Goodman Theatre: The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao
Lenin Izquierdo
Goodman Theatre Presents THE BRIEF AND WONDEROUS LIFE OF OSCAR WAO Review - An Expansive Journey into Family Roots
TLDR: Following a young man's journey as he enters college and feels this need to find his family roots in the Dominican Republic, The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao takes us on an expansive quest. Led by a cast unafraid to let all their emotions out on stage, this show explores many relatable themes and stories.
Kelvin Grullon and Lenin Izquierdo
A Shadow Lurking Over a Family at Goodman
BAM!
SMASH!
KAPOW!
The walls on the set light up in bold, comic book colors as Oscar, played by Lenin Izquierdo, narrates his story. He’s never without his signature black notebook to write and capture it all as well. He is a writer at heart who is unapologetically himself and knows he has a story to tell. The stage is animated and colorful with video projections to make us feel like we’re in a graphic novel and see how he sees the world differently.
Starting his freshman year in college and probably being the nerdiest nerd on campus seems like prime time for Oscar to experience more and write his story. But always lurking behind him is the family fukú. Until he can figure out how to end it, their family will always be cursed and his story will never be complete.
We follow Oscar and his family as they travel to the Dominican Republic as he searches for answers and unpacks his family’s past on this hero’s quest of his own.
(L-R) Lenin Izquierdo, Kelvin Grullon, Rossmery Almonte, Julissa Calderon, Yohanna Florentino, Arik Vega
Letting Yourself Be Known
This play is all in the emotions. Hope as you start college. Ties to family. Building new relationships and friendships. Fear as you’re so close to reaching your dream. And the cast takes their time to let their emotions and relationships build.
The tension between Oscar’s new roommate and friend, Yunior, and sister Lola (played by Kelvin Grullon and Julissa Calderon) builds more until there’s nothing left but to be honest with each other.
We laugh at Rossmery Almonte playing Lola and Oscar’s grandmother as she warmly welcomes them at the airport followed quickly by her pulling out her bottle of Holy Water and giving them a good dousing.
When Oscar and Lola’s mother, Beli played by Yohanna Florentino, returns to the Dominican Republic, her carefully crafted, stoic facade falls. When she’s back here both as her younger self and current mother, her emotions are raw and cut deep.
We feel the conflict of the head and the heart within ourselves as we watch Izquierdo go through Oscar’s journey. His family, alongside us, know that he could get himself hurt, but we feel that brief flash of optimism that it will all work out in the name of love.
The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao feels weighty, but without being too heavy all at once with moments of laughter and love.
Julissa Calderon and Kelvin Grullon
The After Party Thoughts
A theater production doesn’t have the same space as a book to build feelings and connection, but this production of Oscar Wao finds its own way to create them. It aims to unpack so many themes from being the odd one out, to searching for meaning, to family trauma, so the play is on the longer side, but in this writer’s opinion, it’s worth the extra time to let the entire play breathe and feel.
The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao will speak to a multitude of audiences. Children of immigrant parents. People who immigrated themselves. Those who feel like there’s a part of their identity and past that their parents are keeping from them. Those weirdos who loved Dr. Who and dressing how you want to dress before both of those things were cool. It’s a beautiful work with a distinct vision and point of view that all works together beautifully.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Rossmery Almonte and Julissa Calderon
When
Now through April 12, 2026
Where
Goodman Theatre
170 N Dearborn St.
Chicago, IL 60601
Runtime: 2hrs 45min, including intermission
Tickets
$34+
Tickets can be purchased by calling the box office at 312.443.3800 or through the Goodman Theatre website
Photos
Jay Towns
Find Allie and The After Party featured on Theatre in Chicago
Lenin Izquierdo and Jalbelly Guzmán
CAST
Rossmery Almonte (La Inca)
Julissa Calderon (Lola)
Yohanna Florentino (Beli)
Kelvin Grullon (Yunior)
Jalbelly Guzmán (Jenni / Ybon / Trujillo Woman)
Lenin Izquierdo (Oscar Wao)
Arik Vega (Dionisio / Manny / Capitán / Goon)
Berny Balbuena (Understudy Oscar Wao)
Jasmine Bracey (Understudy La Inca)
Gabriela Furtado Coutinho (Understudy Jenni / Ybon / Trujillo Woman)
Trey DeLuna (Understudy Dionisio / Manny / Capitán / Goon)
Melissa F. DuPrey (Understudy Beli / Lola)
Adriel Irizarry (Understudy Yunior)
CREATIVE
Based on the novel The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Díaz
Marco Antonio Rodríguez (Playwright)
Wendy Mateo (Director)
Raquel Adorno (Costume Designer)
Stefania Bulbarella (Projection Designer)
Regina Garcia (Set Designer)
Max Grano De Oro (Lighting Designer)
Willow James (Sound Designer)
Rey Andújar (Cultural Consultant)
Marco Antonio Rodríguez (Dialect & Language Coach)
Yolanny Rodriguez (Dialect & Language Coach Assistant)
Greg Geffrard (Intimacy and Violence / Movement Coordinator)
Tatiana Bustamante (Intimacy and Violence Assistant)
Chels Morgan (Movement Assistant)
Octavio Montes De Oca (Script Assistant)
Lo Williams (Assistant Director)
Anna Rogelio Joaquin (Assistant Dramaturg)
Kat Zukaitis (Line Producer and Dramaturg)