Luciérnagas
with the National Queer Theater at the 14th Street Y Theater, Fall 2021
Directed by Carlos Armesto Written by Javier Rivera DeBruin Scenic & Prop Design by Gaya Maria Chatterjee Lighting Design by Betsy Chester Costume Design by Oriana Sophia Sound Design by Germán Martinez
Luciérnagas is a play about shadows: our own, our family’s, and how they are linked. It is a story about heritage, legacy, and forgiveness. When Mal’s maternal grandmother Lupe dies, she inherits a mysterious cabin in the woods. While visiting this small house for the first time, Mal encounters her estranged mother Silvia, the ghost of her grandmother, and a bioluminescent child named Xara who lives in the walls. Silvia declares ownership of the cabin, Mal struggles to break free from old patterns, and Xara demands to be seen. All the while they parse through possessions, secrets, and family dynamics, over a weekend they won’t soon forget.
