The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao

Feb 21 – Apr 5, 2026 in Goodman's Owen Theatre

“I have heard from a reliable source that no Dominican male has ever died a virgin. I shall be the first.”

Oscar knows that a nerdy Dominican college freshman isn’t anyone’s idea of a romantic hero. But with the encouragement of Yunior, his new roommate, he is determined to give love another chance. As Oscar sets out from New Jersey to Santo Domingo to prove his undeniable hope, can he shake the dark “fukú” that has haunted his family for generations? Junot Díaz’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel comes to vivid life in this world-premiere English stage adaption—a celebration of risk and the power of perseverance against all odds.

Original Spanish production of the play commissioned and originally produced by Repertorio Español, New York, NY.

Recommended for ages 14+

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao contains strong language; depictions of violence and death; and discussions of sex, body image, racism, and suicidal ideation.

Buy Tickets

Group Tickets: Now available for 10+, email Groups@GoodmanTheatre.org for information on select discounted rates and perks.

Questions? Need help? Contact the box office at (312) 443-3800, 12noon – 5pm, daily.

Creative Artists

Choose someone to see their bio and past Goodman productions.

Junot Díaz

Author

Marco Antonio Rodriguez

Playwright

Wendy Mateo

Director

A middle-aged woman with curly dark hair in a bun, wearing a light blue top and gold hoop earring, poses against a neutral background.

Rossmery Almonte

La Inca

A woman with long hair gazes upward with her chin resting on her hands, wearing a sheer, tulle-like garment in a black-and-white portrait.

Julissa Calderon

Lola

A woman with curly hair and a neutral expression looks directly at the camera. She is wearing a tan sleeveless top and a necklace. The background is dark.

Yohanna Florentino

Beli

A man with curly hair and a trimmed beard looks at the camera against a solid blue background, wearing a dark shirt.

Kelvin Grullon

Yunior

A woman with curly dark hair, red lipstick, and hoop earrings poses against a plain olive background, wearing an off-the-shoulder black top.

Jalbelly Guzmán

Jenni/Ybon/Trujillo Woman

A young person with curly dark hair and medium skin tone smiles softly, wearing a dark green top, against a plain light background.

Lenin D’Anthony Izquierdo

Oscar Wao

Young man with short dark hair and a clean-shaven face, wearing a black crew-neck shirt, poses against a dark, plain background.

Arik Vega

Dionisio/Manny/Capitan/Goon

A man with a short beard and dark hair smiles at the camera, wearing a yellow jacket over a white shirt against a light blue background.

Berny Balbuena

Understudy Oscar

A woman with natural curly black hair and subtle makeup, wearing a light blue blazer, looks directly at the camera with a slight smile.

Jasmine Bracey

Understudy La Inca

A woman with long wavy brown hair, light skin, and red lipstick is facing the camera against a dark background.

Gabriela Furtado Coutinho

Understudy Jenni / Ybon / Trujillo Woman

Woman with curly hair wearing a teal leather jacket looks directly at the camera against a dark, textured background.

Melissa Francesca DuPrey

Understudy Beli / Understudy Lola

A young man with short dark hair and a neutral expression, wearing a blue shirt, stands in front of a plain white background.

Adriel Irizarry

Understudy Yunior

A man with short curly dark hair and facial hair wears a black tank top and a silver chain necklace, posing against a dark background.

Trey DeLuna

Understudy Manny/Understudy Dionisio/Understudy Capitan/Understudy Goon

A woman with long, wavy brown hair and large glasses looks at the camera inside a car.

Raquel Adorno

Costume Designer

A woman with straight brown hair, parted in the middle, wearing a black turtleneck and small gold hoop earrings, looks directly at the camera with a neutral expression.

Stefania Bulbarella

Projection Designer

A woman with long curly hair styled half up, wearing a denim jacket over a black top, smiles at the camera against a plain beige background.

Satya Chávez

Composer

Andres Fiz

Assistant Projection Designer

A woman with short dark hair, wearing a light scarf and a single earring, smiles at the camera against a dark background.

Regina García

Set Designer

A man with short dark hair, glasses, and a beard is wearing a white shirt with a blue floral pattern, standing in front of a plain beige background.

Maximo Grano de Oro

Lighting Designer

A man with a full beard and mustache, wearing a mustard-colored shirt, smiles at the camera with a blurred forest scene in the background.

Josh McCammon

Assistant Sound Designer

A young man with short brown hair and blue eyes is smiling at the camera, wearing a navy zip-up sweater over a light gray collared shirt, standing in front of a rust-colored background.

