New Book: Golden Tongues: Adapting Hispanic Classical Theater in Los Angeles

 

We are thrilled to announce the release of Golden Tongues: Adapting Hispanic Classical Theater in Los Angeles, an anthology that brings Hispanic classical theater into vibrant dialogue with contemporary storytelling. This collection, born of the collaboration between Diversifying the Classics and Playwrights’ Arena, features seven English-language adaptations of comedia classics by Los Angeles playwrights. These plays offer fresh perspectives on themes of gender, race, cultural identity, and social justice, connecting centuries-old narratives to the challenges and experiences of modern audiences.

Founded in 2013 by UCLA professor Barbara Fuchs and director Jon Lawrence Rivera, Golden Tongues is an initiative that reimagines the Hispanic classical theater tradition, long overshadowed by Shakespeare, for a multicultural, multilingual U.S. Through these adaptations, playwrights have transformed works by Lope de Vega, Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, Calderón de la Barca and others into bold, localized stories generally set in a diverse and ever-changing Los Angeles. From the turmoil of the Rodney King riots to the gentrification of the city, drag houses and political scandals, and even a mystical school for witches, these plays engage readers and audiences alike with their wit, pathos, and social commentary, offering an entry point into the richness of the comedia tradition.

 

Golden Tongues: Adapting Hispanic Classical Theater is a testament to the adaptability and relevance of Hispanic classical theater in today’s world. A resource for educators, theater practitioners, and general readers, this anthology introduces a more diverse sense of the classics and their transformation.

 

Golden Tongues: Adapting Hispanic Classical Theater
Edited by Barbara Fuchs, Robin Kello, Aina Soley Mateu

 

Including plays by Luis Alfaro, Boni B. Alvarez, Madhuri Shekar, Mary Lyon Kamitaki, Julie Taiwo Quarles, Lina Patel, June Carryl.

 

Bloomsbury – Methuen Drama

 

https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/golden-tongues-9781350431546/

 

Please note that instructors can request an exam copy of the volume.