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American Night: The Ballad of Juan Jose Audiobook
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In this wild satire, a Mexican immigrant has a feverish dream while studying for his American citizenship exam. He meets a parade of characters ranging from Sacagawea and Teddy Roosevelt to Jackie Robinson, who take him on a mind-bending, hilarious, and poignant trip through American history.
This is an LA Theatre Works full-cast recording, featuring Keith Jefferson, Richard Montoya, Todd Nakagawa, Sean San José, Kimberly Scott, Herbert Siguenza, Tom Virtue, Libby West, and Caro Zeller.
Directed by Shana Cooper and recorded before a live audience.
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“Laughter and applause fill this theatrical look at American history from the perspective of a Mexican who is cramming for his citizenship test. Policeman Juan Jose, who fled on foot to the US to escape corruption and drug wars, is haunted by Teddy Roosevelt, Sacajawea, Bob Dylan, Jackie Robinson, Violet Pettus (an African–American nurse during the 1928 flu pandemic), Emmett Till, and union leader Harry Bridges, all played with over-the-top accents and comedy by cast members of Culture Clash. Pop references from musicals like The Book of Mormon, Fiddler on the Roof, and Wicked, as well as anachronisms like Roosevelt texting, add to the hilarity. The historical selections are sharp, pointed, and thought-provoking. The musical selections, news bites, and delivery make for a performance that simply gets better with each listen.”
— AudioFile
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About Richard Montoya
Richard Montoya is a founding member of the satirical performance trio Culture Clash. Montoya became involved at an early age with art and politics and in particular with the potent mix of Chicano aesthetics and activism. Like his father José Montoya—the legendary Chicano artist, poet, and musician—Richard is a multifaceted writer, poet, and talented graphic artist.