(JERSEY CITY, NJ) -- New Jersey City University Center for the Arts presents "The Brief Wonderous Life of Oscar Wao" on Tuesday, April 26 at 10:00am. This thrilling adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel 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. This Literature to Life stage presentation is based on the novel by Junot Diaz; Adaptation and direction by Elise Thoron; and performed by Kelvin Grullon.
Kelvin Grullon is a Dominican-American actor from Washington Heights, NYC. 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 in theater projects (She Hates Coffee, Room28 Comedy and King Lear), film (La Tierra, No More Lonely People), voiceover (Corner Wolves), and new media works (Guap, DominicanYork).
This is a virtual event with a recorded performance and live post-show talkback. Appropriate for high school and college ages. Tickets are $8 Single; $50 Full Class | $ Pay What You Can. Tickets must be purchased in advance and are available for purchase online. Tickets for schools can be purchased by contacting [email protected]
The NJCU Center for the Arts brings the University's cultural offerings together under one creative umbrella. With New York City just across the river, the NJCU Center for the Arts is a cultural hub of North Jersey, hosting guest artists and speakers in the performing, visual, film, and literary arts, alongside student presentations.
