Nine Plays by Jose Cruz Gonzalez: Magical Realism and Mature Themes in Theatre for Young Audiences

Winner, Distinguished Book Award, American Alliance for Theatre & Education, 2009 In today’s multicultural world there is an urgent need for more plays and books that represent a diverse array of ethnic groups. Theatre and book critics, scholars, and theatre professionals have long campaigned for a broader representation of minorities in book and play publishing. In this anthology, renowned theatre expert Coleman A. Jennings has compiled a selection of plays by Jose Cruz Gonzalez that meets these multicultural demands head-on. Gonzalez is a foremost voice in theatre for children and youth whose plays address themes, often through imaginary lands and extraordinary characters, faced by children in their everyday lives. Born to migrant workers in Calexico, California, in 1957, Gonzalez learned at a young age how to tap into the vast world of his imagination. From his grandfather, who would regale the family with stories and riddles as they worked on the farm, he learned the power of storytelling. He spent afternoons, weekends, and summers working in the fields, so it is no surprise that his plays are strongly tied to the natural world. His use of magical realism has become one of his trademarks. The nine plays in this anthology were thoughtfully collected and will go far to fill the multicultural gap in the world of theatre for children.