The play “Cuando era puertorriqueña”—based on the autobiographical novel When I Was Puerto Rican, by Esmeralda Santiago—will be on stage at the Centro de Bellas Artes (Santurce, Puerto Rico) on September 19 and 20 and September 24 to 26, 2025. From October 14 to 16, it will be presented at Teatro Yagüez in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico. [When we find out who is directing the play, we will update this information.] Here are translated excerpts from El Adoquín Times.
For the protagonist, Lynnette Salas [left, above], When I Was Puerto Rican is a love letter to our roots. A story that honors the strength of Puerto Rican women, especially those of the diaspora. “For me, it’s a journey of nostalgia, struggle, and pride, which allows me to pay tribute to those who shaped us: mothers, fathers, grandmothers… our people.”
When I Was Puerto Rican is the autobiography written by Santiago in 1993. It is a memoir that chronicles Esmeralda’s childhood and adolescence, beginning with her life in Puerto Rico and her subsequent move to New York, exploring her cultural identity and the process of adapting to a new life. In this work, the author presents the challenges of adapting to a new culture without losing her roots.
Salas says, “I want the attendees to take a seed away, deep in their hearts. To recognize themselves. To remember where they come from. To proudly embrace their roots and their identity, to feel that there are many of us who have loved a land from afar, and that we still flourish. This presentation of “Cuando era puertorriqueña” is my love letter to the diaspora, my tribute to the Puerto Rican woman who never gives up, and my wish that we never forget who we are, or where we come from. I want them to feel that this story belongs to them too, because “Cuando era puertorriqueña” is not just Esmeralda’s story… it’s ours.”
Tickets for the general public screenings can be purchased at Ticketera, Ticketcenter, and the Bellas Artes box office. For school screenings, reservations may be made by calling (787) 514-4222 or emailing excursionseducativas@yahoo.com.
Excerpts translated by Ivette Romero. For full article, see https://eladoquintimes.com/2025/08/15/sube-a-escena-cuando-era-puertorriquena-de-esmeralda-santiago/
[Photos above: Actress Lynnette Salas and writer Esmeralda Santiago.]