What’s more exciting than a getaway to NYC and watching a play during school hours as a first marking period senior? Not much.

On November 6, the AP Spanish classes took a field trip to Repertorio Español in New York City to watch the play La Gringa, the longest-running off-Broadway Spanish-language play. 

Founded in 1968, Repertorio Español introduces the “best of Latin American, Spanish and Hispanic-American theatre in distinctive, quality productions,” according to the Spanish Embassy’s web site Spain: Arts & Culture. Although it’s just a 140-seat theatre, the students didn’t seem to mind.

“It was fun to see … in a theatre that is small but also very intimate,” remarked Liam Tenenbaum (’25). 

All students were required to read the play as part of the Summer Honors Program. Therefore, this Spanish play would not only be a refresher of the learned materials, but it would also bring the Spanish culture to life with one hour and 45 minutes of Spanish dialogue, along with English subtitles. 

La Gringa, written by Carmen Rivera, tells the story of how “A young woman born in NYC travels to Puerto Rico for the first time to meet her family and to discover her roots,” according to Repertorio Español.  “Her misconceptions are transformed, and she learns that being Puerto Rican is a matter of heart and spirit.” Maria, the protagonist, strives to connect to the missing piece of her identity that has been lost as two cultures collide.

Her initial inability to fit into a distinctively different society resonated with many, especially as Tenafly builds on diverse cultures and backgrounds. 

“La Gringa dives deeply into these themes in a journey that feels very real and relatable to some of us,” said Tenenbaum. 

The play reflects on family, language, and culture; it delves into the theme of La Identidad (identity), “one of the six overarching themes on the AP exam,” noted Señora Lescano-Lopez. While the students still have some months left before the exam, the classes got a glimpse into this upcoming challenge. “It served as a good example of why identity is so important and what its most important components are,” claimed Tenenbaum. 

As the cherry (or pepperoni?) on top, pizza and Starbucks concluded the trip. Not only were students immersed in the Spanish culture, but thanks to Sra. Monell, Sra. Lescano López and every member who contributed to this trip, the field trip exceeded expectations… and made a great memory for all the seniors.