'The Great Gatsby' set in Providence's South Side: Teatro en El Verano returns to RI parks

Katie Landeck, The Providence Journal
·4 min read

You probably know the story of “The Great Gatsby.”

Set in the Jazz Age, a self-made millionaire throws lavish parties hoping to win back the now-married love of his youth in a tragic pursuit of the American Dream.

OK, now, picture the same basic story set on the South Side of Providence. And then, make all the characters millennials. And then, make it a little more comedic than the original plot.

And then – and this is the big one – make it Latino. Change the title to “La Luz Verde.” Add musical numbers that swing with Dominican-inspired beats. Have an entirely Latino cast. And make the production bilingual, so anyone, whether they speak only English, only Spanish or a combination of the two, can enjoy it.

Daisy Buchanan (Alexis Elisa Macedo) and Nick Carraway (Jason Deleon) rehearse in the Teatro el En Verano production of "La Luz Verde," an adaptation of "The Great Gatsby" in English and Spanish, on Wednesday evening at Rhode Island Latino Arts in Central Falls.
Daisy Buchanan (Alexis Elisa Macedo) and Nick Carraway (Jason Deleon) rehearse in the Teatro el En Verano production of "La Luz Verde," an adaptation of "The Great Gatsby" in English and Spanish, on Wednesday evening at Rhode Island Latino Arts in Central Falls.

Oh, and make it free outdoor theater in Rhode Island’s parks so anyone can go.

That’s exactly what Teatro en El Verano, a community theater program from Rhode Island Latino Arts in partnership with Trinity Repertory Company, has done for the eighth season, which is also their first time back on stage since the pandemic.

What to expect from the production

Playwright Catia – who doesn’t use her last name – was the one who proposed "The Great Gatsby" and adapted it. After re-reading the book, she decided to turn the stage production into more of an ensemble piece, to make it a little funnier, and to make it feel more Latino.

“I really wanted to make it relatable to us in terms of culture,” Catia said. “I think that it’s about the American Dream, and that’s what all Hispanics are. When most of us immigrated here, we're and searching for something greater. … I really wanted to keep the theme of we’re all in the search of something greater, and do we find it in other people or do we find it in ourselves?”

Her favorite moments of the play, though, are the comedic moments and particularly the misunderstandings.

Cast members dance across the stage during rehearsals of "La Luz Verde." “I think that it’s about the American Dream," says playwright Catia, "and that’s what all Hispanics are when most of us immigrated here were searching for and searching for something greater."
Cast members dance across the stage during rehearsals of "La Luz Verde." “I think that it’s about the American Dream," says playwright Catia, "and that’s what all Hispanics are when most of us immigrated here were searching for and searching for something greater."

Making his debut as a director, Leandro “Kufa” Castro described the event as “the highlight of the summer.”

“You are seeing your neighbors, actors that are from here, that live here, on stage, that represent the communities that we're going to celebrate: the Latinx community,” he said.

Audiences, he hopes, will be dancing along with the show from their seats.

Why the cast thinks you should go

It’s undeniable that the actors in any stage production think audiences should come to watch. Even so, here are some of the reasons this cast thinks you should come to check it out:

  • “The women of this piece. They have so much meat and bones to them, they're all extremely intelligent. Yes, they're wealthy, but their mind is still there. I also really love the idea of the American Dream and who's allowed to have one, and what one's willing to risk to make one possible, and also the language is ... is extremely inviting,” said Alexis Elisa Macedo, who plays Flor (Daisy).

  • “Hear some music,” said Nina Giselle, who plays Jordan. “If they wanna definitely laugh, and if they want an interesting new take on 'The Great Gatsby,' I think this one really looks at more of a racial divide between the rich and the poor. I think it adds a new layer that's a little bit more relatable.”

  • "It’s a beautiful show about Latinos for Latinos, and is a very smart way to make an American story into Latino story. I think that they do a great job with that script. I feel like whoever sees this, if they're Latinos, they're going to see themselves in any of the characters that we are portraying and they're just going to probably feel seen, so you should come and see it,” said Lia Lockart, who plays Octavio.

Cast members in the Teatro el En Verano production "La Luz Verde" rehearse. Seven performances are scheduled this summer.
Cast members in the Teatro el En Verano production "La Luz Verde" rehearse. Seven performances are scheduled this summer.

Where to see Teatro en El Verano 2023

People are encouraged to bring a picnic blanket and chairs.

Showtimes are:

  • Sunday, July 9, 4 p.m., The Steel Yard, Providence

  • Tuesday, July 11, 6:30 p.m. (Rain date: July 18), World War II Veterans Memorial Park, Woonsocket

  • Thursday, July 13, 6:30 p.m. (Rain date: July 15), Roger Williams Park, Broad Street entrance, Providence

  • Monday, July 17, 6:30 p.m. (Rain Date: July 24), Payne Park, Pawtucket

  • Thursday, July 20, 6:30 p.m. (Rain Date: July 27), Dexter Park, Providence

  • Friday, July 28, 6:30 p.m., Waterplace Park, Providence

  • Wednesday, Aug. 2, 6:30 p.m., Great Friends Meeting House, Newport

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Teatro en El Verano presents bilingual 'The Great Gatsby' in RI parks