Parker Molacek

Projections Programmer

A man with a beard and afro hairstyle, wearing black glasses and a black hoodie, stands against a plain light-colored background.

Willow James

Sound Designer

Lindsay Mummert

Assistant Set Designer

Chelsea Strebe

Assistant Lighting Designer

A woman with long, wavy hair smiles at the camera in a black and white photo, with a blurred indoor background.

Lia Wallfish

Associate Costume Designer

Lauren Port

Casting Director

A man wearing sunglasses looks up at a lit ceiling lamp, casting a circular glow above his head in an otherwise dark room.

Rey Andújar

Cultural Consultant

Woman with medium-length curly black hair, wearing a sleeveless green top and hoop earrings, posing against a beige background.

Tatiana Bustamante

Intimacy & Violence Assistant

Gregory Geffrard

Intimacy & Violence, Movement Coordinator

A young man with short brown hair and a light mustache looks at the camera, wearing a tan jacket over a white shirt against a brown background.

Octavio Montes de Oca

Script Assistant

A person with short dark hair wears a black and white bandana, a brown corduroy shirt over a black top, and a chain necklace, posing against a plain black background.

Chels Morgan

Movement Assistant

Woman with wavy brown hair wearing a red top, smiling at the camera with a neutral background.

Yolanny Rodriguez Torres

Dialect & Language Coach Assistant

A woman with long dark hair wearing a brown blazer and a cream top stands against a plain light background, smiling slightly at the camera.

Anna Rogelio Joaquin

Assistant Dramaturg

Lena Romano

2nd Line Producer

A woman with medium-length locs, wearing hoop earrings and off-shoulder clothing, smiles in front of a reddish-brown background.

Lo Williams

Assistant Director

Kat Zukaitis

Line Producer & Dramaturg

A person wearing a headset and a denim jacket with patches smiles at the camera in an indoor setting.

Mia Maccarella

Owen Floor Manager

A person with short brown hair wearing a blue striped t-shirt is smiling at the camera against a plain gray background.

Isabel Patt

Production Stage Manager

A person with long brown hair, glasses, and a necklace stands smiling in front of a beige stone wall, wearing a brown square-neck top.

Hope X. Still

SM Apprentice

Special Events

Pre-show programming, unique performances, and related programming.

A group of six young people sit and stand indoors, smiling. Behind them is a poster reading "Education and Community Engagement" with photos of students.

Wednesday, February 25 @ 6pm

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao College Night

For less than the price of a movie ticket, college students are invited to experience Goodman productions.

Use Code: COLLEGE

A decorative sword with a wavy blade, ornate gold crossguard, and a handle featuring red and blue inlays and an intricate sculpted face.

Friday, March 6 @ 6:00pm – 7:15pm

Latine Affinity Night The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao

Join us for a special CONTEXT event in collaboration with the Goodman’s Latine affinity group.

Four women stand together indoors, smiling and conversing in a well-lit room. Two are facing the camera, while two are turned slightly away.

Thursday, March 12 | Reception from 6pm – 7:15pm | Performance at 7:30pm

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao Scene Night

Enjoy and evening of networking and mingling with other Chicago young professionals as you support the world-premiere English…

Use Code: SCENE

A wooden board with grilled chicken topped with vegetables and lime, fried plantains, French fries, and a small cup of dipping sauce.

Friday, March 13 @ 6:00pm – 7:15pm

Roots and Recipes: A CONTEXT Event

We're bringing together Dominican-inspired dishes and deep dialogue on identity, heritage, and belonging.

STUDY GUIDES

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao Study Guide

Download the English Oscar Wao study guide.

Guía De Estudio Del Título La Breve y Maravillosa Vida de Oscar Wao

Descargue la guía de estudio en Español de Oscar Wao.

Accessible & Enhanced Performances

Questions? Please contact (312) 443-3800 for voice, or email Access@GoodmanTheatre.org. Visit our Accessibility Overview page for full details.

American Sign Language-Interpreted Performance
Friday, March 13 at 7:30pm

Use code SIGN for $44 ($35 ticket plus $9 handling fee)

Touch Tour and Audio-Described Performance
Saturday, March 14
12:30pm Touch Tour & 2:00pm Performance

Use code AUDIO for $44 ($35 ticket plus $9 handling fee)

Spanish Subtitles Performance
Saturday, March 14 at 7:30pm

Use code SPANISH for $44 ($35 ticket plus $9 handling fee)

Open-Captioned Performance
Sunday, March 15 at 2:00pm

Use code OPEN for $44 ($35 ticket plus $9 handling fee)

OUR CENTENNIAL 2025/2026 Season

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