“BLENDS HUMOR, HEART, and CULTURAL EXPLORATION” -Broadway World
High stakes Art Basel is about to begin in Miami, and the art has vanished from Mariana’s trendy modern gallery! Chaos erupts—and so does laughter in this fast-paced comedy.
Artist/intern Caro and her policeman boyfriend are scrambling to find the thief or replace the art when Mari’s larger-than-life movie-star mother shows up, stealing the spotlight yet again. Then a past girl-crush arrives, and things get even more complicado.
A joyous celebration of Latinx creativity, messy love, mothers and daughters, and the beautiful challenge of finding your place—and your people.
PERFORMED IN ENGLISH
Sponsored by Bernard Zyscovich in honor of Michael Robinowitz and Denise McLaughlin
Performance Dates
MAY 23-JUNE 22, 2025
Press Opening: May 30
Show Times
Wednesdays: 8pm (5/28 & 6/4) & 2pm (6/11 & 6/18)
Thursdays & Fridays: 8pm
Saturdays: 3pm & 8pm (No Matinee 6/7)
Sundays: 5pm
Show Run Time
90 minutes with no intermission
General Admission
Tickets start at $35 on Wednesdays, Thursdays, & Fridays and $40 for Saturdays and Sundays. Reserve now for best prices! Prices will increase as the run continues.
Student tickets available for $20. Contact our box office to place an order.
Bring your neighbors!
Group pricing is available for parties of 10+. Groups of 10-24 receive $3 off the general admission ticket price. Groups of 25+ receive $5 off the general admission ticket price. Call 404.523.1477 x100 or e-mail groups@horizontheatre.com for more information.
Ticket prices are subject to change. Buy early for best pricing. Internet convenience fee added to all online orders. No refunds, exchanges, or late seating. Cannot combine discount offers.
Cast & Creatives
- Estella: Denise Arribas
- Mari: Ana Miramontes
- Caro: Lorena Guillen Castillo
- Juan: Marcello Audino*
- Jenny: Mabel Thomas
- Estella U/S: Karen Aruj
- Juan U/S: Julio Zaconet Valentin
- Director: Erika Miranda
- Scenic Designers: Moriah & Isabel Curley-Clay
- Costume Designer: John Merritt
- Lighting Designer: Mary Parker
- Sound Designer: Claudia Jenkins Martinez
- Props Designer: Annabell Sapp
- Dialect Coaches: Adi Cabral • Carolyn Cook
- Stage Manager: Lexi McKay
*Member of Actors’ Equity Association
Media
Reviews & Press
Coming Soon
Deep Dive
As you immerse yourself in the world of Alexis Scheer’s Laughs in Spanish, here are some places, people, and things you will hear mentioned in the play: (curated by Seattle Rep, who previously produced this play)
Art Basel: an international art fair held annually in Basel, Switzerland, as well as Miami, Hong Kong, and Paris.
Banksy: a British street artist and political activist whose real name and identity are unknown.
Guerrilla Girls: an anonymous group of feminist female artists devoted to fighting sexism and racism within the art world.
Las Meninas: Spanish for “The Ladies-in-Waiting,” a 1656 painting by Diego Velázquez that depicts the Infanta (Princess) Margarita and members of her court.
“Miami Vice”: a 1980s TV show about two police detectives investigating drugs, murder, and other crimes in Miami.
“Spring Breakers”: a 2012 film about four college women who rob a diner to fund a wild spring break trip to Florida.
Wynwood: A neighborhood in Miami known for its colorful murals, outdoor art installations, and hip galleries.
Many of the Spanish words or phrases you hear today will be recognizable through their context or surrounding dialogue, but here are a few to keep in mind:
Ay dios mio: oh my God
brujería / Tu eres una bruja: witchcraft / You are a witch
Cállate: shut up
Cálmate: calm yourself
Carajo: In the context of the play, this word is used as an interjection to express anger or irritation. It can also be used to mean “to hell with” or “to go to hell.”
Coquito: a coconut-based alcoholic beverage similar to eggnog. It originated in Puerto Rico and is traditionally consumed around Christmas.
Mija: my daughter
Oye: listen
Paisa: someone or something from the northwest region of Colombia
Pastelitos: little cakes
Pendejo: idiot or coward
Picadillo: a traditional dish in many Latin American countries made with ground meat and tomatoes, as well as raisins, olives, and other ingredients that vary from country to country.
Quién haría algo como esto?!: The opening line of the play, meaning “Who would do something like this?”
Quince: short for quinceañera, a celebration of a girl’s 15th birthday that traditionally marks her transition from girlhood
to adulthood.
Sí, señora: yes, ma’am
Telenovela: a Spanish-language soap opera
Vamos: let’s go
An Interview with the Playwright
(This interview was conducted by Seattle Rep when they produced this play)
Question: You have roots in Miami. What makes that city a prime place to set this story? Where did your initial inspiration for this play begin?
Alexis Scheer: I was really inspired by the art-ification of the Wynwood neighborhood in Miami. Formerly the garment district, where my family had deep roots, Wynwood turned into a hotspot for art, food, and nightlife seemingly overnight. This play was a way for me to imagine who would populate the space that was once my parents’ button company or grandparents’ dress shop, and it’s a love letter to the city and community of artists who raised me.
And while the mother character in the play is nothing like my own mother, I do have to shout her out as a source of inspiration. My mom is a Colombian immigrant who I watched code switch between her personal and professional life every day, and is the kind of woman who models for me what it looks like to be successful both with work and family.
Q: You have described Laughs in Spanish as “a play about Latinas with agency.” Could you expand on what that means to you?
AS: This is a story centered on an ambitious mother and daughter who both start the play from places of professional success. I was really interested in writing something, particularly about Latinas, where the narrative wasn’t about the struggle to become successful but rather what it costs to be successful.
Q: Laughs in Spanish is being staged all across the country this year. Why do you think it is particularly connecting with audiences right now?
Q: I think audiences need joy. But not simply for escapism. I personally believe joy is the most sustainable resource we have when it comes to resistance. And in these terribly divisive times, especially with so much hateful rhetoric being spewed towards immigrants, I’m very proud to be all over the country telling a story that puts the heart and humor of the Latiné community in the spotlight.
Q: What do you hope people take away from this show?
AS: Hopefully a curiosity to engage with more Latiné culture—go dancing, go eat (we have GREAT food)! And, as always, I hope you leave with a desire to keep seeing and supporting new plays! Also, if you like what you see and want to keep up with the work I’m doing, you can follow me on Instagram @scheer_madness