When a cynical college student in present-day Texas connects with Xicotencatl II in her dreams, she begins to question everything she thought she knew. As her obsession with the people and events in her dreams grows, her grasp on...

Xicotencatl II, an indigenous military leader from (the lands that are now called) Mexico, has been reliving his execution at the hands of Spanish colonizers for the last 500 years. When a cynical college student in present-day Texas connects with Xicotencatl II in her dreams, she begins to question everything she thought she knew. As her obsession with the people and events in her dreams grows, her grasp on reality weakens. She begins to wonder if returning to the old gods with an adequate sacrifice could break Xicotencatl's death loop and save her world from the doom she senses lurking around every corner.

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A Plausible History of Xicotencatl II

Recommended by

  • Alicia Margarita Olivo: A Plausible History of Xicotencatl II by Jaymes Sanchez
    “

    Seen at the Sin Muros XI Festival in Houston. I've been craving something that really digs into the history of the "Conquest" of this continent without flattening the Indigenous peoples in it, and this play delivers an epic, truthful breath of fresh air. The relationship between Genevieve and Xicotencatl is endearing and heartbreaking. A funny, irreverent, biting, and life affirming play. Really looking forward to the day this gets a production! RIP Little Xico, you would’ve loved the World Cup.

    Seen at the Sin Muros XI Festival in Houston. I've been craving something that really digs into the history of the "Conquest" of this continent without flattening the Indigenous peoples in it, and this play delivers an epic, truthful breath of fresh air. The relationship between Genevieve and Xicotencatl is endearing and heartbreaking. A funny, irreverent, biting, and life affirming play. Really looking forward to the day this gets a production! RIP Little Xico, you would’ve loved the World Cup.

    ”
  • Playwrights Foundation: A Plausible History of Xicotencatl II by Jaymes Sanchez
    “

    The Playwrights Foundation literary council readers advanced A Plausible History of Xicotencatl II as a finalist for the 47th Bay Area Playwrights Festival.

    This is a bold, epic dive into Mexica history and contemporary Tejano life. We specifically leaned into the ambitious nature of this script, and its ability to deliver both anachronistic comedy and gut-punch brutality.

    We hope this play is considered for further development and finds collaborators in its journey towards production.

    The Playwrights Foundation literary council readers advanced A Plausible History of Xicotencatl II as a finalist for the 47th Bay Area Playwrights Festival.

    This is a bold, epic dive into Mexica history and contemporary Tejano life. We specifically leaned into the ambitious nature of this script, and its ability to deliver both anachronistic comedy and gut-punch brutality.

    We hope this play is considered for further development and finds collaborators in its journey towards production.

    ”
  • David Ramón Zayas: A Plausible History of Xicotencatl II by Jaymes Sanchez
    “

    A wonderfully honest and complex comedy that reverently--and irreverently--explores the intersection of Mexican-American identity, indigeneity, and Latinidad at large. A fun, surreal, surprising, moving, and educational piece of theatre with excellent roles for Latine actors of all genders.

    A wonderfully honest and complex comedy that reverently--and irreverently--explores the intersection of Mexican-American identity, indigeneity, and Latinidad at large. A fun, surreal, surprising, moving, and educational piece of theatre with excellent roles for Latine actors of all genders.

    ”

Character Information

  • Xicotencatl II
    Military leader of the Tizatlan faction of the Tlaxcaltec indigenous nation that fought against the Aztecs for generations. He has a gruesome red ring permanently bruised into his neck.
    30s
    Indigenous Mexican or Indigenous Latino
    Male
  • Genevieve
    A college student in present-day Texas
    20
    Indigenous Mexican or Indigenous Latino
    Female
  • Malintzin
    Also called La Malinche and Doña Marina. Indigenous translator for the Spanish colonizers. She was enslaved as a child and given to Hernan Cortes as a gift. She became a respected contributor to the Spanish conquest of what is now Mexico
    20
    Indigenous Mexican or Indigenous Latino
    Female
  • Hernan Cortes/Professor Collins
    Cortes is the leader of the Spanish Colonizers. Professor Collins is tenured faculty in the history department and Genevieve's thesis advisor.
    40s
    Male
  • Maxixcatl/Professor G.
    Maxixcatl is the leader of the Ocotelolco faction of the Tlaxcaltec nation. Professor G is up for tenure
    in the Latin American Studies Department and serves as the faculty advisor for the Latine Students Coalition.
    50s
    Indigenous Mexican or Indigenous Latino
    Male
  • Chichimecateuctli/Pablo
    Chichimecateuctli is a Military leader of the Ocotelolco faction of the Tlaxcaltec Nation. Pablo is a
    university student in the present.
    20s
    Indigenous Mexican or Indigenous Latino
    Male
  • ??? Doña Luisa/ Luisa
    ??? Doña Luisa is the sister of Xicotencatl II. Married to a Spaniard to secure the alliance. I'm still looking
    for her indigenous/pre-marriage name. Also plays Luisa, a college student in the present day; Genevieve's former roommate and the president of the Latine Students Coalition.
    Early 20s
    Indigenous Mexican or Indigenous Latino
    Female

Development History

  • Workshop, Stages, 2026

Awards