by Junot Díaz
Based on the novel The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Díaz ©2008
Appropriate for: high school, college, and community audiences.
Available for pre-recorded, remote, or LIVE! performances
This tour de force adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel chronicles the life of Oscar De León, an overweight Dominican boy growing up in Paterson, New Jersey. Oscar is obsessed with science fiction and fantasy novels, falling in love, and the curse that has plagued his family for generations. Told with humor by Oscar’s unlikely, macho player roommate, Yunior; Oscar becomes a hero by being fully himself.
The Story
Oscar de Leon is an overweight Dominican boy growing up in Paterson, New Jersey who obsesses over science fiction and fantasy novels, falling in love, and the curse that has plagued his family for generations. Despite the endless taunting, Oscar remains true to himself. As the family curse declares its power, the fear and violence of Oscar’s family history collide with Oscar’s present.
In Performance
This Literature to Life presentation features the delicately brutal words of Junot Díaz, author of The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao. Díaz details the life-long alienation of a fantasy world-obsessed Oscar, and how – We come to understand the culture of fear and violence that has resulted from Trujillo’s 30+ years dictatorship of the Dominican Republic, and the importance of facing fear with love.
Appropriate for: high school, college, and community audiences. Available for pre-recorded, remote, or LIVE! performance
