¡Ask a Mexican! The Play To Hit New York

The infamous column by Gustavo Arellano of the OC Weeekly, ¡Ask a Mexican!, will be a play in New York, according to a post by Arellano himself this week. The play’s first reading will be next week in that city by the Atlantic Theater Company, here’s a snippet from Arellano’s story:

It’ll be part of [the Atlantic Theater Company’s] Latino Mixfest, an annual showcase of Latino-themed plays from across the country that offers public readings and workshops for aspiring playwrights…and me.

How ¡Ask a Mexican! the play came to the Atlantic is pretty funny. I was approached months ago by Jaime Castaneda, who serves as an Artistic Leadership Associate for the company and said he wanted to turn my column into a play. I’ve actually received many offers like his, along with offers for television shows and movies, over the years but have rejected them all…

But Castaneda promised we’d stay true to the Know Nothing-bashing fun of my column, and the results definitely are something I’m enjoying (I provided the rants; Castaneda, the actual play part). It’s still not finished, and we still have to cast (calling any skinny Mexican nerds out there with a propensity to expose pedophile priests!) the damn show, but let’s see what happens…

While a column written by a Latino in Orange County, California may not be the most obvious fodder for theater about Latinos, I say — why not? Arellano’s column has been popular across the country and his Latino experience is just as valid as anyone else’s, yours, mine, etc. In any case, hopefully the play goes well and those of us outside New York will have the chance to see it. What do you think?

Follow Sara Inés Calderón on Twitter @SaraChicaD.