When selecting shows for a season, we look for stories that challenge audiences, spark conversation, and reflect experiences that are often overlooked. Luis Alfaro’s Mojada: A Medea in Los Angeles immediately stood out because it does all three.

At its core, the play is about immigration, family, sacrifice, identity, and survival. It tells the story of a woman trying to build a life in Los Angeles while carrying the emotional weight of displacement, fear, and isolation. While inspired by the ancient Greek tragedy Medea, the play feels deeply modern and painfully human. It asks audiences to consider what people give up in pursuit of safety, opportunity, and belonging.

We also recognize that the title can be uncomfortable. “Mojada” is a Spanish term that has historically been used as a slur toward immigrants, particularly undocumented immigrants crossing the border. Luis Alfaro chose the title intentionally. Rather than avoiding the word, he confronts it directly, reclaiming it as part of a larger conversation about prejudice, dehumanization, and the labels society places on people. The discomfort is part of the point.

Producing this play is also meaningful for us in another way. It marks the first time Theatre in the Grove has produced a work by a Latino playwright. We see this not as a one-time experiment, but as an important step toward telling a broader range of stories that better reflect the diversity of our community. We know theatre has the power to create empathy, and we believe Mojada is exactly the kind of bold, thought-provoking work that community theatre should embrace.