Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica Takes in ‘La Gringa’ at Spanish-Language Theater

Entirely in Spanish, the play gave students an opportunity to practice their language listening skills.

By THE MIDWOOD ARGUS

The Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica visited the Repertorio Español in Manhattan on May 7 to see La Gringa, the city’s longest-running off-Broadway Spanish language play.

Written by Carmen Rivera, the play tells the story of a young woman from New York who travels to Puerto Rico to discover her roots. It was performed entirely in Spanish at the Repertorio, the only Spanish theater company in Manhattan.

The reaction from club members was overwhelmingly positive.

“It was one of the few shows that made me feel truly seen and respected,” said Wancheng Zhen ‘26, the club’s president. “As someone who comes from multiple cultural backgrounds, I’ve often struggled with feeling like I didn’t fully belong to any one community.”

“Watching Maria, the main character, navigate those same emotions made me feel understood in a way I hadn’t experienced before,” Zhen added. “La Gringa beautifully captures the complexity of cultural identity and the importance of embracing every part of who you are.”

“For me, the play accurately captured the experiences many immigrant children face in the U.S. through Maria's internal conflict,” said Maribel Santacruz ‘26. “As a first gen American born from Hispanic parents, I deeply resonated with her.”

“The show was very entertaining,” said junior Elani Perez. “The plot was great, and I enjoyed seeing how the characters interacted with different personalities. The ending left a lot of mystery.”

“It was a fun but emotional time at the theater – 11/10 for me,”  said Jessica Guaman. 

The trip was planned by Ms. Anna Nadal Burgues, a Spanish teacher and the club’s advisor. The Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica, which is new to Midwood and part of a nationwide association, is focused on celebrating Spanish language and culture.

The club has hosted many themed activities this year, such as a game night featuring traditional card games from Hispanic countries.