Pénjamo: Staged Reading Presentation

November 18, 2026, 7:30 pm National Museum of Mexican Art
Artifact mosaic for Pénjamo: A Pocha Road Trip Story, a new play by Nancy García Loza. Chicagolandia to México, and back. Concept rendering courtesy of the artist.

Drawing on playwright Nancy García Loza’s own family history, Pénjamo: A Pocha Road Trip Story explores bicultural identity, self-discovery, and the myths and realities of ancestral homelands. Join us for a staged reading of Pénjamo and be among the first to experience this play that challenges the monolithic narrative of Mexican migration to the United States.

The play is set shortly after the passage of the 1986 Immigration Reform & Control Act, whose amnesty provisions allowed immigrant families to visit their countries of origin for the first time, just as they were starting to build a sense of belonging in the United States.

Guests are invited to continue the dialogue during a Q&A between the audience and the playwright, reflecting collectively on identity and belonging.

This project is generously supported by The Joyce Foundation.