Rodolfo Robles Cruz

Three siblings--two undocumented--navigate the quiet tensions of immigrant life in a small city, where dreams feel both urgent and out of reach. As they grapple with identity, belonging, and the weight of being stuck, the world shifts in unimaginable ways: Earth makes first contact with extraterrestrial life. Framing this historic moment, a chorus of news reporters documents, argues, and sensationalizes humanity's entrance into "alienhood." In this deeply personal yet sharply satirical play, a familiar coming-of-age narrative is reimagined through a lens too often ignored, revealing the delicate intersections between the intimate and the cosmic.

A young woman overwhelmed by the crippling expectation placed on her by society, her family, and herself.
On the verge of a breakthrough, she calls her mother to confess.

Two estranged cousins, Elisa—a first generation “white washed” Mexican-American woman, and Chayo—a campesina woman born and raised in Mexico, meet in the southern part of the Mexican-American border for the funeral of Elisa’s mother. The two grapple with opposing views on opportunity, immigration, and the authenticity of the Mexican experience relative to their location. This story is intertwined with moments of magical realism as we explore the complex relationship of their lives. Analyzing the validity of resentment, and the disparity of Latinx individuals living on opposing sides of the border, La Norteña is a reflection of the lives of Mexican-Americans in the United States.