Speaking in Tongues

Commissioned by Latino Theater Company and developed in its Circle of Imaginistas playwriting group, the world premiere of Speaking in Tongues by Luis Alfaro continues the MacArthur Foundation “Genius Grant” recipient’s funny, poignant exploration of life in the small, predominantly Mexican-American agricultural towns of California’s San Joaquin Valley. The setting is a Pentecostal church on the edge of a cornfield in Earlimart, a California town off Highway 99 in Tulare County. Hermana Romie, Hermana Cubby, Hermano Mando and Hermano Tico share chisme, food, and their devotion to the Apostolic faith. Hermana Romie’s husband was the pastor of their church — until he disappeared eight weeks ago. As immigration raids threaten the community and their daughter prepares to leave for a secular life in Los Angeles, Hermana Romie claims her own authority, uniting religious devotion with activism and leading the congregation toward collective resilience. Latino Theater Company at The Los Angeles