Engaging audiences from Chicago to Seattle and beyond, I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter is the story of the adolescent journey of finding one’s inner self, beauty, and resiliency. 

This West Coast premiere will come to life in less than one month! Did you know it started out as a novel? We’ll catch you up on I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter’s journey from book to stage!  

1) Fun fact! I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter began as a novel, written by Erika L. Sánchez

 Learn more about the author, Erika L. Sánchez.

2) Meet Isaac Gómez, the playwright who adapted this piece for stage  

3) Did you know the world premiere of I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter took place at Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago in February 2020?

Originally it was adapted as a piece for Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA). Unfortunately, its run was cut short due to the pandemic. It was then adapted into an audio play piece and will now take to Seattle Rep's stage with an updated script.

4) Karen Rodriguez will be reprising her role as Júlia at Seattle Rep 

Our I Am Not Your Mexican Daughter adaptation continues to go through revisions so some details may vary! Meet the rest of the cast you’ll see on the Bagley Wright stage. 

5) Welcome back director Juliette Carrillo 

Did you know this is Juliette’s fifth show directing at Seattle Rep? During an internal design presentation, Juliette shared “I was completely grabbed from the beginning. The complexity in the main character, Júlia. She’s enormously sensitive, creative, and intelligent. Her own sensitivity I resounded with as an artist.”  

“I feel like many artists in the room can identify with growing up and trying to figure it out. The obstacles are interesting for me, because I didn’t grow up as first generation Mexican American. I am second generation Mexican American, but I still understand a certain amount of her [Júlia’s] struggles.”- Juliette Carrillo, Director 

6) 3 out 4 of designers on this show are Mexican American

7)  The stage will feature 80 feet of bamboo curtains and extraordinary art

Scenic Designer Efren Delgadillo Jr. shares his process and inspiration of Sentrock’s murals to fill the world of the play with Júlia’s emotions, thoughts, and perspective. Learn more about the scenic design and mural artwork here.

8) Costume inspiration is everywhere 

You may have recognized some of Danielle Nieves’ works around the community in Seattle Rep's Public Works’ The Winter’s Tale and The 5th Avenue Theatre’s Beauty and the Beast. Danielle shared that Erika L. Sánchez's original book was extremely helpful to put together looks since there are great descriptions: “Júlia says in the book, ‘I only wear black, white, and grey’ and her favorite artist is David Bowie.” Audiences are sure to see themselves represented on stage through a variety of looks. “Apá is based off my own Chicano dad. This looks like my dad, but with the mustache,” says Danielle who hopes her father will come see the show.  

9) A Note About Sound 

“From a sound perspective our goal is to vividly represent the world from Júlia’s perspective. Her world is full of music and motion. We have many opportunities for fun moments and recognizable songs and hardships.” - John Nobori, Sound Designer and Composer 

Cheers to the first show of the new year, I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter, running from Jan. 13 – Feb. 5, 2023, at Seattle Rep.  

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P.S. Did You Know?

I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter is set to come to Netflix in 2023! Not only will this adaptation reach a larger audience, but it will be directed by producer and award-winning actor America Ferrera.  

“Years ago, I fell in love with Erika L. Sánchez’ stunning novel, I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter,” Ferrera said. “The depth, wit and searing intelligence of her writing, and her young Latina heroine, struck me to my core and left me wanting so much more. I am truly honored and humbled to direct Linda Yvette Chávez’s beautifully adapted screenplay. The opportunity to direct the work of these two incredibly talented Latina writers is a dream come true. I can’t wait to share this film with the many fans of the novel, and to introduce this funny, profound, and resonant story to the world.” - America Ferrera, in a Variety interview by Rebecca Rubin