The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao

State Theatre New Jersey presents
Literature to Life stage presentation of
The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao
By Junot Díaz
Performed by Kelvin Grullon
Adapted and Directed by Elise Thoron

This thrilling adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Junot Diaz chronicles the life of Oscar, an overweight science-fiction enthusiast who dreams of becoming the Dominican J. R. R. Tolkien. Growing up in Paterson, he obsesses over fantasy novels, falling in love, and the curse that has plagued his family for generations. Despite the endless taunting from friends, family, and foes, Oscar remains true to himself, as the family curse declares its power and the violence of Oscar's family history collides with his present. Encapsulating magical realism and Dominican-American history, The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao presents audiences with an astonishing vision of the contemporary American experience, and through this 60-minute exploration of brotherhood, fantasy stories, and what it means to be a “Dominican man,” we come to understand the culture of fear and violence that resulted from Trujillo's 30+ years dictatorship of the Dominican Republic, and the importance of facing fear with love. 

Kelvin Grullon is a Dominican American actor from Washington Heights, New York City. An architecture graduate from the University of Virginia (2013), he launched his acting career with Literature to Life’s one-person play The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, a show in which he plays 10+ characters from Junot Diaz's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel. He is a multi-talented artist with a passion for storytelling, often working as a filmmaker, producer, spoken word performer, and DJ. He has starred on numerous independent projects in theater (She Hates Coffee, Room28 Comedy), film (La Tierra, No More Lonely People), voiceover (Corner Wolves), and new media works (Guap, DominicanYork). 

For students in grades: 8-12
All Seats: $8
Curriculum connections: language arts, theater arts, social studies

This is a performance for schools.