PORTLAND, Oregon — Students at Forest Grove High School are rehearsing for their school's very first bilingual play, set to have its opening night on Feb. 23.
With around 5,772 students, the Forest Grove School District's student body in Oregon's Washington County is 68% Latino — a community with different roots that aren't always represented. Cast members are hoping to show others in their community they belong on the performing arts stage, too.
"It's just a really good opportunity to give our Latinx students a chance to express themselves artistically," said the school's drama club adviser Julia Martinez-Peterson.
She was the one behind the vision of "La Gringa" as their next production — a play she did back in high school. The play is about a young woman visiting family in Puerto Rico for the first time, a side of her heritage she's excited to explore. But her family overseas doesn't see her as Puerto Rican because she lives in America.
"It's her struggle trying to figure out how she fits in both worlds,” said Martinez-Peterson.
It's a sentiment cast members personally connect with, including sophomore Jeanette Sale, who plays Maria Elena Garcia, the main character.
“I am a gringa. That’s what my whole family calls me,” said Sale. "I go to Mexico, and they call me 'la gringa'; they call me 'la güera.'”
Other students said they’re eager to connect with their family's native language and participate in something their parents would understand.
"I decided that this time, I'd do a play where my parents understand,” said senior Alex Arosales Moreno. “Since it was a little awkward going up to them [in my past plays and asking] 'did you understand the play? Did you like it?'”
Junior Miraya Aguilar added, "I think it's extremely important for there to be more people out expressing themselves and showing who they are. My mom right away asked me to practice lines with her, and I started showing her the script and who I would be playing. She told my family and they’re really excited as well.”
La Gringa’s opening night is Friday, Feb. 23, at 7 p.m. in Spanish. The English version of the play will run at the same time on Saturday. Tickets are available online.
"I'm really hoping, that especially to the students that see this for the first time, that they'll see a story that's similar to their own up on stage which is something they haven't seen,” said Martinez-Peterson. “And then through that, they will hopefully be willing to share their own stories because their stories are important, and we want to hear them."