Elizabeth Raquel Ramirez
(PATERSON, NJ) -- Literature to Life (LTL) will be presenting two free performances of I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L. Sánchez on March 5, 2026 at Passaic County Community College (PCCC). The performances will be held at 1:10pm & 6:00pm in the PCCC Theater. This program is part of Books Unite: Literature to Life in Paterson, a yearlong series of free community events – performances, book clubs, and interactive workshops – designed to engage community members in powerful stories and shared conversation.
The program is supported by a generous grant from the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) under Phase II of the Activation, Revitalization, and Transformation (A.R.T.) program.
Literature to Life is a nonprofit, performance-based literacy organization that transforms American literary classics into professionally staged verbatim adaptations. With a roster of books by authors such as Richard Wright, James Baldwin, Junot Díaz, and Kao Kalia Yang, LTL performs nationally in performing arts centers, schools, libraries, and correctional facilities.
I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter tells the story of Julia Reyes, a South Side Chicago high school student who dreams of becoming a writer. She learns to navigate familial expectations and cultural standards while investigating the death of her sister, Olga —who might not have been quite as perfect as she seemed. LTL's production, adapted and directed by Ana Maria Jomolca and starring Elizabeth Raquel Ramirez, explores identity, trauma, and grief, allowing audiences to see both raw emotion and humor through the eyes of this budding young writer.
LTL invites residents of Paterson and surrounding communities to attend the live performances at PCCC and witness this story come to life through one actor. Both performances will be accompanied by a pre- and post-show conversation led by Ana Maria Jomolca. These conversations encourage audiences to engage in self-reflection and discovery and deepen the connection to and understanding of the story. Each performance, including the discussions, will be 90 minutes long. Audiences are welcome to join for one or both performances, no registration required.
"I am so excited to be bringing this story to life for all-new audiences," said actor Elizabeth Raquel Ramirez. "In this unprecedented time in our history, sharing a story from the perspective of a young daughter of immigrants has proven to be as important as ever. Getting to work on this piece has been a great privilege and I hope all are excited to join me on this journey through I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter."
LTL began adapting I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter in 2024 and officially premiered the title in January 2025 at United Palace in New York City. Since LTL added this book to their roster, it has become one of their most popular: traveling regionally and nationally to schools, libraries, and correctional facilities. Later this year LTL is bringing this title to performing arts venues in upstate New York, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts.
The Books Unite program also offers a post-show interactive workshop the following week at PCCC, on March 12 at 1:10pm. This workshop is intended to enhance participants' experiences of the performances, allowing them to relate the material to their own lives and explore the themes through a wider lens. This event, along with both performances, are free and open to the public.
For up-to-date scheduling and more information, visit literaturetolife.org/booksunite.
