Daily Beast: You Don’t Need to Know Spanish to Enjoy ‘Vámonos’

Writer Julissa Contreras admits it: She was worried about all the Spanish. Her ambitious off-Broadway debut play, Vámonos (now playing at Intar Theatre until May 21), is a layered look at one Dominican American family living in the Bronx right before and right after the events of 9/11.

It tackles heavy topics like faith, racism, and patriotism through a Dominican lens and shows no fear. A good part of it also happens to be exclusively in Spanish. Instead of being an obstacle for audiences, however, the specificity and powerhouse performances turn the show into a kind of invitation, to not only see the truth of this family, but find truth in themselves, as well.

As the production was being mounted, conversations around accessibility and the idea of using subtitles both in English and in Spanish to ensure a diverse audience would be able to follow the rich narrative, came to a head. “I felt like I was the lone soldier who was worried,” says Contreras with a laugh. Conscious of showcasing a full cast of Black Dominican actors portraying complex Black Dominican characters, Contreras didn’t just want the show to be a mirror, but a looking glass.

“It was important that non-Spanish speakers understand the story because they're meant to receive this story, to meet us Dominicans,” she says. “It’s not just about Dominicans feeling like they saw themselves, it’s that everyone saw the Dominicans.”